December 17, 2009 16:45

BBC forced to apologise for Rage Against The Machine swearing live on radio

Band said 'fuck' four times during 'Killing In The Name' on BBC 5 live

Photo Gallery: Rage Against The Machine
Photo: PA

The BBC have issued an apology after Rage Against The Machine swore during a live performance of 'Killing In The Name' that was broadcast on 5Live this morning (December 17).

The band were performing via a live link-up shortly before 9am (GMT) today when frontman Zach De La Rocha sang "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" four times. Producers faded the band out as they continued to play.

A BBC spokesperson has now apologised for the broadcast, saying that the band had agreed not to swear before performing the song, reports BBC News.

"We had spoken to the band repeatedly beforehand and they had agreed not to swear," he said. "When they did, we faded the band out and said sorry immediately. We apologise again to anyone who was offended."

During the interview guitarist Tom Morello criticised The X Factor and Simon Cowell for spoon feeding people "one schmaltzy ballad after another".

Meanwhile, Simon Cowell has also slammed the campaign, calling it "stupid", "cynical" and "very Scrooge".

For more on The X Factor and its effect on British music, get the new issue of NME, on UK newsstands nationwide, for an exclusive interview with Cowell.