Rage Against the Machine

In my continuing series on my favorite "poltical bands":


Rage Against the Machine is arguably my favorite band of all time. They burned short but burned bright. They were a perfect synthesis of ideas, aggression and musicianship. Beginning in L.A. in the early 90's, they combined the disparate backgrounds of the members -- both musically and politically. Guitarist Tom Morello is the nephew of the first president of Kenya. His mother, Mary Morello, is the founder of Parents for Rock and Rap, an anti-censorship organization. Singer Zack de la Rocha is the son of Beto de la Rocha, a well-known chicano political artist.

The music of Rage Against the Machine is in-your-face. Even the cover of their first album lets you know exactly what you are getting ... uncompromising music and ideas:



This was not a band that was afraid to ruffle some feathers. All of their songs are political, so it's not too tough to pick some with meaning. But I'll pick five of my favorites:

Freedom (Rage Against the Machine, 1992) - This song refers to Leonard Peltier, a famous Native American rights activist who has been in prison for 27 years. He is considered to be a poltical prisoner by Amnesty International.

" ... What does the billboard say
Come and play, come and play
Forget about the movement

Anger is a gift"


Bulls on Parade (Evil Empire, 1996) - Bulls on Parade is about the military-industrial complex that oppresses and controls who they consider to be lesser peoples and how money feeds it to the detriment of everything else. "Five sided fist-a-gon" means Pentagon.

" ... Terror rains drenchin', quenchin' tha thirst of
Tha power dons
That five sided fist-a-gon ..."
" ... Weapons not food, not homes, not shoes
Not need, just feed tha war canibal animal ..."


Bullet in the Head (Rage Against the Machine, 1992) - Bullet in the Head talks about how jingoistic patriotism is really no different than blind nationalism ... like in Nazi Germany. And the media and government play it up to keep the masses in line.

" ... A yellow ribbon instead of a swastika
Nothin' proper about ya propaganda
Fools follow rules when the set commands ya ..."


Know Your Enemy (Rage Against the Machine, 1992) - Know Your Enemy is basically a song about rebellion and defiance. Don't believe everything that the system tells you. Think for yourself. Maynard Keenan of Tool has an awesome appearance on this song.

" ... Fight the war, fuck the norm
Now I got no patience
So sick of complacence
With the D the E the F the I the A the N the C the E
Mind of a revolutionary
So clear the lane
The finger to the land of the chains
What? The land of the free?
Whoever told you that is your enemy? ... "


Killing in the Name (Rage Against the Machine, 1992) - Another song of defiance. The line about crosses insinuates that many members of white supremacy organizations (like the KKK) are actually police. The beat of this song is infectious. It's hilarious to see this song played in dance clubs sometimes and to see a bunch of privileged frat boys yelling the chorus ... completely oblivious to the meaning of the song. Ah, ignorance is bliss.

" ... Some of those that work forces, are the same that burn crosses ... "

" Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me!"


Their acts of defiance and protest are as prominent as their music. On one occassion, the band stood onstage naked with tape over their mouths for 15 minutes to protest censorship and the PMRC. On another occasion, they were actually able to get the New York Stock Exchange to shut down. They were filming the video for "Sleep Now in the Fire", directed by none other than Michael Moore, outside the NYSE. The exchange shut down in the middle of the day because of fears of crowds gathering to watch the filming.

The band only released 3 original studio albums but their influence is still felt. They are arguably the most prominent political rock band of the last 20 years.