Rage Against the Machine

Artist Image: Rage Against the Machine
Attribution
Image Credit: Penner (https://www.flickr.com/photos/penner/1977294428/), CC BY-SA 3.0

Biography

Rage Against the Machine (also known as RATM or just Rage) is an American political rap metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group consists of rapper and vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk. They draw inspiration from early heavy metal instrumentation, as well as hip hop acts such as Afrika Bambaataa, Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys and Dutch crossover band Urban Dance Squad. Rage Against the Machine is well known for the members' leftist and revolutionary political views, which are expressed in many of the band's songs. As of 2010, they have sold over 16 million records worldwide. In 1992, the band released its self-titled debut album, which became a commercial and critical success, leading to a slot in the 1993 Lollapalooza festival. In 2003, the album was ranked number 368 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The band did not release a follow-up record until 1996, with Evil Empire. The band's third album, The Battle of Los Angeles, followed in 1999, and in 2003, the album was ranked number 426 on the same list. During their initial nine-year run, they became one of the most popular and influential bands in music history, according to music journalist Colin Devenish. They were also ranked No. 33 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. The band had a large influence on the nu metal genre which came to prominence during the second half of the 1990s. In 2000, the band released the cover album, Renegades. The same year, growing tensions over the direction of the band prompted de la Rocha to quit, leading to the band's breakup. De la Rocha started a low-key solo career, while the rest of the band formed the rock supergroup Audioslave with Chris Cornell, then-former frontman of Soundgarden; Audioslave recorded three albums before disbanding in 2007. The same year, Rage Against the Machine announced a reunion and performed together for the first time in seven years at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2007. Up until 2011, the band continued to perform at more live venues and festivals around the world. As of 2016, the group has no plans to perform or release new music.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1991
Number of Albums 7
Record Label
Website ratm.com
Wikipedia Rage Against the Machine on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

Where did Tom Morello attend a club where Zach De La Rocha was rapping?

1991

...end of different genres, including hiphop, metal and funk. Formation: In 1991 , Tom Morello attended a club in Los Angeles where Zach De La Rocha was f...
What type of rapping did De La Rocha do?

freestyle

... Tom Morello attended a club in Los Angeles where Zach De La Rocha was freestyle rapping. Impressed by his lyrics, Morello asked De La Rocha to form a...
Who did Morello ask to form a band with?

Zach De La Rocha

...rmation: In 1991, Tom Morello attended a club in Los Angeles where Zach De La Rocha was freestyle rapping. Impressed by his lyrics, Morello asked De L...
When was Rage Against the Machine released?

1992

... Records and their debut album, Rage Against the Machine was released in 1992 . Rage Against the Machine: Record Releases and Notable Moments Rage Agai...
What year did Evil Empire enter the US?

1996

...hine was Evil Empire, which entered the US album charts at number one in 1996 . In April that year, the band performed 'Bulls On Parade' on the hit US ...
What was the name of the song that Against The Machine performed on Saturday Night Live?

Bulls On Parade

...arts at number one in 1996. In April that year, the band performed ' Bulls On Parade ' on the hit US TV show Saturday Night Live. The band's performance...
What was Steve Forbes' political affiliation?

Republican

... inverted American flags from their speakers as a protest against the Republican politician Steve Forbes, who was also a guest on the show that night....
Who is the vocalist of Rage against the Machine?

Zack de la Rocha

... Wilk, Tom Morello. Formed in 1991, the group consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha , bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morell...
When was Rage Against the Machine nominated for induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?

2017

... into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility in 2017 , then again in 2018, 2019, and 2021, though the bids failed. Rage Agains...
When did the band debut at Lollapalooza?

1993

...bum in 1992 to commercial and critical success, leading to a slot in the 1993 Lollapalooza festival; in 2003, the album was ranked number 368 on Rolli...
What was the number of the album on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time?

368

...t in the 1993 Lollapalooza festival; in 2003, the album was ranked number 368 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The band...
Which two albums topped the Billboard 200 chart?

Evil Empire (1996) and The Battle of Los Angeles (1999),

...lbums of all time. The band's next two albums, Evil Empire (1996) and The Battle of Los Angeles (1999), were also successful; both albums topped the B...
Rage Against the Machine became a popular and influential band during what period?

initial nineyear run

...essful; both albums topped the Billboard 200 chart. During their initial nineyear run , Rage Against the Machine became a popular and influential band,...
What is the title of the 2010 Finsbury Park victory gig?

Live At Finsbury Park

...bury Park 2010 victory gig is released on DVD and Bluray called ' Live At Finsbury Park .' 11272012 'Rage Against The Machine XX (20th Anniversary)' edi...
What is the name of the festival held in Brazil?

SWU Festival

...ased to celebrate the band's debut album. 102010 Rage perform at the SWU Festival in Brazil, the Maquinaria Festival in Chile, and Pepsi Music Festiva...
Where is the Maquinaria Festival held?

Chile

...0 Rage perform at the SWU Festival in Brazil, the Maquinaria Festival in Chile , and Pepsi Music Festival in Argentina. 07232010 Rage return to Los Ang...
How many people did Rage raise to help Arizona organizations fighting the SB1070 immigration law?

300,000

...e return to Los Angeles for their first U.S. show in two years, raising 300,000 to benefit Arizona organizations fighting the SB1070 immigration law. ...
In what country does Rage play?

Ireland

...and plays a concert in The Netherlands. 06082010 Rage play a concert in Ireland . 2000's 122009 Killing in the Name becomes a Christmas 1 on the U.K. S...
Where did the Lollapalooza Music Festival take place?

Chicago

...Convention. 08022008 Rage coheadline the Lollapalooza Music Festival in Chicago . 82008 Rage Against The Machine headline the Tent State Music Festival...
What event took place during the Democratic National Convention in Denver?

Tent State Music Festival to End the War

... in Chicago. 82008 Rage Against The Machine headline the Tent State Music Festival to End the War during the Democratic National Convention in Denver....
What Greek philosopher once wrote, The introduction of a new kind of music must be shunned?

Plato

...page on how to submit Rage Against the Machine lyrics. Greek philosopher Plato once wrote, The introduction of a new kind of music must be shunned as ...
Styles of music are never disturbed without affecting the most important what?

political institutions

... music are never disturbed without affecting the most important political institutions . It is this idea that fueled the inspiration behind Rage Agains...
Machine combined the aggressiveness of what genre of music with the vocal styling of rap?

metal

...iration behind Rage Against the Machine. Combining the aggressiveness of metal with the vocal styling of rap, the band decided to use this hybrid to b...
Where did de la Rocha and Timmy C. grow up?

Orange County, California

...e exploited and repressed. De la Rocha and Timmy C. grew up in Orange County, California , an area known for its suburban conservatism. As a child, de ...
Along with heavy metal, punk and funk, what genre of music is Rage against the Machine known for?

hip hop

... California in 1991. Rage Against the Machine is noted for its blend of hip hop , heavy metal, punk and funk as well as its revolutionary politics and ...
What rap acts were Rage against the Machine influenced by?

Public Enemy and Afrika Bambaataa

...m early metal instrumentation, as well as rap acts such as Public Enemy and Afrika Bambaataa . The group's music is distinguished primarily by de la Ro...
Whose guitar techniques were unorthodox?

Morello

...rimarily by de la Rocha's rhyming styles and powerful stage energy, and Morello 's unorthodox guitar techniques. Rage Against the Machine released thei...
What was the name of the band's second album after the first?

Evil Empire

...e 1993 Lollapalooza, the band did not release a followup record until Evil Empire in 1996. The band's third album The Battle of Los Angeles was releas...
How many songs was the cassette released in 1992 that led to a contract with Epic Records?

12

...incorporated elements of hiphop and heavy metal. The group selfreleased a 12 song cassette in 1992, which led to a contract with Epic Records. Early hi...
What did the song Killing in the Name address?

police corruption

...ontract with Epic Records. Early hit Killing in the Name addressed police corruption , and other songs were similarly political. The group became invol...
Mumia AbuJamal wanted a new trial, what did Peltier want?

parole

...new trial, jailed Native American activist Leonard Peltier s pursuit of parole , and the plight of sweatshop workers in lessdeveloped countries. Evil E...
Who was a death row inmate?

Mumia AbuJamal

...nvolved in causes such as former Black Panther and death row inmate Mumia AbuJamal s quest for a new trial, jailed Native American activist Leonard Pe...
How did Evil Empire rank on the Billboard albums chart?

number one

...yrics of the bands debut album, entered the Billboard albums chart at number one . In the summer of 2000 the group staged a concert outside the Democra...
In what month and year did dela Rocha announce his departure?

October

...which a small riot erupted between some audience members and police. In October of that year, de la Rocha announced his departure from the band shortl...
What was the name of the eclectic collection of covers of rock and hiphop artists?

Renegades

...ha announced his departure from the band shortly before the release of Renegades , an eclectic collection of covers of rock and hiphop artists, includi...
How many successful albums did the band produce before breaking up?

three

...lave with former Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell. Audioslave produced three successful albums before breaking up. Their first album appeared the fo...
In what year will Rage Against The Machine reunite?

2020

...The Machine have announced that theyre reuniting for a slate of shows in 2020 . A Harvard graduate guitarist raised on metal and a punkrock vocalist wi...
Who brought bass player Tim Commerford?

Zack

... as Ice Cube and played in Eddie Vedders prePearl Jam crew Greta), while Zack brought bassplayer Tim Commerford, but RatM were never a gang. Their des...
What was the name of the band that he bought in 1996?

Never Mind The Bollocks

...sions, Rocha explained in 1996. In fact, four days after buying Never Mind The Bollocks hed formed his first band. Zack, meanwhile, fell hard for the ...
How many days after buying Never Mind the Bollock's did he form his own band?

four

...nt through a series of ego explosions, Rocha explained in 1996. In fact, four days after buying Never Mind The Bollocks hed formed his first band. Zac...
When did the band implode and decide to take a break?

late 2000

...tting down the New York Stock Exchange for a video shoot). However, in late 2000 , the band imploded and decided to take a break. Into the 2010s, a rum...
What was the name of the band's side project in the 2010s?

Prophets of Rage

...l landscape, performing shows and working on side projects such as Prophets of Rage . That same year, in the midst of international protests against po...
What label did Rage Against the Machine align itself with?

Sony

...decision to align itself with the label's parent company, media behemoth Sony . Undeterred, the quartet made their official majorlabel debut with Rage ...
How long did the band work on their follow-up?

four years

...k for Choice, and Refuse & Resist, Rage spent a reportedly tumultuous four years working on their followup. Despite rumors of a breakup, they returned...
Evil Empire scored a hit single with what song?

Bulls on Parade

... of a breakup, they returned in 1996 with Evil Empire, which entered the U.S. album charts at number one and scored a hit single with Bulls on Parade ....