Rage Against the Machine

Rage Against the Machine (Rage) was formed in Los Angeles in 1991. Composed of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford, and drummer Brad Wilk, the band played their first live performance in a friend's living room in Orange County, California. In 1992, they were signed to Epic Records and released their self-titled debut album in November of that year. Rage is known not only for their unique and innovative sound but also for their overtly political lyrics and for their activism. In fact, many Rage songs openly advocate political and social resistance and encourage listeners to critically engage their government, economic and social institutions, and the popular media. Rage's distinct sound can perhaps be best described as a fusion of hip-hop, metal, punk, jazz, and other elements. Their innovation and commercial success helped introduce and legitimate this brand of political, hard-edged, hip-hop/metal. Tackling issues such as racism, exploitation, globalization, colonialism, war, and democracy from a generally left-wing, activist perspective, Rage helped reintroduce political discourse to popular music in the 1990s. Outside of their music, Rage's political activities have often spread beyond the messages in their songs.

They have been outspoken in their support of Mumia Abu-Jamal, a black journalist and member of the Black Panthers, who was convicted of killing a police officer in 1981 and sentenced to death, and Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life terms in 1977 for the murder of two FBI agents. The guilt of both and the fairness of their trials have been questioned by supporters, and Rage has performed at benefits to contribute to their legal defense funds. In addition, the band, and Zack de la Rocha in particular, have been outspoken supporters of Mexico's revolutionary Zapatistas. They have also aligned themselves with a variety of causes and organizations and participated in many benefit concerts and efforts for organizations such as, among others, Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting, Rock for Choice, and Refuse & Resist. Rage has also made headlines for conducting various protest actions. In one, a protest against censorship during their Lollapaloza tour, band members stood nude on stage; the letters PMRC (Parents Music Resource Council) were painted on their chests and their mouths were taped shut. They also staged a live concert outside of the 2000 Democratic National Convention and shut down the New York Stock Exchange during the filming of the video for “Sleep Now in the Fire.” Rage's albums include Rage Against the Machine (1992), Evil Empire (1996), The Battle of Los Angeles (1999), and Renegades (2000). Zack de la Rocha left Rage in 2000, citing a breakdown in the band's collective decision-making process. The remaining members joined with Chris Cornell, formerly of Soundgarden, as Audioslave.