Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine has released ‘Stand Up’, a powerful new protest song inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement.
In collaboration with Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons, ‘Stand Up’ sees the couple joined by artist / activist Shea Diamond and producer The Bloody Beetroots.
Describing the track, Morello explained how he was inspired by watching a Black Lives Matter rally in his hometown.
“I grew up in the conservative little town of Libertyville, Illinois, white as lily. As a child, someone hung a rope in my family’s garage, there were occasional word calls, etc., etc. On June 6 of this year, there was a concentration and march of Black Lives Matter in that same city that stopped. 1,000 people, ”he said.
“It seems that times are changing.” That night I was so inspired that I contacted Dan from Imagine Dragons. The Bloody Beetroots and I evoked a song and within 24 hours Dan sent out a full voice. We have Shea Diamond, a black transgender woman with a long history of activism, on the track and the coalition was complete. ”
Reynolds added: “When Tom came over to work alongside Shea Diamond and The Bloody Beetroots on this song, I immediately went up to my room and wrote / sang the chorus and verse that day. This country certainly needs to be repaired, and I think it will take people from all sides and colors to fix it. “
The four artists will donate 100% of their ‘Stand Up’ proceeds to four organizations: NAACP, Know Your Rights Camp, Southern Poverty Law Center and the Marsha P. Johnson Institute
Morello has also been an open voice during the recent Black Lives Matter protests, using his social platforms to remove critics who have questioned his views and experience.
After being accused of being “another instantly successful musician [becoming] a political expert, ”Morello deftly pointed out in defending his right to have a political opinion that he was an honors graduate in political science from Harvard University.
“You don’t have to be an honors graduate in political science from Harvard University to recognize the immoral and inhuman nature of this administration, but hey, I’m an honors graduate in political science from Harvard University, so I can confirm that for you, “Morello wrote in response.
Last month, Morello also marked 10 years since the legendary Rage Against The Machine concert at Finsbury Park in London.
The free show was organized after the band’s ‘Killing In The Name’ beat the odds of becoming the UK’s number 1 Christmas single in 2009 after a fan campaign.
