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April 30, 2007

Coachella: Rage Against The Machine Reunite

"Killing In The Name" was particularly insane; you haven't lived until you've yelled "Fuck you I won't do what you tell me," pumping fists with 60,000 sunburned kids in the desert.


The audience expected, and received, the most politically-charged set of the weekend. That the band was compelled to reunite amid this unprecedented partisan climate made the performance more significant than Rage's last Coachella show in '99. And lest there was any confusion, Zack de la Rocha let his thoughts on the current administration be known with these words:

"[The current administration] needs to be tried, hung and shot. We need to treat them like the war criminals they are. But the challenges we face go beyond the current administration … It’s a system we have to tear down, generation after generation."
The moshers seemed to understand.





SETLIST
01 "Testify"
02 "Bulls On Parade"
03 "People Of The Sun"
04 "Bombtrack"
05 "Bullet In The Head"
06 "Down Rodeo"
07 "Guerrilla Radio"
08 "Renegades Of Funk"
09 "Calm Like A Bomb"
10 "Sleep Now In The Fire"
11 "Wake Up"
12 "Freedom"
13 "Killing In The Name"

Posted at 9:02 AM in
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106 Comments

Sounds like a great show, I'm jealous.

I never understood their need to wear their guitars (and that bass!) so friggin' high. It is just wrong IMO.

Posted by: Sarah at 04/30/07 10:05 AM | Reply
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i'm pretty sure you're not supposed to say the president should die lest the secret service come and take you away

Posted by: kevin at 04/30/07 10:18 AM | Reply
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Even in jest!

Posted by: scott at 04/30/07 10:20 AM | Reply
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brilliant!

Posted by: Rygun at 04/30/07 10:28 AM | Reply
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what an amazing setlist...man. jealous.

Posted by: kylie at 04/30/07 10:39 AM | Reply
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"unprecedented partisan climate"?

Uh... no. If one of my students said that, I'd deduct points.

Posted by: Rich at 04/30/07 10:44 AM | Reply
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I've missed RATM. What a great setlist.

Oh, and Sarah, strapping the guitar high is better if you are trying to play fast and/or technical passages, as they often do.

Posted by: Nate at 04/30/07 10:53 AM | Reply
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Ah yes, Rage Against the Machine, the band that fights to free a convicted cop killer. Fuck them.

Posted by: JT at 04/30/07 11:00 AM | Reply
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long live rage

Posted by: matt at 04/30/07 11:10 AM | Reply
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i think JT might have little sand in his vagina..

Posted by: Rygun at 04/30/07 11:27 AM | Reply
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Or, Rage Against the Machine, a band that started a sound in 1993 that was repeatedly copied in the late nineties by the suburbia of Southern California by trying to fuze hardcore and hip-hop. RATM accelled not only be creating the genre but by layering the music with extremely political messages.

Since their start, many horrible pop bands have imitated the same formula, but have failed miserably in being as talented or sincere.

Personally, their sound grew old to me, but in seeing the big picture now, I'm glad they reunited to perform once again. Well done boys. We salute you. (with a middle finger)

Posted by: Matt at 04/30/07 11:31 AM | Reply
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I've found myself missing them during this administration, more than I could explain. I wish I could have seen this show.

Posted by: courtney at 04/30/07 11:38 AM | Reply
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No, Rygun, JT just doesn't have any warm fuzzy feelings towards a band that tries to free a pathetic piece of trash that murdered a man that was simply doing his job.

But of course I don't expect you to understand. Bands like Rage usually attract the rather dim-witted types. That's why they're totally ineffective at making any changes, because their fans are by and large morons.

Posted by: JT at 04/30/07 11:38 AM | Reply
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Well look at it this way: cops uphold the law and keep society from descending into anarchy, Rage Against the Machine wrote "Bulls On Parade".

Clearly, Rage wins.

Go buy yourself a sense of humor, dude.

Posted by: Liam at 04/30/07 11:44 AM | Reply
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Way to cause an impact, slinging anti-Bush slogans at the fucking Coachella festival. You brave soul.

Posted by: KingHater at 04/30/07 11:55 AM | Reply
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dude loved the comment about missing this band during this current administration, man oh man would they have been word of mouth in that white house with they lyrics they sing

Posted by: paulag at 04/30/07 12:00 PM | Reply
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I'm not so sure I want the current administration killed in that fashion. A) I don't wish that much ill will on people, even if they're people I don't particularly care for; and B) I don't want them recognized as martyrs by, say, Bill O'Reilly or Ann Coulter or anyone of that ilk, 'cause you know they would be.

Posted by: Laura at 04/30/07 12:04 PM | Reply
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Laura, your surname wouldn't happen to be Bush, would it?

Posted by: Hugo Chávez at 04/30/07 12:16 PM | Reply
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For anyone unclear about what "JT" is alluding to, by all means Google "Mumia Abu Jamal," and learn about the case.

To JT: Are you a Philly cop? Were you somehow there when it happened, and know something the rest of the world doesn't? Did you read that Republican-written-and-commissioned anti-Jamal piece in Vanity Fair? Do you oppose the concept of a re-trial in general, if evidence warrants it (and it does, hence what the movement for Jamal has always pushed for)?

Why would you claim to be SO SURE about the case? Is the concept of a miscarriage of justice totally and completely foreign to you? Even in the abstract, I mean? Very strange. I'm all for contrarian viewpoints and challenging kneejerk celebrity causes, but I would be really surprised if you actually had read about the case. It's much more complicated than it seems, and even most people who hate Jamal aren't so self-righteous about it.

Posted by: Ben at 04/30/07 12:20 PM | Reply
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hung and shot?

Posted by: matt at 04/30/07 12:20 PM | Reply
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Zach just escaped from Guantanamo Bay. There's no other excuse for his voice being gone through this entire administration. They need to play Al Gore's polar bear rock thing.

Posted by: d at 04/30/07 12:35 PM | Reply
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Ben,

Thank you for being able to say (more eloquently than myself) what I was thinking in response to JT's ridiculous statements.

Posted by: bwm at 04/30/07 12:44 PM | Reply
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Free Mumia.

Posted by: KRS-One at 04/30/07 1:04 PM | Reply
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Wow, the Wikipedia entry on Mumia is about as poorly written and organzed as any I've seen. The Avril Lavigne actually has better citations and structure. Or so I've heard.

Posted by: Ferris at 04/30/07 1:08 PM | Reply
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To Tom Morello: "Fuck you I won't do what you tell me". Since Tom is so "radical" I assume he worked for free or donated his take to ... oh, let's say ...the Sandanistas. What a self righteous a-hole.

Even Johnny Rotten had a sense of humor. BTW, who ASKED for hip hop rock? About as appealing as jazz rock.

Posted by: M at 04/30/07 1:10 PM | Reply
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Rap-rock/metal was actually artistically viable for about five minutes there. The better stuff (Rage, Beasties, uh...) is actually really good, but it's the dumbed down twice removed stuff (see Limp Bizkit, "Rollin'") that ruined it and probably destroyed any credibility the whole genre could have had.

Posted by: Ferris at 04/30/07 1:13 PM | Reply
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Free Mumia* Offer not valid in AK or HI.


* With purchase of Rage ringtone. Show your friends how "with it" you really are.

Posted by: phil lee at 04/30/07 1:15 PM | Reply
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These self-important pricks still seem to live in the U.S., still seem to enjoy the freedoms (and CASH) that comes along with living in the U.S., and yet they act like they live in Stalin's Russia or some shit. I'm not saying the U.S. is perfect, but these guys are douches, even if they can rock.

Posted by: bp at 04/30/07 1:41 PM | Reply
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BP - the entire groundwork of the US is based on questioning authority figures. While the impact of Rage is questionable it's clear they do what they do out of love for what this country could be, or should be. When people say shit like "if you don't like it get out" it drives me crazy. You're missing the fucking point here - we're SUPPOSED to question authority. That's what real Americans do, it's our duty checks and balances. Thank God that George Washington, John Adams, and Ben Franklin didn't "get out" when they had complaints.

Posted by: Matt at 04/30/07 2:05 PM | Reply
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bp,

yeah its so douchey to write songs that are deeper than "oh i miss you baby" or "ye-ahhh".

as for living in the US, didnt Zach move to central or south america when the band broke up?

make you feel any better?

as for counting someone elses money - now who is being the douche?

Posted by: tony at 04/30/07 2:10 PM | Reply
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Step back from all your battling here, and realize that Rage does make people aware of certain things. It may not be direct, but look - take Mumia Abu Jabal for example. There is someone in this article that went to wikipedia and searched that name to find out who it was. Start taking things out of context. Hate them, or love them - get over the ridiculous brouhaha and get on with it.

Posted by: John at 04/30/07 2:35 PM | Reply
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Step back from all your battling here, and realize that Rage does make people aware of certain things. It may not be direct, but look - take Mumia Abu Jabal for example. There is someone in this article that went to wikipedia and searched that name to find out who it was. Start taking things out of context. Hate them, or love them - get over the ridiculous brouhaha and get on with it.

Posted by: John at 04/30/07 2:37 PM | Reply
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Um, the irony of 60,000 kids chanting non-conformity slogans?

Posted by: zank at 04/30/07 2:40 PM | Reply
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Correction: May not be direct to those that dislike rage - I was just saying to look past the influence they have directly in front of them on stage

Posted by: John at 04/30/07 3:02 PM | Reply
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Didn't Joe Strummer talk about "turning rebellion into money"? Morello is the king of phony bravado. Go protest in China or Iran if you want to face actual persecution, ya 9th grade philospher.

Posted by: m at 04/30/07 3:15 PM | Reply
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Who cares about some phony act soon to be featured on "I Love The 90's". Where is ANY review of The Good, The Bad and The Queen's performance? At least their complaints aren't based on one dimensional recycled 60's hippie dogma.

Posted by: Yawn at 04/30/07 3:21 PM | Reply
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instead of bitching about the government on stage they should really go back to their bedrooms and bitch about rock bands on the internet. the assholes.

Posted by: seth at 04/30/07 3:31 PM | Reply
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And yet I'll bet they're decidedly against capital punishment.

Anyway, listen...I understand Zach's in a tight spot when it comes to giving the old Rage fans what they want. Like, imagine if all the pseudo-intellectual political activist BS you now cringe about having spouted off in college so as to appear deep so you could get laid with the artsy chicks when you were a snotty 20-year-old know-it-all was committed to tape and subsequently revered by a generation of kids, just as ignorant - or perhaps moreso - than you were at the time of writing.

And then imagine that every musical venture you attempted since then, well, didn't quite pan out (cough - solo album). And then the chance arose to cash in on a reunion show at a bloated music festival. So you, now a 37-year-old man, jump onstage with the duty of forcing yourself to the summon conviction to convincingly deliver the juvenile sermons of an angsty 20-year-old.

There's something halfway tragic there. I don't know.

I hope the residuals are decent.

Posted by: KingHater at 04/30/07 3:51 PM | Reply
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I grew up loving Rage and I was lucky enough to be at this show. I was surprised to find that you can actually dance to this music when you're in your twenties and no longer a teenager.

Posted by: Carl at 04/30/07 4:29 PM | Reply
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Zach never stopped being an activist one bit. He lived with the farmers of Southern California helping fight off developers who wanted to buy their land. He was still writing stuff, and put a track with DJ Shadow. He wants his voice heard, the same with the other members. Tom Morello still has the angst he had in RATM, proof being his recently released CD under the name The Nightwatchman. It is quite politically charged. He has a radio program called Axis of Justice too. People who want to make a difference don't stop, just look at Neil Young, Bob Dylan, etc.

Posted by: Paul at 04/30/07 4:58 PM | Reply
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George W Bush never stopped being an activist one bit. He lived with the ranchers of Texas helping fight off hippies who wanted to sleep on their their land. His staff is still writing stuff, and put out a statment with Dick Chaney. He wants his voice heard, the same with the other members of the Republican Party. George W Bush still has the angst he had in Texas, proof being his recent press conference. It is quite politically charged. He has a radio program called the President's Weekly Address,too. People who want to make a difference don't stop, just look at Newt Gingrich, John McCain, etc.

Wow, this drivel practically writes itself!

Posted by: Enough at 04/30/07 5:14 PM | Reply
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political idealism, the president sucks, your jumping onstage is sad, that guy killed a cop, i like pie, these guys rock, my opinion is valid, they sold records but didn't bring a fucking cop back to life, my opinion is valid, someone pat me on the back!

Posted by: publius at 04/30/07 5:25 PM | Reply
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Sorry, but I'm tired of people's ignorance and the fact that Zach and RATM are still about the music! Btw, don't mock me "Enough".

Posted by: Paul at 04/30/07 5:38 PM | Reply
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Sorry, but I'm tired of every Rage fan's musical ignorance and the fact that Zach and RATM are still about turning rebellion into personal profit! Btw, Paul and all rap metal fans cannot be mocked "Enough".

Posted by: Enuff at 04/30/07 5:44 PM | Reply
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To: M

Excuse me, but why are you cussing at me? I have actually done a lot of work for free and given away a lot of my earnings (yes, some to Sandanistas). Do I keep it all, though? No, of course not. I am an avowed socialist, so I don't believe in living "high off the hog."

You seem like an intelligent fellow, so I fell as though I should ask, when you were offered government-subsidized student loans in college, did you refuse them and say, "No thanks, I'll take my chances earning my way through school via free market capitalism"? I have an idea what the answer might be, but I won't "assume."

As far as my music, I was doing what I thought sounded catchy, making something that was hopefully good enough to listen to. There was never a musical agenda. If it happened to combine traditional rock structures with hip-hop elements, then so be it. I mean, was it so wrong that it happened that way? Is someone forcing you to listen to it? Thanks to the progressive movements and ideas of the last 300 years, I would hope not.

While I do think it's funny that I happened to actually stumble onto a post that was directed toward me in a negative manner, rest assured that I do no harbor any ill will towards you and look forward to continuing our discourse here.

To all others that deride us or our purpose or effectiveness, I'll say this: if you don't think we're making an impact, then what difference does it make what we say? Why criticize our words if they are not going to inspire change anyway? In life, there are some grey areas, but in this case, both arguments cancel each other out.

Sincerely,
Thomas Baptist Morello

Posted by: Tom Morello at 04/30/07 5:44 PM | Reply
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Ooooh, the plot thickens!

Posted by: Liam at 04/30/07 6:11 PM | Reply
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I'm just posting so I can be right after Tom Morello, is all. Thanks.

Posted by: Matthew at 04/30/07 6:17 PM | Reply
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To Tom:
Wow, do you take EVERYTHING way too serious? I might recommend you spend some time viewing the Cartoon Network ... unless laughing is counter-revolutionary.

Protesting in Iran anytime soon?

Posted by: m at 04/30/07 6:38 PM | Reply
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To Tom:
Wow, do you take EVERYTHING way too serious? I might recommend you spend some time viewing the Cartoon Network ... unless laughing is counter-revolutionary.

Protesting in Iran anytime soon?

Posted by: m at 04/30/07 6:41 PM | Reply
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M is officially rediculous! What do you do to try and invoke social change?

Posted by: Paul at 04/30/07 6:44 PM | Reply
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Are you kidding me. The Mumia Abu Jabal case is the biggest bullshit ever. (ok maybe not but) I fucking love the fact that someone actualley came foreword and confessed to the murder of the cop. Confessed in detail over the cop's murder. That information was obviously not taken into the court. And for Zach de la rocha and how he never "did anything for change." Are you fuckin retarded. He's one of the only lead singers to appear in front of the UN because well the fuckin UN thought the Mumia was absolutley bullshit. He's done a lot of other shit but i don't feel like typing anymore.

Posted by: Luke at 04/30/07 10:22 PM | Reply
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BS , everyone KNOWS the UN hates rap metal. They're totally into The Libertines, Arctic Monkeys ... that sort of thing.

Posted by: Wha? at 05/01/07 12:12 AM | Reply
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BS , everyone KNOWS the UN hates rap metal. They're totally into The Libertines, Arctic Monkeys ... that sort of thing.

Posted by: Wha? at 05/01/07 12:17 AM | Reply
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The Lemonheads sounded really good to the empty field they played to during the boring, rote Rage set.

Coachella this year ruled so hard on so many different levels, and it had nothing to do with this bullshit, I'll tell you that right now.

Posted by: XTRMNTR at 05/01/07 2:02 AM | Reply
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To M: I loved "Pop Muzik"!

Posted by: :) at 05/01/07 4:37 AM | Reply
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I just can´t take a band too seriously that was major label at the height of their careers. How can you be an active anti-capitalist and be part of one of the most capitalist mechanisms ever?

Forget the Mumia Abu Jamal case. There are so many death row inmates that might not have been guilty that it is trivial to focus on one just because a rock band does.

Posted by: Evan at 05/01/07 5:25 AM | Reply
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"I just can´t take a band too seriously that was major label at the height of their careers. How can you be an active anti-capitalist and be part of one of the most capitalist mechanisms ever?"

Evan, you gota be in the system to change the system

Posted by: marmz at 05/01/07 6:23 AM | Reply
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I saw the first couple songs and then went to Spank Rock. I didn't want to get killed by a bunch of musclebound drunkards. Plus, WTF was up with the sound the ENTIRE GODDAMN SHOW? Sound people seriously couldn't get their shit together.

Posted by: Jarrett at 05/01/07 7:32 AM | Reply
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There is no stronger articulation of a writer's conviction in a letter than the inclusion of the middle name in the signature.

So...BALLS.

Emphatically,
King Bartholomew Hater

Posted by: KingHater at 05/01/07 10:56 AM | Reply
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'"Killing In The Name" was particularly insane; you haven't lived until you've yelled "Fuck you I won't do what you tell me," pumping fists with 60,000 sunburned kids in the desert."'

you described it perfectly. i remember seeing ratm live 8 years ago, in nosebleed seats, and even though we were far away from the stage, the energy came up directly to us thru the entire sho --- there was nothing like it.

Posted by: musicisart at 05/01/07 12:36 PM | Reply
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That was great! More guest appearances on the board please! I want to duke it out with Lily Allen!

I want to tell her to go protest in Iran, actually that's the way I'm gonna win all my arguments from now on. It seems like a real clincher.

Political apathy is for lazy know-it-alls without the confidence or conviction to stand up for something.

Props to those who do.

Posted by: Steve Sanders at 05/01/07 2:34 PM | Reply
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didn't rage get 2 million to appear?
c

Posted by: chris cassidy at 05/01/07 3:25 PM | Reply
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wait. so does this mean that sterogum missed Spank Rock?!? after raving about their Oya set?!? I'm sorry, but that was one of the most amazing sets of the festival. it was completely different than any other time i've seen them and easily one of the highlights of the weekend. Tribal drummers, another mc, dancers, And not to mention the crowd was great since all the thousands of fratboy-dumb jock-hot topic idiots were at the main stage.

I was at Oya, too, and that was fun, but this was taking it to a completely different level. Simply amazing. Sorry you missed it.

Posted by: jp at 05/01/07 4:12 PM | Reply
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To Sarah,
If you were a guitarist, you would know why they wear thier guitars so high. Guitarists that wear thier guitars low are doing it for the look and not for good musicianship. If all you're doing is pounding out power chords you can get away with a low hung guitar. If you want to play with quality and ease, a high hung guitar is the best about over the stomach.

Posted by: David at 05/01/07 6:22 PM | Reply
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apparently JT - you completely miss the point. Why are you checking out a blog about Rage if you don't like them? Ignorant.

Posted by: vh at 05/01/07 8:56 PM | Reply
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your set list at the top is wrong.....they didnt play bombtrack (..at all) it was know your enemy.....and they only played part of bullet in the head, it wasnt the whole song

Posted by: KRAG at 05/01/07 10:51 PM | Reply
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When will we be able to get a copy of this performance?!?

Posted by: Q at 05/01/07 11:06 PM | Reply
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To Tom:

Let me first state that I support your work and thoroughly enjoyed both your shows this past weekend, however I feel that your last paragraph displayed some flawed logic. Let's look at it again if you don't mind.

"To all others that deride us or our purpose or effectiveness, I'll say this: if you don't think we're making an impact, then what difference does it make what we say? Why criticize our words if they are not going to inspire change anyway? In life, there are some grey areas, but in this case, both arguments cancel each other out."

I think that the majority of the "others" mentioned above, are in essence trying to expose you or your fellow band members. Not necessarily saying you have no influence or voice, but saying that your voice is a cover for more personal, and as mentioned above "financial" motives. In a way they believe they're trying to open your fan's eyes to the reality of show business in the same way you believe you're trying to open people's eyes to the reality of the state of the world.

You can't honestly say, in a world like ours, that their argument is completely unrealistic or unnecessary. The world's too deceptive to take things at face value, and this must be applied to your own intentions as well, or we (the listeners) willingly leave ourselves open to more deception.

Not to say that I agree you're just another man in the music business, I'm just striving to make sure you're not steering the argument away from what it really is.

As for my own opinion, I understand your cause, but my question is, what happens after spreading awareness?

Spreading awareness is easy. Well maybe that's an understatement, but it's freedom of speech, it's legal, and in an industry like music in today's society, it can catch like wildfire. But after all the bush bashing, all the cries for change, cries for revolution...or for impeachment, what really happens?

I'll tell you, because I was there. We all packed up our tents, talked about what great concerts and environments we experienced this weekend and then we drove home and went back to our jobs/schools.

This frustrates me, and I'm sure I'm not alone. I could feel in the atmosphere that there's an enormous amount of awareness already raised, the problem is nobody knows what happens next. Nobody is willing to push the envelope outside of complaining and speculating. This especially applies in a country in which riot police are brought in on peaceful campers having a good time at a music festival's campgrounds as I saw this weekend.

This is why many people including myself were expecting some sort of riot. It's not productive, but it's rage in its purest form, and it attracts attention. While it's purpose is clearly lost somewhere in the process,it does represent some escalation in our cause.

What I'm asking is for you guys to step up, and be leaders beyond being the messengers. Spreading awareness is one thing, but what can we as the fans and supporters do? I want to hear the next step instead of hearing the same recycled lines from politically charged activists and their fans.

People know. Those that don't know at this point, are ignorant by their own choice and aren't going to be convinced otherwise. If there's nothing beyond awareness, I'm afraid that this is turning into mental masturbation.

Posted by: Jesse at 05/02/07 12:52 AM | Reply
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"I never understood their need to wear their guitars (and that bass!) so friggin' high. It is just wrong IMO."

Well, let me explain something to ya ...

this is what musicians do when they care more about how they SOUND then how they LOOK.

what the fuck has happened!?

Posted by: Justin at 05/02/07 2:58 AM | Reply
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"Ah yes, Rage Against the Machine, the band that fights to free a convicted cop killer. Fuck them."

repeat those words after your pulling away from a cop pulling away from a cop pulling you over for no reason, tearing your car apart, accusing you of being a drug addict etc etc criminal, ALL FOR NO REASON AT ALL!

oh this would never happen to YOUUUUU right?

no one is safe

forget your false sense of security

that cop DESERVED TO DIE along with many others.

get with it

Posted by: Justin at 05/02/07 3:03 AM | Reply
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M, the only reason I addressed you specifically is because you specifically referred to me as a "self righteous a-hole." Of course there's a time for taking it easy -- which is what I usually try to do when I read Stereogum -- but when someone attacks me personally, do I not have the right to addresss them? To defend myself?

On a similar note, hasn't rock & roll always been about freedom of expression and questioning authority? I believe that it has since its inception. It saddens me to think what would happen if it lost those qualities.

KingHater, I love you for the way you make me LOL.

Jesse, as Marmz noted, "you gotta be in the system to change the system." As a band, we struggled mightily with ourselves early on about whether or not to take the traditional "big rock band on a major label road," but we knew that the most effective way to get our ideas across was to try and reach as large an audience as possible.

Don't get me wrong, I have been very fortunate to have gotten to experience the people and places that being in RATM has afforded me, but I know that for us, the idea of social change, and the idea of spreading awareness were always our main goal, not fiduciary gain, as some of the more cynical among us might think.

We have, in fact, as a band and as individuals, given away a larger amount of our proceeds than a lot of people might really know. Obviously, though, not everything that happens makes it into the news, nor would we necessarily want it to. We weren't looking for pats on the back, and I only bring such things up now in the context of addressing posted concerns.

As far as what happens next, well, that's up to all of us. Who's to say that your friends at Coachella are going to stop their actions when they go back to their jobs or schools? If all of us gave as little as one hour per week at the local soup kitchen or homeless shelter, that in itself would have a huge impact.

When you really get down to it, the main point of any sort of progressive thinking is to improve the day to day lives of the average working class citizen. Any sort of regime change at the top would undeniably be very much appreciated, but in the end, it does (albeit very minutely), take second place. Not to say that it is incidental, though, because any organization inevitably takes on the traits of its leader, at least in part.

Lastly, I'm afraid that I have to take issue with your line "Those that don't know at this point, are ignorant by their own choice and aren't going to be convinced otherwise." The thing is, from my point of view, it seems as though a lot of people *don't* really know what's going on. The fact is, most people don't spend a lot of their time reading or watching the news, and those that do sometimes get it from biased sources.

If we, as a progressive movement, continue to make positive strides, I think we can help people to see the light. Every person and every bit helps, I think. However, your point is very, very well taken. What would you have us do to become leaders and not messengers? I do know that RATM and myself are forunate enough to be in a position to do so, so I am definitely interested in hearing your ideas.

I look forward to your answers. The hour is getting late, and I am growing tired.

Paz,
Tom

Posted by: Tom Morello at 05/02/07 5:55 AM | Reply
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Tom,

I enjoyed reading your replies to some of the others' comments. It certainly is interesting to see the different opinions that people form given equal access to information. So many influences (social, familial, environmental) on individuals will generate vastly different yet equally passionate responses from people on any given subject!
Listening to RATM growing up, I never questioned the motives of the band and it seems blatantly obvious to me that monetary gain is not the ultimate goal. Where is the RATM 'Cribs' LOL? In fact, it would have been pretty easy for RATM to coast along on a major label contract and make silly amounts of money, regardless of quality of product or life of the band members. It saddens me that we have become a nation of cynics. We hungered for more truth and reality, so 'reality TV' was born. Except it features very little genuine material, therefore lowering expectations of honesty even further. I suppose since we have become so untrusting and jaded, the trick is going to be triple-reverse psychology to get the message to stick to the receiver...
In any event, I think it's great that you take an interest in communicating with the public, and it only bolsters your argument that your motives are genuine... if you didn't care, why would you waste time responding to internet slander? Kudos to you, Mr. Morello. I look forward to the show in NY, as one of my biggest life regrets was not seeing RATM before the, er, hiatus? Continue living your life in a positive manner. If it rubs off on one person, it will go from them, to someone else, etc... almost like franchising!

Rock on -

Jack

Posted by: Jack Sennett at 05/02/07 12:27 PM | Reply
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Well. If you are, in fact, THE Tom Morello -- the mere fact that you'd bother to engage in a discourse like this in some ways defends against some of the points raised by your detractors here...certainly beyond what they could ever infer from just the music alone, or the crass -- and unfortunately grammatically incorrect -- anti-Bush tirades from your old lead singer.

That, and well...it's comforting to see that rock stars get bored at work, too. That's, like, what message boards are for at the end of the day, right?

Posted by: KingHater at 05/02/07 2:43 PM | Reply
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Tom, I imagine your reasons for reuniting were mixed- partly, as wiki notes: as a reaction to the so called right wing purgatory America has slid (or been driven) into... and partly, I'd wager, because you guys just plain missed being in a band together. Nostalgia for the old times, so to speak.

My concerns lie mainly with the former. I wasn't at the gig, so I can't comment on exactly what information was passed between band and audience, but I've read reviews which state that Zach didn't speak much between songs, and allowed his verse to do much of the arguing. I fear there is a danger in his lyrics losing their potency, and becoming mere catchphrases. I would have hoped that the band had taken this opportunity to directly inform the audience, to engage with their politics. I'm not jumpting to conclusions, I mean- it was a gig, but this Rage gig had the air of a protest about it before it started.

The tirade in the bridge to Wake Up was pointed, but hardly articulate. Does Zack stand by his 'Bush administration should be tried, hung and shot' remarks? I mean, besides advocating another man's death, isn't being hung AND shot a little overboard?

Perhaps he was intertextually referencing the Saddam execution; but the intention is masked. The rise of fascist policies has been quick in your Country, I could reference here information to articulate this: The Project for the New American Century, how Wolfowitz became head of the World Bank, Amnesty calls for Guantanemo to close, state misinformation regarding Iran, continued and unconditional support for Israel (most shockingly during the Lebanon war)...

But you guys didn't address these issues, you wiped a blanket over them, and merely pointed fingers, without explanation, information or evidence of guilt. Without informing your audience as to the mechanics of fascism, how can your audience ever hope to become socially aware and politically responsible?

Thanks, if you read this. We run a record label in Cornwall centred around socialist beliefs and utilising local resource. My band (Airstrip One) is a platform for political critique.

Posted by: Airstrip One at 05/02/07 3:01 PM | Reply
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I wish right wingers didn’t have access to the internet… I’d also really prefer that they all spontaneously burst into flames -No, I really mean it. I think we’re going to have to actually go to war with them eventually. The creepy thing is that they’re probably better shots than most blue-staters… creepy

Posted by: CantWaitForTheWar at 05/02/07 4:54 PM | Reply
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Hey Tom just general question's here. The Rock the bells festival in NYC on the 28 for the love of god play a song with Public Enemy. And by the way at the show is there anyway you would sign my Che Guavvara book at the show? That would be fuckin sweet.

Posted by: Luke at 05/02/07 6:36 PM | Reply
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Tom Morello is a great mind...as is RATM. Everyone needs to think for themselves and take action accordingly. Sitting around only spouting hot air into the world is worse than being ignorant.
Half the people posting here don't know ANYTHING about RATM or the supposed "cop killer"...I guess you just want to have fun...so do that...go have fun and shut up.

Posted by: motherslugger at 05/02/07 11:45 PM | Reply
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Motherslugger-
“Sitting around only spouting hot air into the world is worse than being ignorant.” I don’t know how that is possible. All action first begins with some discussion, or I should at least hope so. You never know where “sitting around" and "spouting hot air” could lead. I’m sure that Che Guevara* did a little of this before he took any action. All the people here are thinking for themselves and taking action because discussion is a form of action. If you want “half the people posting here” to learn more about RATM or Mumia Abu-Jamal then why don’t you give them some information or tell them to go look it up instead of shut up.