Rage Against The Machine

Few rock bands of the early nineties fused genres as deliberately as Rage Against the Machine, a Los Angeles quartet formed in 1991 that folded heavy metal, rap, punk and funk into one abrasive force. Vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk paired that sound with anti-authoritarian, anti-capitalist and revolutionary lyrics, making their politics as central as their riffs. By 2010 the band had sold more than 16 million records worldwide, and in 2023 it was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Their self-titled debut arrived in November 1992, and the single Killing in the Name carried it through heavy radio play. US sales climbed from 75,000 to 400,000 across 1993 after a Lollapalooza appearance. Evil Empire in 1996 and The Battle of Los Angeles in 1999 both topped the Billboard 200, and the band is credited with influencing nu metal. After the cover album Renegades in 2000 they split, reuniting for Coachella in 2007. A 2019 world tour, delayed by the pandemic, was cut short when de la Rocha injured a leg, and in 2024 Wilk confirmed a third breakup.