Rage Against The Machine

Rage Against The Machine

Bosses at the BBC have received a stern warning from decency watchdogs after radio producers failed to stop heavy rockers Rage Against The Machine swearing during a live performance.

Officials at Britain's broadcasting standards organisation Ofcom received a string of complaints after the band appeared on BBC 5 Live's breakfast show in December to promote their controversial 1992 hit Killing In The Name, which was re-released last year.

Frontman Zack de la Rocha was asked not to include the song's ending, in which he sings "F**k you, I won't do what you tell me" 16 times. The singer initially agreed to the request, but went ahead and sang the lines anyway - forcing producers to cut him off, and prompting apologies from the show's presenters.

Media regulatory body Ofcom has now ruled on the case, and although the corporation's executives escaped punishment, they were criticised for letting de la Rocha sing the line four times before the sound was eventually faded out.

Ofcom bosses made allowances as the radio station is aimed at adults and the song was broadcast while most children would have been at school. They also noted the apologies that were made during the show and the steps taken in a bid to stop the controversial line being included in the performance.