Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello played a surprise set on the picket line in front of Paramount Studios in Hollywood today (August 14).
SAG-AFTRA – Hollywood’s largest union, which represents 160,000 actors and performers – and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) are both currently on strike as they seek an increase in base pay and residuals in the age of streaming. They are also hoping to negotiate safeguards against the unregulated use of artificial intelligence in the film industry.
Speaking before the performance, Morello told NME he wanted to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with striking actors and writers: “They’re making history here on the sidewalk in front of Paramount Studios and I’m here to support them and express my solidarity.”
The guitarist, who described himself as a “proud union man”, applauded the actors and writers for “flexing their power and showing what solidarity means.”
He added that the ongoing strikes in the entertainment industry are part of a wider movement of organised worker power across the country that some have dubbed ‘Hot Labor Summer’. “In the United States right now, we have the biggest wave of strikes and organising in about 40 years,” said Morello. “In town right now, we also have hotel workers out [on strike] as well, so the picket lines are hot!”
Morello’s 15-minute set included ‘Union Song’, ‘Hold The Line’, ‘Union Town’ and a cover of Woody Guthrie’s ‘This Land Is Your Land’. “I’ve made music throughout my entire life to be played on picket lines and on the front lines,” said Morello. “So today is just one more day at the office with regards to that.”
The Collected Works of Kevin EG Perry 