"Rage Against the Machine" calls it quits after 9 years

freak-o-a-l

Senior member
Oct 9, 1999
587
0
0
"Zack Leaves Rage Against The Machine

"I feel that
it is now
necessary
to leave Rage
because our
decision-
making
process has
completely
failed."
--Zack De La Rocha

After nine years and three politically charged albums, frontman Zack De La Rocha has announced that he has left Rage Against The Machine.

The singer issued a statement on Wednesday blaming the split on the group's inability to work together collectively.

"I feel that it is now necessary to leave Rage because our decision-making process has completely failed," De La Rocha said in the statement. "It is no longer meeting the aspirations of all four of us collectively as a band, and from my perspective, has undermined our artistic and political ideal.

"I am extremely proud of our work, both as activists and musicians, as well as indebted and grateful to every person who has expressed solidarity and shared this incredible experience with us."

Responding to Zack's statement, Rage guitarist Tom Morello told MTV News Wednesday afternoon that he agrees that "the decision-making process has broken down for everyone. I have no hard feelings, and we wish Zack well with his [solo] project. But everyone is excited about the 29 tracks that [Rage] have in the can, and some of it will be released in the fall."

That quote refers to an album of live material as well as covers of Cypress Hill, Devo, Bob Dylan, and Minor Threat (see "Rage Against The Machine Covers Dylan, Devo, Cypress Hill") that the band had been working on prior to the split. Epic Records has said that it is saddened by the news, and that no release date has been set for that material.

For some time now, De La Rocha has been working on a solo album with hip-hop artists such as DJ Shadow, Company Flow, and Amir from the Roots (see "Rage's De La Rocha Ready To Start On Solo LP"). That album is also expected to be released by Epic Records.

The news comes near the end of a tumultuous year for the band. The group had planned to co-headline a tour with the Beastie Boys, but that project fell apart when Beastie Mike Diamond was injured in a bike accident. Rage then twice canceled and rescheduled shows in San Francisco that were to be recorded for a live album. The group then saw a minor riot break out after its performance outside the Democratic National Convention in August.

However, one of the band's more notorious moments may have come at last month's MTV Video Music Awards, when an inebriated Tim Commerford -- the group's bassist -- climbed the stage set and had to be removed from the venue by security. Sources close to the band say that the incident angered De La Rocha (who walked out of Radio City Music Hall afterward), and indicate that it may have snapped the singer's working relationship with the band.


-- MTV News staff report"
 

Spoooon

Lifer
Mar 3, 2000
11,563
203
106
Damn, that sucks. Their first album kicked ass. Wake Up was badass. So was Bombtrack, Take the Power Back...basically the whole freaking album. :(
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
136
While I like their music, & have all their CD's... I couldn't care less about their political agenda. I may miss them as a band, but I certainly won't be saddened by their departure.

Viper GTS
 

zippy

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 1999
9,998
1
0
Well, I guess the Rhyme and Reason 2000 tour WON'T be rescheduled after Mike Diamond's (of the Beastie Boys) shoulder heals. Thats too bad, however it was also too bad that they would have gone literally AROUND the city I live on while on tour...lol. They would be within a 5 hour drive for 3 or 4 concerts...and seeing as I can't drive yet and that no one I know would be willing to drive more than an hour (damn slackers!). :(
 

BigSmooth

Lifer
Aug 18, 2000
10,484
12
81
Mike D is cool because he is Screech's brother. (the dude from Saved By the Bell, Dustin Diamond)
 

DirkBelig

Banned
Oct 15, 1999
536
0
0
Good riddance!!! I've always loathed those phony elitist Commie muthafuhkas and have wished to see them crushed under large stones since day one. The music rocked, but was ripped off from TEN YEAR OLD Red Hot Chili Peppers riffs and Zach sounded like a constipated chihuahua. Every song was "Yapyapyapyapyapyapyapyapyapyapyap/Single line chorus (4X)"

See ya, suckers!:p
 

duragezic

Lifer
Oct 11, 1999
11,234
4
81
Damn that sucks. I have all three albums and they are great. Nice mix of metal and rap-like lyrics.

I'll have to snag the last album that comes out with the remaining material they have.
 

Screech is not Mike D's brother. That is a big rumor.

I could care less about RATM. I am sure Tom Morello is going to be doing solo stuff. Zack was good in Inside Out, RATM was too political to tolerate.
 

zippy

Diamond Member
Nov 10, 1999
9,998
1
0
Screech CANNOT be Mike D's brother...he just can't! Its just not possible...screech is too geeky and weird to be the brother of a really cool MC! It must be an untrue rumor as dwell said...!
 

Specialist

Banned
Oct 7, 2000
454
0
0
THE MACHINE WON!
THE MACHINE WON!
THE MACHINE WON!
THE MACHINE WON!
THE MACHINE WON!
THE MACHINE WON!
THE MACHINE WON!
THE MACHINE WON!
 

Soybomb

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2000
9,506
2
81
Mike D's brother isn't Dustin Diamond, although isn't his birthday coming up on halloween? One of the beasties is i think.

Anyway I won't really miss ratm's yelling. They had very deep politcal statements though ;)
 



<< &quot;Mike D's brother isn't Dustin Diamond, although isn't his birthday coming up on halloween? One of the beasties is i think.&quot; >>

&quot;Oct-ober 31st that is my day of birth, I went to the party and I did The Smurf&quot; - King Ad Rock
 

BoberFett

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
37,562
9
81
This was long overdue. All their songs sound the same anyway, they could have released one album and then quit.
 

PCAddict

Diamond Member
Nov 19, 1999
3,804
0
0
I won't miss them in the least. I too felt that the majority of their material was a ripoff of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, who are infinitely more talented. Their political agenda makes me want to vomit as well.

Especially for 403Forbidden: Juice Mumia!
 

Hehe, RATM song template:

1) Zack's white-boy rap sounding verse #1.
2) Chorus yelling political statement.
3) Zack's white-boy rap sounding verse #2.
4) Chorus yelling political statement.
5) Tom Morello's guitar experiment de jour.
6) All music comes to a hush.
7) Zack whispers chorus real low like
8) Louder.
9) LOUDER.
10) SCREAM CHORUS!!!
11) GOTO 10
 

jonnyGURU

Moderator <BR> Power Supplies
Moderator
Oct 30, 1999
11,815
104
106
I suppose it's now time to rally around the family with a pocket full of shells.

zippy: &quot;screech is too geeky and weird&quot;... and Mike D is not?!?!?