Get ready to rage because those Rage Against The Machine reunion rumours just copped a bullet in the head.
Billboard has released more industry goss about the imminent announcement that mysterious new website Prophets Of Rage is actually counting down to, and unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be an RATM comeback.
At least, not a full one anyway.
Yeah, we know.
Instead, as Billboard has reported, Prophets Of Rage is a new supergroup featuring 3/4 of RATM i.e. everyone except Zach De La Rocha (= gutted) plus Public Enemy ‘s Chuck D and Cypress Hill rapper B-Real.
The new rap-rock megasquad are set to tour together and apparently perform songs by all three bands, with their debut show set for Hollywood’s Palladium on June 3rd, followed by a show at the Whisky a Go Go and possibly a 2016 summer tour.
Look, it sounds pretty cool, especially considering the state of US politics at the moment = time to take the power back. But we probably would have been way more receptive to the news IF THEY HADN’T MADE US BELIEVE THAT RAGE WERE GETTING BACK TOGETHER FIRST.
Instead it be like:
“You won’t be needing this.”
Aaaaaaaand if you still give a fuck after getting your heart royally shat upon, catch the band’s official announcement, set to drop Tuesday, May 31st AEST.
9 Times Rage Against The Machine Totally Took The Power Back
9 Time Rage Against The Machine Stuck It
That Time They Stuck It To MTV
Who could forget that time bassist Tim Commeford climbed the stage set at the MTV Awards after Limp Bizkit won best video, illogically beating out RATM's clip for 'Sleep Now In The Fire' where they actually shut down the New York Stock Exchange in the middle of trading? If that's not rock n' roll I don't know what is. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
That Time They Stuck It To Wall St
Speaking of that time they shut down Wall St, remember that time they shut down Wall St? Playing on the steps of the New York Stock Exchange as part of the Michael Moore directed clip for 'Sleep Now In The Fire', the band shut down the market after they and fans bum-rushed the exchange. Seriously though can you imagine them trying this now? They'd all be locked up in Guantanamo Bay.
The Time They Stuck It To Guantanamo Bay
Speaking of Guantanamo Bay, the notorious site of mass torture in the name of the American Dream (FREEEDOM!!!) wasn't ever going to evade criticism from the band, who in 2008 played a number of shows in orange jumpsuits with black bags over their head to protest the US continuing to use the site. (Photo by Greetsia Tent/WireImage)
That Time They Stuck It To The X Factor
Speaking of torture, remember that time Killing In The Name Of was the UK Christmas number 1? Finally putting an end to Simon Cowell and Stepford singers from the X Factor's domination of the holiday charts. Donating all the funds raised from single sales to charity, the band treated fans to a free show in Finnsbury Park to thank them for standing up to the dominance of corporate music. (Photo by Andy Sheppard/Redferns)
That Time They Stuck It To Censorship
Speaking of music so bad it probably should be censored (not that RATM would support that) remember that time the band played naked with black tape over their mouths to protest censorship? (See told you they'd be against it). Unfortunately we can't publish images of the band nude, but that's just like real life, as the band themselves were pulled off stage after 15 mins. (Photo by Lindsay Brice/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
That Time They Stuck It To SNL
Speaking off the band having their performances cut short, remember that time they had their second song pulled from Saturday Night Live after hanging upside down American flags over their amps in protest of Republican Presidential Candidate Steve Forbes? A symbol of distress, the upside down flags earned them the ire of producer Lorne Michaels and have never been invited back. Yeah they did that, what legends. (Photo by Lindsay Brice/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
That Time They Stuck It To The Democratic Party
Speaking of the band having run ins with presidential candidates, remember that time they played outside the Denver Democratic Party Convention, then led a march to force Obama to discuss the Iraq with Veterans Against The War? Who says all musicians do is bitch and moan? (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
That Time They Stuck It To The Donald
Speaking of future presidents, remember that time they parodied/predicted Donald Trump running for the presidency of the United States of America? Part of the video for 'Sleep Now In The Fire', the sign is clearly meant as a joke to highlight the close ties between corporate America and the government. Somehow though I think even Rage weren't cynical enough to foresee just how popular he would be.
That Time They Stuck It To The BBC
Speaking of obscenity (or its human form e.g. Trump), remember that time they said fuck all over BBC Radio 5? Invited to perform 'Killing In The Name Of' on the Radio 5 Live Breakfast Show as part of the campaign to get the song to number 1, the band decided they weren't going to do what the producers told them, ironically including the song's final refrain of "fuck you I won't do what you tell me!" Fuck yeah. (Photo by Steve Eichner/WireImage)