NME Festival Guide
2009

NME News

We Are Scientists think Rage Against The Machine are pretentious

New Yorkers say bands shouldn't get political

We Are Scientists have slammed Rage Against The Machine's politically-infused Reading Festival slot.

The reformed American quartet took to the Main Stage in Guantanamo Bay-style outfits to perform their opening song 'Bombtrack'.

Later on in the show frontman Zack de la Rocha declared that George Bush and Tony Blair should be tried for war crimes.

But their political gig didn't impress We Are Scientists' bassist Chris Cain, who said: "They did not [wear the costumes when they had seen them before] - that's a new shit of pretension that they've added into their set."

Speaking to NME Radio, the group's frontman Keith Murray added: "When you have a band with something to say, you'd like to feel like they have a legitimate stake in it which I don't know.

I mean, I guess they do seem to kind of go out of their way to perform beneficial acts in general."

Murray added: "This is an argument I have with myself a lot because I really hate political statements coming from bands. I feel like the last person I want to hear you know a philosophy from is someone whose one credential is that they can play the guitar."

Murray admitted Rage Against The Machine aren't all bad though, saying: "On the other hand it's good to have bands like Rage Against The Machine, who no matter whether or not you think they're a bunch of fools who are trapped in freshmen year of university, are at least speaking their minds and like trying to make a difference.

"Although, were they spouting fascist ideas then we'd all be condemning them."

diydestruction

Aug 26, 2008

Great, the first serious thing they say and its the sort of thing that will piss off the entirety of reading and leeds festival goers. Dont do this to yourselves guys... you're a great band.

onethirtyeight

Aug 26, 2008

Considering We Are Scientists actually script their onstage banter to make it so they appear to be natural and oh-so-funny, they have a little bit of a cheek called Rage Against The Machine "pretentious"

cpbrophy

Aug 26, 2008

what a load of bollocks that just proves that there's hardly any bands these days that want to make a diffence if the boys from we are scientists did there history they would know that the best bands and artiests have had pollitical views like the clash, the sex pistols, bob dylian, manic street preachers and lots more so get your facts right boys

BorstalBreakout

Aug 26, 2008

Who are We Are Scientists? What have they ever done of any significance? Will anyone remember them in 10 years?To imply that Rage Against The Machine come across as fools stuck in their freshman year is a breathtakingly ignorant way to describe any Harvard graduate, never mind one of the most influential and original bands of the last 15 years.What is even more sad is that NME have posted their worthless views on this site.

vibedoctor

Aug 26, 2008

Maybe they should call themselves We Are Knobs. Whilst having no truck with Rage Against The Machine I think it should be pointed out that music has always been a vehicle for protest and politics from Bob Dylan, Victor Jara (look him up and learn something) Woody Guthrie, to 18th Century Italian Opera and beyond. I suggest that WAS are actually are spouting fascist ideas by telling people what they can and cannot sing about. Tossers.

wowzer555

Aug 26, 2008

bunch of fools trapped in freshman year of uni? that's fresh coming from 'we are scientists'. just cause they play pointless, vapid, art school nonsense they can't actually cope with a band who not only rock about 6000 times more than them but do so with a conscience. they don't like bands talking about politics? so like, they dont like dylan? neil young? radiohead? rem? fuck off please and pleeeeeease stop making records. we are scientists? go back to the lab and leave music to the big boys. tsk.

ferriter101

Aug 26, 2008

pretentious for having the balls to stand up for something? what a bunch of indie wimps of course people would of slated them for spouting fascist ideas!!thats the crappiest argument i have ever heard!!lol

mindgame976

Aug 26, 2008

i agree with wowzer, we are scientists should f**k off and die

jaygill

Aug 26, 2008

aw bless them, they've been concentrating so hard on building this image of themselves as funny cheeky chappies who have lost their marbles that they actually have lost their marbles but not in a good way!they need to realise their Schtick is wearing a bit thin and people are losing interest in them and saying daft shit like this won't help them at all.

lipgloss

Aug 26, 2008

I don't think their is any pretention in showcasing your political views, i think the pretention is in thinking it will make a difference to anything, but i guess no harm in trying! The world would have be a poorer place without outspoken musicians like Dylan & Lennon

liveon35mm

Aug 26, 2008

oh well...if WAS think so we are all going to change our mind about the RATM immortal presence in the history of Rock.the last sentence is so obvious to sound offensive!One thing is talking of freedom, one to talk about fascism. Americans show everytime they don't have a clue what politic is

GreenyGreenwell

Aug 26, 2008

Buy this man a book. Have they even heard of Rage Against The Machine before? If they can't grasp the idea of a political statement through music they should just stop now. Freshman year of college? Tom Morello has a Politics degree from Harvard.

joebaia

Aug 26, 2008

Whilst I'm not a fan of bands being overly political and sometimes seeminly ramming their ideas down our throats, I think it's wrong for WAS to slate RATM like this. I mean at the end of the day Rage are only trying to get their opinions heard and politics if obviously something they feel strongly about, and always have done. If they want to dress up like Guantanamo prisoners onstage then more power to them. They've always been politically charged so why stop now? Seems to me that WAS are simply trying to gain some publicity for themselves due to the fact they're a sub par band with little going for them.

rubbersoul7

Aug 26, 2008

When 'We Are Scientists' write an album that even a tenth as good as Rage's debut, then they can talk, until then they can fuck off.

mAttthhheaLy

Aug 26, 2008

yeah! what twats! Imagine having an opinion!!!He didn't slag their music, which in a band is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. Rage make great music, but the politics side of things gets annoying.If I want to do something political I'll do it myself, I don't need a band to tell me what to do.

craig321

Aug 26, 2008

let me get this right we are scientists are slating rage against the machine because there songs have strong political views and don't agree with us being at war with another country... never heard we are scientist and personaly now i wouldnt want to listen to such a narrow minded band! RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE ARE AWSUM!!!

phatjaxx

Aug 26, 2008

mAttthhheaLy, I completely agree. I'm sure nobody on here has ever said a bad word about the 'untouchable' Rage Against the Machine. Musical elitists make me sick. So much bitching, so little to say. Music aside, the political views of RATM makes me yawn. So f*** you, I won't do what you tell me. Unlike all the other sheep on here. Who I have no doubt are as politically active as RATM. In their dreams.

fnchy77

Aug 26, 2008

Thats why a boring, comedy band like We Are Scientists will never gain the same respect or sell as many records as the likes of RATM. Its major bands who need to be sharing political views because music is the most powerful median in the world and can reach the masses far more easily than politicians. I don't like RATM in terms of their music but my hat goes off to them for trying harder than jumped up little pricks with nothing intelligent to say. At least RATM fans can rest easy knowing that bands like We Are Scientists only make a few albums before people get bored of their bland bollox and forget about them 12 months later whilst RATM will still sting for years to come.

jeepcat

Aug 26, 2008

Are RATM keeping the reported-Â£1 million per show for themselves?

mel275

Aug 26, 2008

We are scientists are as entitled to an opinion as anyone else. They were talking about RATM's politics not the music. We are scientists are a band with amazing music so there really isn't any point in criticising we are scientists' abums when it has nothing to do with the arguement. Fans went to Reading and Leeds this weekend for Music!

BruisedShins

Aug 26, 2008

Why shouldnt a band be political? Should they just sing about broken relationships, day glow accessories and late night drinking sessions? Rage have opinions and they aren't afraid to voice those opinions. Some of the best acts from The Clash to Manic Street Preachers, Public Enemy to Bob Dylan have used their platform to voice their opinions while making incredible music. These acts will be remembered for decades where as most people i know would be hard pushed to remember more than the odd one or two We Are Scientists tracks. I'd rather hear a band with passion and an opinion rather than the vast majority of asinine, vacuous, all style no content, crap that fills the airwaves.As for the comment about fascism, i'm pretty sure that if Rage were writing songs about the virtues of sending ethnic minorities to concentration camps and beating dissidents then they wouldnt have sold so many million records. Advocating fascism isn't quite the same as calling for leaders to be indicted on war crimes charges and supporting grass roots activism!

Ghvinianidzigol

Aug 26, 2008

I do abhor RATMs boring boring boring music, but I totally disagree with WAS here. RATMs "one credential" is NOT "just being able to play the guitar". Check out all their political activities - they are activists who also happen to be in a band. These guys have more than just one feature to them. As do WAS - I mean, you might as well say that bands like WAS shouldn't try to make jokes because you want jokes from comedians only, not from blokes who are playing guitars. No really, as annoyingly over-earnest as RATM may be, WAS are spouting total nonsense here.

fnchy77

Aug 26, 2008

Unfortunately mel275, RATMs' music and politics pretty much go hand in hand so to negatively comment on being a political band is also a comment on their music. I would support any band if I thought they were trying to change opinion on torture or killing of innocent people. To not support that kind of political movement isn't human. I think it just shows We Are Scientists as supporters of the dictatorship known as Geroge Bush which is not somethng to be proud of (otherwise they would support RATMs opinions).

raow97

Aug 27, 2008

Hmm I wonder how many of the above people ^ are RATM fans? Who really cares what they think, I kinda agree with We are Scientists, but there's no point getting so angry about it.

badweekend

Aug 28, 2008

... I think the WAS comments here are actually fairly sensible. Pay attention, kids, he never says that he thinks RATM are awful, just that he's not sure about them.

mercuriop

Sep 1, 2008

I do not like RATM. but bands must be more involved with politics. None should know what in nicaragua happened if it wasn't for the clash and "sandinista". and WAS are just a bunch of middle class yankee boy who wanna be the most funny in the classroom...

ld12345

Sep 1, 2008

It was fair for We Are Scientists to comment on Rage's behaviour. Regardless of how powerful their set was (which it certainly was) , as performers they should be careful in using something so politically relevant right now like Guantamano-Bay-esque outfits to entertain a crowd, as some could interpret this show differently to how Rage intended - just as Chris Cain has.

williamalake

Sep 1, 2008

Surely, as a band you are portraying your thoughts through your song. Is Murray saying that because Rage made a statement this is somehow not acceptable for a musician? I think that if you own the stage (like rage did, I was there!!) then you are free to voice your opinion whatever it is...

utopianmonk

Nov 21, 2008

well look you test-tube babies "we are scientist" ...if you think pullling out some crap on RATM goona make you famous.....be my guest...you may get some!!forget about making music...and go back to your labs and do what all shit you do!!"just the victims of in-house drive-by they say jump you say how high...you all got bullet in your head "