Rage Against The Machine - A big thank you to Tom Morello

Posted: 16 December 2009

Youth Music has received its very own Christmas present from Rage Against The Machine who are unexpectedly locked in a chart battle with X Factor winner Joe McElderry and of course Simon Cowell, the music mogul behind the talent show single.

The Christmas chart challenge has whipped the UK media into a frenzy after a Facebook campaign launched, aiming to get Rage Against The Machine's 1992 single  'Killing In The Name' to the top spot on Sunday 20 December.

The American rock band, famous for their hugely influential political song-writing first found fame in the UK before becoming a global success, and lead guitarist Tom Morello has generously donated some of the proceeds from their recently revived potential Christmas big-hitter to us!

Morello has recognised how difficult it is for talented young musicians to get a break in the music industry and supports our work in helping to transform young lives through the power of music.

Speaking on BBC Radio this morning Morello said: 

"Me personally, I am going to donate part of my proceeds from the sales to an organisation in the UK called Youth Music, which is the UK’s largest children’s music charity. My hope is that one of the results of this whole thing is that there will be a new generation of rockers who will take on the establishment with the music they write."

Simon Cowell has also had his say and in an interview in this week's NME, he talks about the threat to X Factor's Christmas chart supremacy and what music means to him:

"I always equated music with having a good time. I wasn't someone who if I split up with someone would just play morbid dark songs to make me feel worse. It used to make me happy."

He goes on to compare the organisers of the Facebook chart campaign to 'Ebenezer Scrooge' stating, "it's miserable to put down young talent. We should celebrate it. I am!"

It's true to say that X Factor has done it's fair bit for good causes, releasing a special charity single each year and raising substantial amounts of cash.

Supporting and celebrating young talent is something Youth Music fully believes in so perhaps Simon might like to send us a Christmas present too?  We've got plenty of room under our tree!

If you, like Tom Morello, want to help safeguard our musical future and transform more young lives through the power of music please donate here.

Thank you.

_{Image of Tom Morello courtesy of Future Publishing.}