This was a time when subversive music was frequently banned from radio and other media outlets, and at times removed from circulation altogether. The circling of the drain only continued after 9/11, and the dark days of the second Bush administration. By the late-90’s, in a world of musical plasticity, it seemed there was nowhere left to go for meaningful music. While the 80’s and 90’s had their fair share of incredibly important protest songs, it was nothing compared to the tsunami of consciousness created by the counter-culture of previous decades. And it is this kind of force, that gets people in positions of power uncomfortable.Īfter this time, radicalism predominantly faded away from popular music in America. It proved that music with a message, if given a proper platform, was a force that could create real change. From pioneers of the early-60’s folk scene such as Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Phil Ochs - to the anti-war songs of the latter end of the decade and early-70’s politically conscious popular music changed not only an entire nation, but the entire world. Yet at times, it seems as if the popular music, which traditionally is there to reflect turbulent times such as these, has been mysteriously absent in recent years.ĭuring the 1960’s and 1970’s, rebel music defined a generation. These are no doubt very political days in which we live.

Rock n’ roll music has always been there to protest, subvert, rebel and to rage against social and political injustices.

From the struggles that are ingrained in rock n’ roll’s blues roots, through the protest songs of the 1960’s and the punk explosion of the late-70’s, to this very day. Rock n’ roll and politics have always gone hand-in-hand. “In these troubled times, successful social movements always require a great soundtrack - and we aim to provide it.” “The label gives you one-stop shopping for all your rebel music needs,” he said in an interview with Rolling Stone last year.

In June of 2015, Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave/The Nightwatchmen) created Firebrand Records a record label specifically geared toward artists with a political and social conscience. Prophets of Rage are taking the summer of 2016 by storm, and with the return of these songs comes with it the reinvigorated interest in what Morello likes to call, “Rebel Music.” The world needs the protest music of the kind created by these artists now more than ever. There is a very good reason why Morello, along with B-Real from Cypress Hill, Chuck D from Public Enemy and Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk of Rage Against The Machine decided to form the supergroup Prophets of Rage. “Dangerous times demand dangerous songs,” said Tom Morello in a recent interview with Rolling Stone.

Protest songs by pearl jam