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Rage Against the Machine Urge Bush to 'Wake Up' at Coachella
- Posted on Apr 30th 2007 3:00PM by Steve Baltin
"Good evening, we're Rage Against the Machine from Los Angeles, California," announced frontman Zach de la Rocha to a sea of humanity, that stretched to the end Coachcella's massive Empire Polo Fields. And with the garbled opening notes of 'Testify,' both the crowd and the band set loose the pent-up energy that had been brewing all of Day Three by those waiting for the reunion.
De la Rocha, who's remained quiet since Rage disbanded, mostly allowed the music to speak for itself, playing hits like 'Bulls on Parade,' 'Renegades of Funk' and 'Bullet in the Head' with ferocity that fans waited seven years for. But he broke his silence during 'Wake Up,' spouting an anti-Bush tirade in which he called for the current administration to be "tried, hung and shot."
However, if there's any warning the administration should heed from the night, it's far more likely to be in the lasting image of 60,000 fists pounding the night sky as fans scream, "F**k you, I won't do what you told me," during the closing 'Killing in the Name Of.'
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- Filed under: Coachella
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lucy
After what this administration has done, they can't get enough bad-mouthing as far as I'm concerned. I loved Rage for this. And Manu Chao as well - his tactics may be a bit more peaceful. Speaking of which, I cannot wait for his new album- La Radiolina, it's been 6 years! I'm addicted to the new single, Rainin in Paradise. It's only available as a digital EP right on iTunes...check it out: http://www.myspace.com/manuchao.
I have a feeling this one's gonna be a classic like Clandestino.
m.m
you guys are idiots. all of you.
fuck the entire system. sweeping revolution is the only answer you fucking honkies.
Dave
"i love rage just as much as anyone, but i feel they are just using the bush bashing to get back in the scene and fatten their pockets. "- Drew
You hit the nail on the head Drew. Where were these guys when things got really bad? They kept their mouths shut because they were scared.
Now after the Democrats regain Congress and Bush is at his weakest since taking office, RATM all of a sudden re-forms and raise their fists in the air like the gucci militants that they are.
If they hadnt re-formed I could have given them the benefit of the doubt. These guys are acting like the kid who hid while his friends beat up the school bully and then got brave and talked trash while the bully ran away. Hope these kids are smart enough to see through it.
J-rod
This gave me goosebumps because at the rock the bells festivel in NY i will soon be one of thoes fists
May 08 2007 at 10:51 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
the other james
i just don't like RATM all that much. zach's voice sorta annoys me, although i do like "killing in the name" a bit
May 06 2007 at 10:47 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Shawn B
The wise words of Zach de la Rocha. He knows a lot about the system and america seeing has he has all those degrees and higher education. Why would ne1 listen to an idiot like this guy?
May 06 2007 at 2:30 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
Lcpl USMC
I don't know About you but I don't take anyone who has RAT in their name seriously
May 06 2007 at 12:34 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
moodring
i love rage, their passion, message and music is explosive and contagious. Everyone knows that Zach is a political radical, which adds to the bands appeal, but this time i think he's bitten off more than he can chew.
If anything his rant will turn people not familiar with the band, away from the noble causes which he supports, and deem him unpatriotic. It's unfortunate in this society that celebrities can't be seen as both activist and entertainers without receiving tons of flack for it. But if Zach wants this country to see his views he'll have to chose a better way of doing so. For the Rage fans and haters out there, there is this website that has a poll up, most of the rants on Rage are from 50+ neo-cons it would be interesting to have a younger generations POV on the subject http://www.sodahead.com/poll/2148/
41 Comments