History of Rage Against the Machine in Timeline

Rage Against the Machine was an American rock band known for its fusion of heavy metal, rap, punk, and funk, coupled with politically charged lyrics. Formed in 1991, the band, consisting of Zack de la Rocha, Tim Commerford, Tom Morello, and Brad Wilk, delivered anti-authoritarian, anti-capitalist, and revolutionary messages through their music. Having sold over 16 million records globally, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023, solidifying their impact on music and activism.

1963: Thích Quảng Đức's Self-Immolation

In 1963, Thích Quảng Đức, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk, burned himself to death in Saigon in protest of the shooting of Buddhists by the U.S.-backed regime. This event's photograph was featured on the cover of Rage Against the Machine's debut album.

1989: Coining of "Rage Against the Machine" Phrase

In 1989, Kent McClard, record label owner and zine publisher, coined the phrase "rage against the machine" in an article in his zine No Answers. This phrase later inspired the band's name.

1991: Band Formation in Los Angeles

In 1991, Rage Against the Machine was formed in Los Angeles, California, consisting of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello, and drummer Brad Wilk, blending heavy metal and rap music with anti-establishment lyrics.

1991: Formation of Rage Against the Machine

In 1991, after Tom Morello's former band Lock Up broke up, he teamed up with Tim Commerford, Zack de la Rocha, and Brad Wilk to form Rage Against the Machine. The band's name was inspired by a song De la Rocha had written for his previous band, Inside Out.

November 1992: Release of Debut Album

In November 1992, Rage Against the Machine released their self-titled debut album, featuring a controversial cover photo and produced by Garth Richardson.

1992: Release of Self-Titled Debut Album

In 1992, Rage Against the Machine released their self-titled debut album, which was met with critical acclaim. The album marked the beginning of their influential career.

February 21, 1993: Accidental Play of Explicit Version on BBC Radio 1

On February 21, 1993, the "Fuck You" version of the song "Killing in the Name", containing 17 instances of the word "fuck", was accidentally played on the BBC Radio 1 Top 40 singles show.

1993: Commercial Success After Lollapalooza Performance

Following their performances at the 1993 Lollapalooza festival, Rage Against the Machine achieved significant commercial success, boosting their popularity and album sales.

November 1994: Hiatus and Recording in Atlanta

In November 1994, Rage Against the Machine took a hiatus from touring and recorded 23 tracks with producer Brendan O'Brien in Atlanta, fueling rumors of a potential breakup.

1994: "Darkness" on "The Crow" Soundtrack

In 1994, Rage Against the Machine re-recorded the song "Darkness" from their original demo for the soundtrack of the movie "The Crow", contributing to the film's atmosphere with their music.

June 1995: Reunion for KROQ Weenie Roast

In June 1995, Rage Against the Machine reunited for the KROQ Weenie Roast after a brief period of internal conflicts that had sparked rumors of a breakup.

December 1995: Recording of "Evil Empire"

In December 1995, Rage Against the Machine recorded their follow-up album, "Evil Empire", with producer Brendan O'Brien, incorporating greater hip hop influences due to musical tensions within the band.

1995: Soundtrack Appearance in "Higher Learning"

In 1995, Rage Against the Machine's song "Year of tha Boomerang" appeared on the soundtrack for the film "Higher Learning", expanding their reach to a wider audience. An early version of the song "Tire Me" also appeared in the movie.

April 1996: Album Sales Milestone

By April 1996, Rage Against the Machine's debut album had sold over 1 million copies in the United States and 3 million copies worldwide, marking a significant commercial achievement.

April 1996: Protest on Saturday Night Live

In April 1996, Rage Against the Machine performed "Bulls on Parade" on Saturday Night Live and attempted to hang inverted American flags from their amplifiers in protest of guest host Steve Forbes, resulting in their planned two-song performance being cut to one.

April 16, 1996: "Evil Empire" Release

On April 16, 1996, Rage Against the Machine released their album "Evil Empire", which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 249,000 copies in its first week.

1996: Release of "Evil Empire" Album

In 1996, Rage Against the Machine released their second album, "Evil Empire", which topped the Billboard 200 chart, achieving commercial success.

1997: Opening for U2 on PopMart Tour

In 1997, Rage Against the Machine opened for U2 on the PopMart Tour, donating their profits to various organizations. They also began a headlining U.S. tour with Wu-Tang Clan which did not go as planned.

June 1998: Release of Live & Rare in Japan

In June 1998, Sony Records released "Live & Rare", compiling B-sides and live performances, exclusively in Japan. Later that year, a live video titled "Rage Against the Machine" was released.

1998: "No Shelter" on "Godzilla" Soundtrack

In 1998, Rage Against the Machine's song "No Shelter" appeared on the soundtrack for the film "Godzilla", showcasing their versatility in contributing to movie soundtracks.

1999: Woodstock '99 Performance and Album Release

In 1999, Rage Against the Machine performed at the Woodstock '99 concert and released their third album, "The Battle of Los Angeles", which debuted at number one and was certified double-platinum. The song "Wake Up" was featured in the movie "The Matrix".

1999: Release of "The Battle of Los Angeles" Album

In 1999, Rage Against the Machine released "The Battle of Los Angeles", which topped the Billboard 200 chart. The album further cemented their status as a leading rock band.

January 26, 2000: Filming Incident at the New York Stock Exchange

On January 26, 2000, during the filming of the video for "Sleep Now in the Fire", directed by Michael Moore, an altercation led to the New York Stock Exchange being temporarily closed, and the band being escorted away by security after they attempted to enter the exchange.

May 2000: Album Certified Triple Platinum

In May 2000, Rage Against the Machine's debut album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), indicating substantial sales and popularity.

September 7, 2000: Protest at MTV Video Music Awards

On September 7, 2000, Rage Against the Machine performed "Testify" at the MTV Video Music Awards. Following Limp Bizkit winning the Best Rock Video award, Tim Commerford climbed onto the scaffolding of the set in protest, resulting in his arrest.

October 18, 2000: Zack de la Rocha's Departure

On October 18, 2000, Zack de la Rocha announced his departure from Rage Against the Machine, citing a breakdown in the band's decision-making process and artistic/political ideals.

2000: Cancelled Tour with Beastie Boys

In 2000, Rage Against the Machine planned to support the Beastie Boys on the "Rhyme and Reason" tour, but the tour was cancelled due to an injury suffered by the Beastie Boys' drummer, Mike D.

2000: Release of Renegades

In 2000, Rage Against the Machine released "Renegades", a collection of cover songs, which achieved platinum status a month later. Their final concerts took place on September 12 and 13, 2000, at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles.

2000: Release of "Renegades" and Initial Disbandment

In 2000, Rage Against the Machine released their cover album "Renegades" and subsequently disbanded due to growing creative differences among the band members.

2000: Renegades Album Release

The band last released Renegades album in 2000, making this the first time since then where the possibility of recording new material was brought up.

2001: Clear Channel Memorandum

In the wake of the September 11 attacks, the 2001 Clear Channel memorandum contained a list of "lyrically questionable" songs for the radio, uniquely listing all of Rage Against the Machine's songs, indicating a sensitivity to the band's controversial lyrics.

November 2002: Audioslave's First Single Release

In November 2002, Morello, Wilk, and Commerford, along with Chris Cornell, formed Audioslave and released their first single, "Cochise", marking a new direction for the musicians.

2003: "The Battle of Los Angeles" Ranked by Rolling Stone

In 2003, "The Battle of Los Angeles" was ranked number 426 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Also The track "Calm Like a Bomb" was used in the sequel, "The Matrix Reloaded".

2003: Release of "Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium"

In 2003, Rage Against the Machine released the live album "Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium", an edited recording of the band's final concerts from September 2000, accompanied by an expanded DVD release of the last show, including a previously unreleased video for "Bombtrack".

2003: "Rage Against the Machine" Ranked by Rolling Stone

In 2003, Rolling Stone ranked Rage Against the Machine's debut album at number 368 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, solidifying its place in music history.

2003: Morello begins playing acoustic folk music as the Nightwatchman

In 2003, Tom Morello began playing acoustic folk music at open-mic nights and clubs under the alias the Nightwatchman, as an outlet for his political views while playing apolitical music with Audioslave.

2003: Release of "March of Death"

In 2003, a collaboration between Zack De la Rocha and DJ Shadow, the song "March of Death" was released free online in protest of the imminent invasion of Iraq.

2004: "We Want It All" Included on Fahrenheit 9/11 Soundtrack

In 2004, the soundtrack Songs and Artists that Inspired Fahrenheit 9/11 included "We Want It All", one of Zack de la Rocha's collaborations with Trent Reznor.

2005: "Out of Exile" Debuts at Number One

In 2005, Audioslave released their second album, Out of Exile, which debuted at number one on the Billboard charts, demonstrating the band's success.

2005: VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock

In 2005, Rage Against the Machine was ranked 33rd on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock list.

2005: Morello and De la Rocha meet at protest

In 2005, Tom Morello said he and Zack de la Rocha communicated by phone, and had met at a protest in support of the South Central Farm.

2005: De la Rocha Performs with Son de Madera

In late 2005, Zack de la Rocha performed with the son jarocho band Son de Madera, singing and playing the jarana huasteca.

September 4, 2006: Release of Revelations

On September 4, 2006, Audioslave released their third album, Revelations; however, they did not tour as Cornell and Morello were working on solo albums.

February 15, 2007: Audioslave Disbands

On February 15, 2007, Audioslave disbanded due to irresolvable personality conflicts and musical differences, marking the end of the band's run.

April 14, 2007: Morello and De la Rocha Reunite for Acoustic Set

On April 14, 2007, Tom Morello and Zack De la Rocha reunited to perform a brief acoustic set at a Coalition of Immokalee Workers rally in downtown Chicago. Morello described the event as 'very exciting for everybody in the room, myself included'.

April 2007: Tom Morello Releases "One Man Revolution" album

In April 2007, Tom Morello, performing as the Nightwatchman, released his album "One Man Revolution."

2007: Reunion Performance at Coachella

After pursuing other projects for several years, Rage Against the Machine reunited in 2007 to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, marking their return to the stage.

July 2008: De la Rocha and Theodore Release EP as One Day as a Lion

In July 2008, Zack de la Rocha and drummer Jon Theodore, formerly of the Mars Volta, released an EP as One Day as a Lion.

August 2008: Rage Against the Machine Headlines Tent State Music Festival and Leads Protest

In August 2008, during the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Rage Against the Machine headlined the free Tent State Music Festival to End the War, supported by Flobots, State Radio, Jello Biafra, and Wayne Kramer. Following the concert, the band led attendees on a march to Invesco Field, resulting in a stand-off with police and a meeting between the Obama campaign and Iraq Veterans Against the War.

September 2008: Rage Performs During Republican National Convention

In September 2008, Rage Against the Machine performed at the Target Center in Minneapolis during the Republican National Convention. The previous day, their surprise set was prevented by police, and De la Rocha and Morello rapped and sang through a megaphone.

September 30, 2008: Tom Morello Releases "The Fabled City"

On September 30, 2008, Tom Morello, performing as the Nightwatchman, released the album, "The Fabled City."

December 2008: Morello announces Nightwatchman project as principal musical focus

In December 2008, Tom Morello stated that his Nightwatchman project would be his "principal musical focus, as I see it, for the remainder of my life".

2008: Rage Against the Machine Tours

In 2008, Rage Against the Machine continued to tour in the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and Europe.

2008: Kerrang! Hall of Fame Induction

In 2008, Rage Against the Machine was inducted into the Kerrang! "Hall of Fame".

June 2009: Street Sweeper Social Club Debut Album Release

In June 2009, Street Sweeper Social Club, the rap rock group formed by Tom Morello and Boots Riley, released their self-titled debut album.

December 2009: "Killing in the Name" Reaches Number One in UK

In December 2009, a Facebook campaign successfully took "Killing in the Name" to the Christmas number one slot in the UK Singles Chart, breaking the dominance of The X Factor. On December 17, Rage Against the Machine played a censored version of the song live on Radio 5 Live.

December 20, 2009: "Killing in the Name" declared UK Christmas number one

On December 20, 2009, "Killing in the Name" was officially announced as the number-one single in the UK for Christmas 2009, after a successful campaign. Zack de la Rocha spoke to BBC One upon hearing the news.

June 6, 2010: Rage Against the Machine Performs Free Concert in London

On June 6, 2010, Rage Against the Machine performed a free concert at Finsbury Park, London, dubbed "The Rage Factor," to celebrate "Killing in the Name" reaching the number one spot at Christmas. Gogol Bordello, Gallows and Roots Manuva supported the band.

June 2010: Rage Against the Machine Headlines European Festivals

In June 2010, in addition to the free gig at Finsbury Park, Rage Against the Machine headlined European festivals including the Download Festival, Rock am Ring, Rock im Park and Rock in Rio Madrid. They also performed in Ireland on June 8 and the Netherlands on June 9.

July 23, 2010: Rage Against the Machine Performs in Los Angeles

On July 23, 2010, Rage Against the Machine returned to Los Angeles for their first U.S. show in two years and their first hometown show in 10 years. The concert benefited Arizona organizations fighting the SB1070 immigration law, raising $300,000.

October 2010: De la Rocha Confirms New Album in Works

In October 2010, Zack de la Rocha allegedly confirmed in an interview with La Tercera that a new album was in the works, with a possibility of a 2011 release.

2010: Sales Surpass 16 Million Records

By 2010, Rage Against the Machine had sold over 16 million records worldwide, marking a significant milestone in their career.

2010: NME's Heroes of the Year Award

In 2010, Rage Against the Machine won NME's Heroes of the Year Award.

2010: Finsbury Park Performance Released on DVD and Blu-ray

On October 16, the 2010 performance in Finsbury Park was released on DVD and Blu-ray.

2010: Anniversary box set release

The band announced on October 9 via their Facebook page that they would be releasing a special 20th anniversary box set to commemorate the group's debut album. The full box set contains never-before-released concert material, including the band's 2010 Finsbury Park show and footage from early in their career, as well as a digitally-remastered version of the album, B-sides and the original demo tape (on disc for the first time). The band released 3-disc and single-disc versions.

May 2011: Morello States No New Album in the Works

In early May 2011, Tom Morello said that Rage Against the Machine was not working on a new album, but did not rule out the possibility of future studio work.

July 30, 2011: Rage Against the Machine Performs at L.A. Rising Festival

On July 30, 2011, Rage Against the Machine performed at the L.A. Rising festival with El Gran Silencio, Immortal Technique, Lauryn Hill, Rise Against and Muse. During an interview, Commerford stated that new material was being written, contradicting Morello's comments.

2011: Band Goes on Hiatus

After playing live venues and festivals worldwide for four years, Rage Against the Machine went on hiatus in 2011, temporarily halting their musical activities.

2011: Wilk Indicates L.A. Rising Show Was Final

In an April 2014 interview with The Pulse of Radio, drummer Brad Wilk indicated that, as far as he knew, Rage Against the Machine's 2011 performance at L.A. Rising was their final show.

October 2012: Commerford Responds "Maybe" to New Album Question

In an October 2012 interview with TMZ, bassist Tim Commerford was asked if Rage Against the Machine was working on a new album, and he simply responded, "maybe".

November 2012: Morello Denies New Material

In November 2012, Tom Morello denied that Rage Against the Machine was working on new material, and stated that they had "no plans beyond" the reissue of their self-titled debut album.

April 2014: Wilk Indicates L.A. Rising Show Was Final

In an April 2014 interview with The Pulse of Radio, drummer Brad Wilk indicated that, as far as he knew, Rage Against the Machine's 2011 performance at L.A. Rising was their final show.

February 2015: Commerford Comments on Band's Future

In February 2015, Tim Commerford said that uncertainty over when they might play again was typical of the band's functioning, speculating: "It could be tomorrow; it could be 10 years from now".

May 2016: Morello, Wilk, and Commerford Form Prophets of Rage

In May 2016, it was announced that Tom Morello, Brad Wilk, and Tim Commerford had formed a supergroup, Prophets of Rage, with the rappers Chuck D of Public Enemy and B-Real of Cypress Hill. The band toured through 2016 and played songs by Rage Against the Machine, Public Enemy and Cypress Hill.

May 2018: Wilk Expresses Desire for Rage Against the Machine Reunion

In May 2018, Brad Wilk said Rage Against the Machine would make him happy, and that "it's just really a matter of getting us all on the same page".

November 1, 2019: Rage Against the Machine Reunion

On November 1, 2019, reports surfaced that Rage Against the Machine was reuniting for their first shows in nine years in the spring of 2020, including two appearances at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

November 2019: Prophets of Rage Disbands

In November 2019, Chuck D and B-Real confirmed that Prophets of Rage had disbanded.

November 25, 2019: Leaked Tour Poster Debunked

On November 25, 2019, an alleged leaked tour poster circulated online, suggesting a world tour in 2020. However, Australian publication Wall of Sound debunked the poster, revealing it was a prank by a concert poster troll.

2019: Announcement of World Tour

In 2019, Rage Against the Machine announced a world tour, exciting fans with the prospect of seeing them perform live again, however it was delayed until 2022.

February 10, 2020: Public Service Announcement Tour Announcement

On February 10, 2020, Rage Against the Machine announced worldwide dates for their 2020 reunion tour, named the Public Service Announcement Tour. The tour, scheduled from March 26 through September 12, would be their first full-length world tour in 20 years, with Run the Jewels as the supporting act on all shows but Chicago.

March 12, 2020: Reunion Tour Postponed

On March 12, 2020, Rage Against the Machine postponed the first leg of their reunion tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tour was eventually postponed to the summer of 2021.

May 1, 2020: Reunion Tour Rescheduled

On May 1, 2020, Rage Against the Machine announced that they had rescheduled the remaining dates of their reunion tour to 2021.

May 12, 2020: Reading and Leeds Festivals Cancelled

On May 12, 2020, it was announced that the Reading and Leeds Festivals, where Rage Against the Machine was due to headline for their first UK appearance in ten years, were cancelled.

June 11, 2020: Album Chart Success

On June 11, 2020, every Rage Against the Machine album had entered the top 30 of Apple Music's Rock Albums chart, and their debut album had entered the Billboard Top 200 at number 174.

October 2020: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Cancelled

In October 2020, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, where Rage Against the Machine was scheduled to play, was officially cancelled.

April 8, 2021: Public Service Announcement Tour Rescheduled Again

On April 8, 2021, it was announced that the Public Service Announcement Tour had once again been rescheduled to the spring and summer of 2022.

May 2021: Musicians' Boycott of Israel

In May 2021, Rage Against the Machine was among more than 600 musicians who signed an open letter calling for a boycott of performances in Israel until the occupation of the Palestinian territories ends.

2021: "Killing in the Name" named UK's Favourite Christmas Number 1 of All Time

In 2021, the UK Official Charts Company announced that "Killing in the Name" had been named as the 'UK's Favourite Christmas Number 1 of All Time' in a poll commissioned to celebrate the 70th Official Christmas Number 1 race.

The Official Christmas No. 1 Singles Book

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June 24, 2022: Donation to Reproductive Rights Groups

On June 24, 2022, Rage Against the Machine announced that they would donate $475,000 to reproductive rights groups in Wisconsin and Illinois after the Supreme Court's ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade.

July 9, 2022: First Concert in 11 Years

On July 9, 2022, Rage Against the Machine played their first concert in 11 years at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin. After De la Rocha ruptured his Achilles tendon during a show in Chicago in July, the band canceled their European tour and remaining North American tour dates.

2022: World Tour Delayed and Cut Short

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the world tour that was originally announced in 2019, was delayed to 2022, but it was ultimately cut short after Zack de la Rocha suffered a leg injury.

November 3, 2023: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction

On November 3, 2023, Rage Against the Machine was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by Ice-T at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Only Tom Morello attended the ceremony.