Skillet frontman John Cooper discussed politics and Rage Against The Machine in a new Real Talk With Zuby interview.
“We’re, thank God, a successful band. But, man, the intense backlash about standing up for what you believe, if you’re on the conservative side, or even just the libertarian side, or … they don’t even like [prominent former Democrats] Elon Musk anymore. They don’t like Tulsi Gabbard anymore. They hate RFK [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.] with a passion now. I mean, it’s really insane. And I think that part of the not having the conversation thing is to do with this fake tolerance because they really believe if I even have a conversation with you, I’m legitimizing a Nazi.
“I was trying to convince someone in the industry recently who… SKILLET’s been canceled multiple times because of these things. And I was saying, I was, like, ‘I don’t think you understand. I might be the most actual inclusive, tolerant person in the music industry. Okay?’ And they’re, like, ‘Well, no, you’re not because you’re against abortion.’ And I’m, like, ‘No, no, no. I’ve spent my career touring with people who are my friends.’ My kids are always on the road, so they are friends to my kids. We eat dinner together. We have fun together. We hang out together every single day. Most all of them don’t agree with me on religion, on politics, on abortion, on the border, on whatever. And it has never come between our friendship — ever. It wouldn’t even cross my mind, because it’s so against my faith as well. And so I’m actually far more inclusive than you guys because you want you can’t even hear it.”
“Am I crazy to be as optimistic as I am? Something feels like it’s shifting. And I am not some Trump sycophant or something like that. I’m absolutely not. I don’t think Trump’s a prophet of God or any of the weird things people say, I think, online. I believe that politics cannot save us. I think only God can save us. I love politics. I think it matters. I am feeling extremely optimistic, and I don’t know if I’m crazy to feel that.
“Not to get too preachy, but the Bible says that if you seek for the truth, you’ll find it,” he continued. “If you seek the truth, you’ll find it. And I am seeing… I don’t know. I’m just so optimistic because all of a sudden, it just feels like in the last six months, I’m, like, ‘Wait a minute. Another person that I know is speaking the truth.’ That was never the case for the last several [years]… To me, every day, it’s getting a little brighter and brighter and brighter. And I’m starting to be, like, ‘Okay, okay.’ And again, I think it’s really great when it’s people that don’t agree with me about everything, but it’s, like, ‘Oh, it’s totally fine to have this conversation.’ And that’s just better for everybody. That takes me back to what it was like when I was growing up. It was never like this when I was growing up. I never lost friends ’cause you voted for George Bush. It’s, like, who cares? It was never like that.”
“I remember I got in a lot of trouble in 2021 because I was, I think rightly, making fun of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE. ‘Cause RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE’s anti-government and they were doing these, like, vax-only shows. And I just was, like, ‘Well, it’s just crazy that me, the Christian rock star, that I’m the punk rock revolutionary now.'”
Tom Morello has denied that COVID-19 mask and vaccine requirements were required at RATM shows. “While I am a big supporter of science, hear my words: NO RAGE fan was EVER required to present anything other than a ticket to see the band.”
