Prophets of Rage have only been together a few months, but they’re already making waves in the music industry with their eyebrow-raising choice of venues. The group, which consists of members of Rage Against the Machine, Cypress Hill and Public Enemy, had been slated to perform for 800 inmates at a California state prison but were prevented from doing so. So instead, the group decided to play outside the prison walls, so that the inmates could still hear them.
“It was denied at the last minute because apparently they got some calls from right-wing nuts in Sacramento who said they were going to foment rebellion,” guitarist for the group Tom Morello said to CBS Los Angeles. “What we meant to do is come here to help the prisoners and play a great show.”
The ban was issued by the California Department of Corrections mere minutes before the show, which was initially scheduled to be a benefit for the nonprofit organization Jail Guitar Doors, run by Wayne Kramer.
Kramer, who was present at the show, said that “They didn’t want to see good things happen for what they consider to be bad people, when in truth, they’re just people.”
Morello then explained why the group chose the venue, saying, “We play for those on the lowest rungs of the ladder. We play for the underclass, those who do not have a presidential candidate who represents them.”
In other Prophets of Rage news, the band is currently on a U.S. tour, which surprisingly enough began at the Republican National Convention. The tour is slated to end on Oct. 16 in Chula Vista California and will be hitting musical hotspots Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Nashville and Las Vegas.
