Rage Against Machine Enrage Fans
Where's the album, guys?
This Article is from Addicted to Noise Jan. 17, 1996.
Rage Against Machine are certainly stringing us out. It's been three years, three months and
fourteen days since the release of their self-titled debut--but who's counting. Epic Records promised that we
would have the long-awaited follow-up in March, but we just got word that we can expect it in our Easter
baskets, sometime in early April. Who are they kidding. We want it and, and we want it now. We know it's
finished, because why else would Rage be winging their way Down Under as we speak, to perform at Big
Day Out. Brendan O'Brien, uber producer, was behind the boards, and he's been telling friends and foes
what an excellent album it is, but that only fuels our discontent. Hell we even know the name of two of the
songs, but does that make it any better? It does not. But just so you know that we like to take the high road, the first song is "The Wind Below," and then
there's the excellent "Revolver" performed last summer at the KROQ Weenie Roast. A memorable performance, because that was the day that Rage went over
their allotted time limit, and to assert themselves, the promoters just activated the revolving stage, and the band began moving in a counterclockwise direction,
toward backstage. Undaunted they didn't miss a beat, and continued to play--but lo and behold the gods were smiling that day, and the revolving stage
jammed, leaving the band at an odd angle, but allowing them to finish the song with a flourish, much to the delight of 20,000 witnesses at Irvine Meadows.
Just to torture you further, we have heard that there is a good chance that Rage will tour the U. S. in the Spring, coinciding with this "alleged" release. But
don't think your discontent or rage phases this band. They've got better things to do than court their fans favor. This summer, vocalist and lead provocateur,
Zack de la Rocha spent three weeks in Chiapas, Mexico working for the Zapatistas, the fighting arm of the indigent Mexican natives who have been forced off
their land by an unsympathetic and ruthless government. Huge encampments of all but homeless Chiapans are currently forced to live in the jungles, and
they're not going to take it. De la Rocha, who is of Mexican descent, read about their plight, and joined up with an organization called The National
Committee For Democracy In Mexico and pitched in to help. He wasn't exactly sporting a sweaty bandanna across his brow, and a machete in his teeth--but a
spokesman for de la Rocha assured us that he "did get his hands dirty." What ever that means.