Machine Gun Kelly + Travis Barker Protested in Los Angeles Before Premiering a Cover of Rage Against the Machine’s ‘Killing in the Name’

The protesting taking place in the United States (and abroad) stemming from the May 25 police killing of George Floyd has inspired feverish reactions from all sides, corners and angles over the past two weeks, with musicians, public figures and entertainers taking part in protests (or, of course, posting on social media about it). Machine Gun Kelly and Travis Barker were on the ground in Los Angeles last week, fully immersed in the mix:

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The rapper/actor (MGK portrayed Tommy Lee in the 2019 Netflix Motley Crue biopic The Dirt) and drummer (of Blink-182, among countless other acts) channeled their energy into the studio as well, laying down an incendiary cover of “Killing in the Name,” the breakout 1992 anthem from Rage Against the Machine that still has significant relevance today.

“They wrote this song in 1992

It’s been 28 years since, and every word still applies,” said MGK about the cover:

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Watch their video performance below:

Were it not for the COVID-19 pandemic, Rage Against the Machine would be out on the road right now on a hugely anticipated reunion tour — but the pandemic ruined those plans, keeping the group off the road until (at least) Summer 2021. 

The timing of Rage Against the Machine, on the road during a time of civil unrest and leading up to a presidential election would have normally been the recipe for fireworks, but alas, it wasn’t meant to be (though we are getting a steady stream of social media commentary from guitarist Tom Morello).

10-year-old music prodigy Nandi Bushell has also tried her hand covering a Rage classic for the Black Lives Matter movement, as she premiered a rendition of “Guerrilla Radio” last week:

As for Travis Barker, the drummer’s kept plenty busy in the weeks since the pandemic paused the entire live music industry, turning up to play a key role last month in rapper Post Malone’s rather impressive Nirvana tribute set on YouTube: