After rumours of a Rage Against The Machine reunion were shot down last month, fans were left unsure how to feel about the emergence of a new group made up of some of its members.
Now that group – Prophets Of Rage – have announced their first ever show. Made up of 3/4 of Rage Against The Machine, it will also feature Chuck D from Public Enemy alongside B-Real from Cypress Hill – who took to social media recently to hit back at early critics of the new group.
Prophets Of Rage will make their onstage debut at Whisky a Go Go in LA, with all proceeds from the show going towards a Californian group of anti-homeless agencies. The band is set to perform song from Rage’s vast catalogue, as well as some brand new material.
The only member of Rage not to feature will be frontman Zack de la Rocha, but not to fear, de la Rocha is apparently “making a record right now”. In an interview with Rolling Stone, drummer Brad Wilk let the news slip, while bass player Tim Commerford said Zach had given his permission for the supergroup to go ahead.
“I spoke to Zack and got his blessing, and that’s really great,” he said. “We’re a family and there’s support across the board. I support him and everything he does, and vice versa. I’ve definitely been keeping him in the know. You’re never going to replace Zack, and we aren’t trying to do that. He’s a unique artist and showman.”
As for whether the new outfit consider themselves a supergroup? “We’re not a supergroup,” says Tom Morello. “We’re an elite task force of revolutionary musicians determined to confront this mountain of election year bullshit, and confront it head-on with Marshall stacks blazing.”
Watch: Prophets of Rage (Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk, B-Real of Cypress Hill, and Chuck D) live in-studio with The Kevin & Bean Show!
9 Times Rage Against The Machine Totally Took The Power Back
9 Time Rage Against The Machine Stuck It
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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)
