“Frat boy nonsense”: Tom Morello on the worst concert of the 1990s
Although his bluesy riffs and heavy use of the squeaking DigiTech Whammy might not be for everyone, Tom Morello has always stood out in the world of guitarists for sticking up for what he believes in, just like the rest of his Rage Against the Machine bandmates. Rap metal pioneers they may be, but there is much substance to the Californian group, with them philosophically robust and driven by what can only be described as the complete countercultural spirit.
Though they emerged in the early 1990s, their music bears striking similarities to Bob Dylan’s protest songs of the early ’60s. This is because their sound isn’t just about entertainment; it’s a vehicle for addressing the harsh realities of the world, no matter how shocking. Their music aims to inspire action, encouraging fans to take to the streets and protest against injustices, whether political, social, or gender-related, in the hope of driving meaningful change.
Leftist heroes who continue to fly the flag of proletarian struggle today, Rage Against the Machine are widely influential because of their heavily political slant and the fact that their music is among the most assertive of their day. Each member brought something vital to the fold, and all were in tandem musically and politically, creating art of substance that still compels 24 years after they last released an album.
While each component’s musical abilities are storied, the forceful grooves of drummer Brad Wilk and bassist Tim Commerford, Morello’s crunching chords and wobbling solos, and frontman Zack de la Rocha’s furious bars, unlike many great bands, they’ve retained relevance because they have never veered from their political and philosophical position. When so many outfits of their stature become caricatures of themselves, or worse, fall into the suffocating depths of hypocrisy, Rage Against the Machine members have always practised what they preach.
This aspect has always been significant given the fact that Rage Against the Machine were at their commercial peak during an era when misogyny and other societal ills were still gravely prevalent and have influenced bands they would rather not have. These include frat metal bands such as Limp Bizkit, who would perform at the disastrous Woodstock 1999 festival and would come to symbolise the absolute worst of the era, including the horrific crimes that occurred there. It might be a blight on their CV, but Rage Against the Machine also appeared on that infamous weekend.
Because of the intense collapse of civilisation that occurred at Woodstock ’99 and the many base human crimes that unfolded, many acts have distanced themselves from it, including Rage Against the Machine. When speaking to Metal Hammer in 2022, Morello was asked how toxic the atmosphere at the festival was from his perspective, and despite being there for only 90 minutes, he saw more than enough. It was also clear to him that none of the original Woodstock’s countercultural values were displayed by the “antithetical” organisers. Musically, this was true too, with the countercultural spirit becoming nothing but “frat boy nonsense,” by which he presumably meant Limp Bizkit, Korn and the likes of Lit and Godsmack. It was undoubtedly the worst concert of the decade.
Morello said: “It was an ocean of gasoline waiting for a match. It also laid bare the worst of the Lollapalooza nation; it began as this diverse group of bands – Nine Inch Nails, Rage Against The Machine, Tool, Pearl Jam – and it merged into the worst of the hair metal and frat boy nonsense.”
The Rage Against the Machine guitarist was right; Woodstock ’99 was the end of an era and one that had been heading for a spectacular crash for years. After that moment, guitar music would become largely uncool again until The Strokes arrived a couple of years later and completely shook things up for the new millennium. As for Rage Against the Machine, they split in 2000, with it clear that the times were changing. However, they never relented from their beliefs, and before too long, they would be needed again as the world order pulled the rugs from under our feet…
