Top 10 Political Bands

Without a doubt the most overtly leftist political band to gain a large following... And unlike an unfortunately large amount of political music RATM slaps

Has there even been a more famous overtly political band? - Mrveteran

No question here. Every song these guys write is like an enormous middle finger to the U.S. government. With Zack de la Rocha's unmatchable rage and scream-rap style, Tim Commerford's funky bass, Brad Wilk's pounding drums, and Tom Morello's insane guitar capabilities, Rage's music is still relevant 20 years after it first came out. - phillysports

Simply revolutionary!

Come on they just wrote the best political song, so they deserve to be #1.

Green Day only started to get political after they released "American Idiot", but they have picked up where Rage left off and have been the leading proponent against the government. "American Idiot" as a whole was almost like a diss album to the entire Bush administration, and everybody in America could relate. - phillysports

This is a very good and meaningful list. I respect bands that dare to write political songs. - Metal_Treasure

They aren't specifically known for their political music, but when they do get political, they are loud, aggressive and fearless.

They were very politically charged, often calling for things like the recognition of the Armenian genocide by the USA.

Some of the political songs made sense like B.Y.O.B and Hypnotize

With songs about the Armenian Genocide, government corruption, and media manipulation, System of a Down is a great metal bands that knows how to get their point across with force. - phillysports

Best metal band to be political without being other bias talks about corruption the media the armenian genocide advertising not that metal like but still

With albums like "United Abominations" and many of their songs talking about a "New World Order", Dave's lyrics are driven and hard to beat in terms of songwriting.

One of the best examples is Peace Sells. Video helps to understand the song. Musically, this is one of my favorite Megadeth songs. - Metal_Treasure

With anger and sadness at equal strength, Rise Against is a punk rock band that has been taking shots at the government for a very long time. - phillysports

"Help is on the way " is a very good example - Ananya

Many songs and the entire album "...And Justice for All", where the lyrics feature themes of political and legal injustice seen through the prisms of censorship, war, and nuclear brinkmanship. - Metal_Treasure

The Clampdown, Straight to Hell, Career Opportunities, dare I say Rock the Casbah, Know Your Rights, cover of Police and Thieves, Police On My Back, Spanish Bombs, Hate & War, Charlie Don’t Surf, Ivan Meets GI Joe, Ghetto Defendant, Bank Robber, One More Time/Dub, Washington Bullets, White Man in Hammersmith Palais, The Call Up, English Civil War, The Guns of Brixton, Kingston Advice,Justice Tonight/Kick It Over, London Calling.
This was all before social media and 24/7 news.

LONDON CALLING

With a band name that sums up the group's political intent, the Dead Kennedy's were among the leaders in the hardcore punk scene of the '80s. They held nothing back in criticizing the government, the Reagan administration in particular. - phillysports

I don't even know why green day is on here.

They have many political songs, sot hey qualify. Yeah, they're not as biting as the Dead Kennedys, but they're still political overall. - JoLeKosovo

Terrible

This is probably the most political correct band I know. Such an amazing band combining Roger Waters angry, deep lyrics together with David Gilmours chilling guitar playing expressing poetry through the notes of the guitar. Their anger against the deciders who decide what you must do in both their rock opera: The Wall and Animals will make you appreciate the ensamble of the most legendary rock band in history of music.

N.W.A were pretty much against everything and everybody, put they put special emphasis on the mistreatment of African Americans in the U.S., and the issue of police brutality. And with the current news stories of today, Dre, Cube, E, Ren, and Yella's music will never lose its impact. - phillysports

The band that was the leader in the anti-Vietnam War movement. Songs like "Fortunate Son" can really just speak for themselves. - phillysports

Not only political with their music, but with their causes.

I know it might be weird to place a relatively calm band like U2 on a list with metal, punk rock, and hip hop groups, but in their early days U2 was not afraid to challenge the government of Ireland. None is that more apparent than protest songs like "Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "New Year's Day". - phillysports

Midnight Oil are BANGERS

Clearly the most politically driven band of all time

Their lead Singer became a politician. That should give everyone an idea of how political this band is

Loved this band. ‘Beds are burning’, got me involved and interested in social injustice.

Should be number 1 or 2 for consistency.

I mean they have an entire album dedicated to Drone warfare, a song called uprising, and the ultimate "screw you hitler" song: Take a bow

Rather under-rated prog/prog metal band.

There is no lyricist alive better than Daniel Gildenlöw. His lyrics are very deep, aggressive and makes you think about politics in a way no one has did before.

Anti-Flag is an American punk rock band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. The band is well known for politically charged lyrics and activism, focusing on anti-war activism, anti-imperialism, class struggle, human rights, and various sociopolitical sentiments.

MC5 was an American rock band from Lincoln Park, Michigan, formed in 1964. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson. "Crystallizing the counterculture movement at its most volatile and threatening", according to AllMusic critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine, the MC5's leftist political ties and anti-establishment lyrics and music positioned them as emerging innovators of the punk movement in the United States. Their loud, energetic style of back-to-basics rock and roll included elements of garage rock, hard rock, blues rock, and psychedelic rock.