Mainstream Rap-Metal started here, in Orange County, CA, during 1991, when lead vocals, Zach De La Rocha quit his old hardcore band, Inside Out, and met up with old friend Tom Morrello, lead guitarist, and later hired bassist Timmy Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk. A tale of overnight success, by the end of the next year they had released their first album, which went gold in weeks. With their hard hitting anti-establishment lyrics screamed by Zach in a way never before heard, Tom’s unbelievable guitar tweaking, and Tim and Brad’s catchy beats, it was no wonder why they sold.
Zach de La Rocha had known Tim Morrello since elementary school, and both jammed together until they went their separate ways in their late-teens. Zach, after quitting as guitarist for “Hardstance,” started the hardcore metal band “Inside Out” in 1988 so he could get behind the mike. Tim played in various garage bands in Libertyville, IL, including “Electric Sheep,” which he founded with future Tool guitarist Adam Jones.
“Inside Out” called it quits in early 1991. Meanwhile Tom had moved to L.A. in hopes of starting a great rock band. He had no idea what lay in store. Zach was rapping solo in a bar in downtown L.A., where Tom was having a drink. After hearing the moving anti-establishment words from Zach he knew this was his chance at a “great rock band.” Brad, the drummer, had met Tom at an earlier try-out, and Timmy joined later on that year. They made this first public appearance during a party in a friend’s living room at Huntington Beach, CA. The crowd loved it so much that the band, now called “Rage Against the Machine”, named after an “Inside Out” song, that they decided to record their own 12-track cassette. It sold 5,000 copies, which was very good for a local band.
After playing second stage for Lollapalooza II and touring Europe on the Suicidal Tendencies tour, they were picked up by Sony Records and released their self-titled debut album, “Rage Against the Machine.” It was released on November 10th, 1992, and was soon destined for platinum status many times over. It included such hits as “Bombtrack,” “Bullet in the Head,” and “Wake Up.” Nothing like it was ever heard before them. They began rap-metal, with Zack’s anger filled rapping over hardcore-metal tunes.
Sadly, everyone will all have to wait 3.5 years for the next album. But with the massive touring, band producing, and protest organizing, things weren’t that bad. They toured with House of Pain in 1993. That same year they held their famous silent protest at Lollapalooza III by standing naked and still for 15 minutes on stage. Their first sold out show was on November 4th, 1993 at Roseland, NY.
Finally, on August 17th, 1994, RATM receives recognition for their album sales. “Rage Against The Machine” is certified platinum for sales of one million copies in U.S.A., Canada, UK, France, Belgium, and Chile; double platinum in New Zealand; and gold in Germany, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Australia.
The long wait was finally over when “Evil Empire,” RATM’s sophomore album, is released on Epic Records on April 20th, 1996. It enters the Billboard 100 at the #1 spot, an envious achievement. It includes hits such as Grammy nominated “People of the Sun,” “Bulls on Parade,” “Down Rodeo,” “Year of Tha Boomerang,” and Grammy winning song “Tire Me.” On August 31st, 1996, their music video of the song “Bulls on Parade” loses the MTV Video Award for “Best Hard Rock Video.” But the same night they are recognized for Evil Empire’s platinum sales status. Well, you win some and you lose some, I guess.
On January 8th, 1997, RATM’s debut album goes double platinum in the U.S.A.
They begin touring in summer of 1997 in support of the work U2 was doing. They also join forces with Wu Tang Clan, Foo Fighters, and the Roots in an August tour.
On October 30th, 1997, “Evil Empire” is honored with double platinum sales.
To appease fans in-between albums, they release a VHS/CD with uncensored music videos, live concert footage, and a cover song of Bruce Springsteen’s “The Ghost of Tom Joad” on November 25th, 1997. Even it goes platinum stateside.
“No Shelter,” the RATM song off of the “Godzilla Soundtrack” is nominated for “Best Heavy Metal Performance” at the 40th Grammy Awards on January 5th, 1999.
On November 11th, 1999, RATM release their last album with original material, “The Battle of Los Angeles.” It includes singles “Sleep Now in the Fire” and “Testify.”
RATM release their final studio album, “Renegades,” an album of cover songs from everyone from Cypress Hill to Rolling Stones to Bruce Springsteen. Includes hits “Renegades of Funk” and “Ghost of Tom Joad.” It hits shelves on December 5th, 2000.
RATM win “Best Hard Rock Performance” for “Guerilla Radio” at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2001.
RATM release their final album, a live album chronicling their final two shows, which take place at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in L.A., CA. The show is phenomenal, flawless, and sometimes even spontaneous, playing all their hits with unbelievable precision and indescribable beauty. It is released on November 21st, 2003, and Rage Against the Machine become part of the history books.
The band announces their official break-up, and the rock world mourns at the loss of one of the great ‘90’s bands. Not to fear, for everyone but Zach stay together to form Audioslave, with Chris Cornell, named the 3rd Greatest Male Rock Vocals, as their new front man.
Zach de La Rocha’s vocals were unheard of before his time. For the first time in metal history, rap and rock were successfully merged into a GREAT band. The semi-socialist views in their anti-capitalistic lyrics moved tens of millions of teens to think outside of the box the world over. They sparked a cultural revolution. Your government doesn’t know everything; it’s imperfect. The media tells you what they want you to think. Those messages are still held dear by many, and can be heard on your radio stations still, over a decade after their release.
Tom Morrello, one of the greatest modern guitarists, arrived on the scene playing like no other at the time. Like Jimi Hendrix before him, he played his guitar to make noises other guitarists could only dream to emulate. Tom’s emulated DJ table scratching in “Evil Empire” and trumpets on “The Battle of Los Angeles, among other things. He won Best Guitarist four years in a row from 1998-2001. He inspired a generation of guitarists to play more than just power chords. Not that his power chords were bad. He made even the most simplistic chords sound grand. He’ll live long in Audioslave. Timmy is one of the best bassists of all time, blasting out the beats you’ll want to crank so loud your floor shakes. The drummer Brad sets up every song with hip-hop like beats that will either have you toe-tapping or head-banging. They've spawned most modern music. Nu-metal. Rapcore. Rap-metal. All of it. Korn, Slipknot, Limp Bizkit, Deftones, Mudvayne, Linkin Park, Audioslave...everything. They are just as important as Nivana, and arguably better.
I wonder if Tom, hoping for his “great rock band in LA” could foresee even this. I doubt it. Could anyone have? Well, here’s to hoping for a RATM reunion tour some day… Is it too much to ask for one more single in these politically trying times?
Bio written by: Master_Shake |
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