Rage Against The Machine have hit out at Simon Cowell saying the X Factor boss has “profited greatly from humiliating people.”

Singer Zack de la Rocha made the comments in a controversial appearance on BBC Radio 5 live this morning which saw them sing “Fuck you I'll do what you tell me” live on air.

Before performing the track, Zac blasted Cowell by saying: “Simon is an interesting character who has profited greatly off humiliating people on live television and has a unique position of someone who can not only capture the attention of some people on television but also on the airwaves.

“We see this as a necessary break in the link of the chain of control.”

Asked about the criticism from some quarters that Rage are on the same label, Sony, as Cowell, guitarist Tom Morello rubbished the naysayers.

He said: “People aren't buying Killing In The Name to protest against a record coming out on a major company. We wrote 'Killing In The Name' in a small industrial slum in Los Angeles, the X Factor song was written by a cabal of overpaid songwriters to shove that schmaltzy business down your throats, so they are two very different choices.”

(by Scott Colothan)