“Fuck you I won’t do what you tell me”: Five times Rage Against the Machine were true to their lyrics
For as long as there has been human consciousness, there has been rebellion, and music is one of the most effective mediums through which such rebellion can be portrayed. This is because it doesn’t just provide a backdrop for lyrics that can be aggressive and expressive, but the music itself can also be used as a form of protest. One of the best examples of this chaotic combination is the band Rage Against The Machine.
Societal commentary in music used to be limited to sound alone, as it was seen as taboo to address reality in lyricisms. As such, disorganised sounds, such as those in free jazz and noise music, were used to reflect social unrest. Eventually, lyrics were also used as a form of protest during the punk movement and hip-hop. Rage Against the Machine use both elements, lyrics and music, as a means to convey their aggression and unrest towards an unjust world.
Rage Against the Machine doesn’t only make good protest music, though. They also channel everything they believe in, no matter who it might offend. The lyrics to their song ‘Killing In The Name’, which state, “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me,” are well and truly lived by, as the band are persistently pissing off people who don’t agree with their views.
They are relentless in their approach to politics and sonic rebellion and have cemented themselves as one of the greatest protest bands of all time. These are some of the key moments when they proved themselves as some of the greatest voices in revolution.
Rage Against the Machine’s most controversial moments:
Naked at Lollapalooza
In 1993, the band was asked to play a 15-minute set at Lollapalooza. On the day of the show, despite the fact it was only a short set, it became clear that they wouldn’t be able to perform as vocalist Zach de la Rocha had utterly wrecked his voice the night prior. “The day before,” Vice reported. “In North Kingston, Rhode Island, he had completely blown out his voice during Rage’s performance.”
Rather than cancel completely, the band decided to strip down naked and take to the stage wearing nothing but black tape across their mouths and paint on their chests, which read “P-M-R-C.” This stood for Parents Music Resource Center, which was the group that pioneered sensory in music and created the parental advisory sticker.
An SNL show to remember
If you ever needed more proof that SNL was recorded live, you should check out Rage Against The Machine’s performance from 1996. They were booked to perform as the musical guest on the same day that then-Presidential candidate Steve Forbes was hosting. The band took the opportunity to protest as they draped upside-down American flags over amplifiers.
This was the only performance the band did on the show, as they were banned from playing a second song. When they were told they were being kicked off set, bassist Tim Commerford stormed the host’s dressing room and threw pieces of torn American flag everywhere.
Christmas number one
One of the strangest moments in Rage Against the Machine’s career was when their song ‘Killing In The Name Of’, was placed in the front running for Christmas number one. Joe McElderry was the favourite to become number one as he had recently won the talent competition the X Factor, but people bought Rage’s song in protest, and it ended up being number one.
As is always the case, Rage Against the Machine were asked to perform their number one hit live, and in doing so, decided not to blur out the swearword heavy outro. They were cut off about five seconds into the chants of “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me.” As a thank you to the public, they did a free show at Finsbury Park and donated the proceeds to charity.
Tear gas at the RNC
Rage Against The Machine reunited in 2007 after saying that George Bush had led the country into a “Right-wing purgatory.” Back on the scene, they decided to play their own show at the Republican National Convention in 2008.
The gig was littered with protests, and the band was forced to stop at 7 pm. Police tried to escort the band off the stage, but Tom Morello and Zach De La Rocha stayed to perform an acapella version of ‘Bulls On Parade’. The duo then led the crowd on a march, which led to the police firing tear gas at them.
Flag burning at Woodstock
When Woodstock was revived in 1999, it was ransacked with controversial moments, to the point that this move often blends into the background. The band have always been keen on using their big platforms to make a statement, and given how massive Woodstock was, they saw that stage as the perfect place for protest.
They played through 13 songs during their set and then ended it by lighting the American flag on fire and draping it across their amps. This moment of chaos was a drop in the ocean, given how chaotic the rest of the shows were, but it’s still a noteworthy moment of rebellion by the band.
