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Review: Rage Against The Machine's 'The Battle of Los Angeles'
by Jordan Hoffman

published 11/8/99

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Jordan Hoffman is LeisureSuit.net's Queens-based Senior Editor.



MOST RECENT YAK ABOUT THIS ARTICLE:

Subj: ZAC BAILED
FUCK ZAC, HE bailed on the band they were good once, but you know what Chris Cornell has come along and now the all members sound awesome together. I did like rage but now Audioslave Kick ass..

-- Sunsha
Jan 27, 2007 at 12:17AM

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RATM, serving fresh portions of power to the people
It has to start some place. It has to start some time. What better place than here? What better time that now? All hell can't stop us now!!—Zach de la Rocha, Guerrilla Radio

It is reasonable to ask, "do they really mean it?" Here are four California dudes making an extreme amount of money on a division of Sony Music. But their lyrics and message are as dissident as ever. Their targets: the white male power structure, censorship, the Philadelphia cops, capitalism, and everything else a college freshman gets excited about. Guitarist and spokesman Tom Morello (seen on the back flap of The Battle of Los Angeles wearing a UNITE! Ball cap) has always explained the band's contract with Epic as Trojan Horse. When they began making waves in the club scene every label wanted to sign them. Epic was the only one that didn't say boo about their politics and gave them complete artistic control. Their distribution network, Morello explains, would be able to get the message to action out to more people than by pressing their own discs like, say, Fugazi. Same reason for including songs in popular soundtracks like, say, The Matrix.

The question remains, "do they mean it?" I'll have to accept it. I need to believe they mean it. Zach de la Rocha raps and screams with such anger and, well, rage that I find listening to this music is an exercise in blood-pressure reduction. To be able to release frustrations vicariously through him is an exhilarating experience. That I generally agree with them on issues such as immigration and sweatshops, Leonard Peltier, Mumia Abu-Jamal, female empowerment against date rape, and the struggle for Democracy in Chiapas makes it all the better. (Could there be a right-wing version of Rage Against The Machine? Thunderous raps about the Flat Tax?)

Here's the great secret about Rage Against The Machine. Tom Morello, when not causing controversy wearing a shirt that says "Commie," is actually an extremely talented guitar player. He's not just talented, he's a full-on gearhead. Had he been born twenty years earlier, he's be playing in prog rock bands. There are some moves he pulls that are straight from Robert Fripp's book. There are a full range of sounds he creates, from high pitched Hank Shocklee squeals to low rolls like a throat singer's. He can make his guitar drone in pain like an assembly line gear, or cut like Norman Bates' knife. The bass and drums are impenetrable, and the Morello riffs are tougher than anything else out there. This is music as hard and headbanging since the best of Led Zeppelin or Black Sabbath. Other similar bands out there, Tool, Korn, Stabbing Westward, while obviously lacking any political gimmick, don't fatten up their sound with the guitar tricks Morello can pull out of his hat. And, frankly, I think the riffs with RATM are just more urgent, more exciting. There's no other frontman like de la Rocha, maybe Iggy Pop, but that's a whole different world.

What's best about "The Battle of Los Angeles," is that after the images of struggling migrant women, burnt out third world villages, and the proletariat one day rising against The Man disintegrate or grow disinteresting, one can always play this disc on your walkman and walk around Avenue C in the cold. I had the good fortune to do this the other day. The squeals of the guitar, sounding alternately like cries for help or cuts on a turntable, the fast and furious rhythms, the angry raps . . . shit it was fun to walk around like that. I could actually feel my testicles getting larger. Had a CEO crossed my path, I woulda clocked him. Had a rally been nearby, I woulda mobilized. RATM doesn't glorify violence, but they sneak in that old "by any means" clause. On Mumia, in "Voice of the Voiceless": "So long as tha rope is tight around Mumia's neck/Let there be no white rich life we are bound to respect" and "My panther my brother we are at war until you're freed." RATM is mostly white. Do they really mean it?

Zach de la Rocha is part Mexican, and, in a weird mixed-message of conflicting politics, he raps about the creeping imperialism in "Sleep Now In The Fire." He repeats the triumvirate of indigenous oppression, The Nina, The Pinta, The Santa Maria. It is to be assumed his sympathies lie with the natives, yet he takes great pain to roll the "r" in Santa Maria with as much Spanish inflection as possible, full of disenfranchised pride. But would the people of Mexico speak Spanish without Columbus' conquest? It's a question of semantics, and, frankly, silly, but where else in pop music do issues like this even come up?

RATM's records sell really well. And that's because the beats and grooves are like an F5 tornado and there's a shitload of screaming, and some cursing, too. But I have to hope that out of every 100 kids that buys the record, one will turn to the back page Action! list in the booklet. There, he will find web links for FAIR, Refuse and Resist, Amnesty International, Unite, Women Alive, the Zapatista movement in Chiapas, and defense funds for Mumia and Leonard Peltier. Or they might stop and wonder where that tennis shoe was made, or what our defense industry does with its wares, or what intifada means. How can this be bad? Even if they don't mean it?

And if the opening of "Guerrilla Radio" doesn't sound like the angry, warrior, rap-metal version of The Smiths's "How Soon Is Now?" I don't know anything any more.


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Name: Sunsha
Subject: ZAC BAILED
-- Jan 27, 2007 at 12:17AM
FUCK ZAC, HE bailed on the band they were good once, but you know what Chris Cornell has come along and now the all members sound awesome together. I did like rage but now Audioslave Kick ass..

Name: Jason
Subject: QQ more
-- Dec 14, 2006 at 12:48AM
lol. You little angry kidlets are funny, especially when bashing music. It goes to show how dim-witted and closed minded you are. Rage Against the Machine is about having an open mind, and fighting the system, apparently you anti-social asshats are too conformist to see that. Audioslave is great. Good sit at home and chill music, or cruising music.

Name: Dan
Subject: The Message
-- Apr 5, 2006 at 6:29AM
First Off i dont care if DEl la Rocha is white or not because there music is incredibly powerful and the message that they send is the right one.Zach is probly the most creative song writters of our day. But on the Other hand audioslave is still good music is music you do it cause you love it and audioslave loves it just like Rage loved it *Yellow Ribon Instead of a Swastika*

Name: Cletis Vandamme
Subject: omfg
-- Feb 1, 2006 at 10:32PM
U idiots need to pull your heads out of your asses. Quit dreaming about del la rocha coming back. he did not like where the band was going, and how can u blame him. And for the record, kris cornell is an amazing vocalist, and doesnt suck. he may not be as good as del la rocha, but u assclowns don't know wut you r talking about. just because he isnt rocha, u dumbshits can see what a musician the man is.

Name: Gray
Subject: Dear oh Dear
-- Jan 23, 2006 at 11:31AM
Well, half of you that dissed the article missed the point completely. Hes not saying "they dont mean it" he is simply asking the question "DO THEY MEAN IT?"... Any intelligent person who thinks for themselves will tell you, one does not just accept something because it seems obvious, one ALWAYS has to question the world around oneself, otherwise how do you know that your opinions are your own - if one doesnt question and explore the world and its many possibilities, and THINK about it, then your just repeating someone elses opinion.

And heres my opinion - 90% of people who posted on this board are quite ignorant and even small minded... sorry guys, but look at what you wrote... intelligent??? Considered??? Thought out??? Origional opinions??/ I doubt it.... but then, thats JUST my opinion..

;-)

Name: kenny
Subject: rage,audioslave,soun dgarden
-- Oct 5, 2005 at 8:13PM
you know what i agree asudioslave isnt a good band but rage is a fucking rock legend.soundgarden was also better when they were together.but de la rocha wanted to quit so the rest of the band wanted to play music.You cant blame them

Name: travis
Subject: What the hell...
-- Sep 6, 2005 at 11:13PM
Audioslave's not that bad, don't know why people sit there and say a good band sucks, when, most of them couldn't rap or play a guitar or bass for shit. Audioslave is a badass bad, but they are a different style than RATM, and people act like idiots for no reason because of it. Also, quit posting in all caps, it makes you look stupid. And to add to that, to the guy that said de le Rocha was an idiot, explain how RATM still has a massive following and sells records like hotcakes 5 years after they broke up? Also, about him running for public office, no mainstream party (i.e. Republicans and Democrats) would let him run, since he is way too vocal. And just by chance, which bands do you like.

Name: seth
Subject: audioslave r shit
-- Sep 5, 2005 at 1:17PM
audioslave really really really suck.. wers zach these days ??

Name: High Priest
Subject: all of you
-- Sep 1, 2005 at 2:30PM
You're breathing my air...

Name: p-dog
Subject: fuck off audioslave fans
-- Aug 6, 2005 at 2:57PM
audioslave sucks!!!!!!!!!get fuckin over it. rage is the only band i can listen 2! if u dont like ratm u wouldnt know good music if it ass raped u!so shut the fuck up & stop complainin

Name: Mike
Subject: LOS ANGELES?
-- Jul 31, 2005 at 3:35AM
RATM IS FROM IRVINE!

Name: david
Subject: audioslave
-- Jul 22, 2005 at 11:17AM
audioslave are fucking awesome. rage are amazing aswell. the rest of u can just fuck off

Name: the killer
Subject: rage
-- Jul 17, 2005 at 5:36PM
DIE cris cornell DIE

Name: stevie
Subject: rage
-- Jul 17, 2005 at 5:33PM
AUDIOSLAVE IS THE BIGGGEST PILE OF POO IVE EVER HEARD !!!! WISH CHRIS CORNELL WUD MOVE INTO A NURSING HOME COZ HE IS TOO OLD AND LAME.. AUDIOSLAVE MAKE ME WANT TO SLEEP ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZ BORING.PLZ PLZ PLZ CUM BACK AND FORM RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE AGAIN. ZACH UR A FUCKNG LEGEND. I LUV U !!!

Name: david
Subject: what is he
-- May 18, 2005 at 8:57PM
do any of u know what race zack really is send info to 96mysticcobra@aol.co m

Name: Zach de la Rocha
Subject: is Stupid
-- Apr 8, 2005 at 8:46PM
to think that pop music and politics are related. I do not like this guy at all because he feels that because he is this pop musician he has the right to spout of such crazy ideas and that we should listen. First, the Philadelphia cops were definitely correct in jailing Mumia Abu Jamal. Second, don't people get the feeling that Mr. de la Rocha is just a Che Guevara wanna be who has done nothing real in politics/social change? When has Mr. de la Rocha done anything to bring about change? I don't mean that this needs to be an armed revolution, but I mean, when has Mr. de la Rocha led drives for legislation to be passed, when has he run for office, etc.? Furthermore, I have known enough Mr. de la Rochas growing up. They offend everyone with the stench of their dreadlocks and unwashed feet and defend it all by claiming to stand for something higher - for being on a higher plane than the rest of us. Garbage! So, please get real Mr. de la Rocha and spare us all from your poser antics.

Name: Kody
Subject: Rage
-- Mar 31, 2005 at 10:10PM
By the way all you are very right Audioslave is a discrace compared to Rage lol its really sad how 3 good musicians can go from rage to something like audioslave o well RATM KICKS ASS and does anyone know the meaning of maria cause i unno what the message is

Name: Kody
Subject: Rage
-- Mar 31, 2005 at 10:10PM
By the way all you are very right Audioslave is a discrace compared to Rage lol its really sad how 3 good musicians can go from rage to something like audioslave o well RATM KICKS ASS and does anyone know the meaning of maria cause i unno what the message is

Name: Kody
Subject: Rage
-- Mar 31, 2005 at 10:10PM
By the way all you are very right Audioslave is a discrace compared to Rage lol its really sad how 3 good musicians can go from rage to something like audioslave o well RATM KICKS ASS

Name: An LS.n Reader
Subject: Review: Rage Against The Machine's 'The Battle of Los Angeles'
-- Mar 31, 2005 at 10:05PM
Kody hey could u please tell me if u know like what the message in Maria is i cant figure it out thx man u really know what ur talking about RATM kicks ass

Name: Jes
Subject: rage
-- Jan 30, 2005 at 5:43PM
i like this article it's informative // it made me think of how corrupt we have become!
radical*
instead of talkin bout things we can't change someone should post recent things bout em..like is zak doing a solo record ..does he plan on comin back...curious gurl...

Name: whats wid a name?
Subject: RATM
-- Sep 29, 2004 at 8:43AM
Im just a new tripper of RATM.Happened to stumbble on the video of Sleep now in the fire and all I wanted to say is that RATM is THE BAND with THE MESSAGE during the whole of TIME!!!!!!!!!!!

Name: kyle
Subject: marko
-- Aug 25, 2004 at 3:39PM
what are you talking about man , are you fucking imbreed, the rage selftitled album doesnt sound the same as evil empire. i think marko should get his head out of his ass and pull out those two rage albums cause you obviously have no idea about rage, you are a weak rage fan bitch

Name: kyle
Subject: fuck audioslave
-- Aug 25, 2004 at 3:34PM
chirs cornell is an old man and its time for him to give his vocals a fucking rest. i say zack comes back to rage and they finish with
what they started the best political band ever. It tears me up inside everytime i hear one of those audioslave songs on the air, cause i know those could be new riffs for a rage album. And to teh person who says nirvana is the best thats a fucking joke, they created some pretty good music but iafter you listen to nevermind a million times it gets old real old, cobain killed himself for a reason he was fucking weak and so are you for picking that band.

Name: ratm fan forever...
Subject: audioslave...
-- Jul 29, 2004 at 10:00PM
look y'all... i'm not trying to hate on audioslave or chris cornell or anything... but when i hear audioslav on the radio it just makes me want to throw up when i think about whar rage was. i dont understand how the musicians behind what i think is the greatest band, and defenitely the greatest political band ever , can settle for the shit audiolsave puts out. it's sad... i dont disrespect soundgarden, but chris cornell sounds like a moaning fuckhead and tom and the others must have taken tranquiiozers. there's no emotion, no feeling... they've turned into another sappy glam rock piece of shit. i dont want to believe that zach was the only one who believed what rage believed, but it sure as hell sounds like it. they've sold out and given up... makes me want to throw up... and seriously... quit bitching and screaming at eachother, man. i guess it's time to move on... rock on and peace out... i am out.

Name: zak
Subject: wtf
-- Jul 27, 2004 at 4:42PM
isnt it
"it has to start SOME WHERE not some PLACE?" ?!

Name: marko
Subject: listen up
-- Jun 26, 2004 at 11:31AM
ok look if you like ratm go like them if you are obessed with them go be obessed if you hate them dont listen if you hate or love SG or audio slave do what you want no one wants to hear you complian about something that wont make a difference if you say it or not, so please before you open your mouth think about it and than say it, and i do wish rage would come back but it aight happenin and im so saddend to say that...but oh well there is plenty of bands out there to like but if you only want to listen to rage than you will soon find yourself very tired of them because nothing is new ne more and alot of there sound, sounds the same like evil empire and the self titled ablum rage aganist the machince when i bought them i was dis a point cause they almosted sounded the same cause of the corse of 3 years the band didnt even evole but if you like the sound thats good for you. well im done my speach...and i do love rage to death but im not going to go on about it cause i dont think people rele want to hear me bitch

Name: Erik
Subject: audioslave
-- Jun 2, 2004 at 1:49AM
Nirvana is the best!

Name: Carlos
Subject: Audioslave
-- Apr 25, 2004 at 3:22PM
RATM was a union of 4 incredibly talented individuals who were GREATER than the sum of their parts. As talented as Cornell may be, nothing I have heard from Audioslave hits as hard as RATM because the formula is just not the same. And frankly, the Audioslave record just sounds like a Clutch ripoff to me.

Name: Mike
Subject: Get a life People
-- Dec 17, 2003 at 6:17PM
Wow, I have lost all respect for most all RATM fans.

Pull ur heads out of ur asses, RATM broke up.

GO bitch to yourself if u miss Zach.

Dont come on here and diss the most prolific and talented singer, lyricist, and composer to come around in a long time(Chris Cornell)

Ive never gone on a Soundgarden or Chris Cornell board and seen people insulting Brad, Tom, or Timmy. Theyre all very talented musicians, and CC is unarguably the best modrn rock musician.

Im also not huge fan of Audioslave,but the reason theyre not as explosive as either RATM or Soundgarden has nothing to do w/ COrnell. Theyre a band u know, not one individual

If u would like to hear just how amazing SG and Cornell were, I suggest u pick Up their 1991 masterpiece
'Badmotorfinger' immediately.(possibl y the most fierce and heavy album ever recorded)

By the way, RATM have admitted several times that the Badmotrfinger album was their biggest influence for their initial 1992 release.

And dont give me this crap that the music has no meaning anymore. CC is a philosophical and spiritual poet, an he is one of the most poignant and brilliant lyricists ever. Music doenst have to be political to have a point retards. And there are political undertones all throughout the Audioslave album.

Pull ur heads outta ur asses, RATM is no more, SG broke up in 1997 , and yeah, i miss them, but i would never insult BRAD, Tim, or Tom b/c of it.

Grow up kiddies

Name: asdf
Subject: asdf
-- Nov 29, 2003 at 11:06AM
asff

Name: Trey
Subject: AudioSlave
-- Jun 5, 2003 at 10:55PM
Audioslave is the biggest waste of musical talent assembled. Tom, Brad, and Tim are excellent musicians, but with that feminine singer holding them back, and moaning with his girly voice, we never see the sick music they are capable of delivering. Please, for the love of God, come back Zack. Just for 1 tour. Now that you are gone, and ratm is no more, we really can see how a singer in a band affects the entire quality of music. It’s almost a proven fact that all bands get worse the longer they are together, but ratm was still getting better.

Name: NIreland
Subject: everything
-- May 18, 2003 at 6:17PM
Audioslave are the pinnacle of musical excellence. their album has no weak songs on it as are RATM.
George bush is gay.
Clinton rules he did more for the peace process in northern ireland than that poor excuse for a human being ever will.

Name: abbas
Subject: Scoffman
-- May 4, 2003 at 12:24PM
jordan scoffman knows only to scoff at other people and to criticize music.well i guess thats your job.how much you get paid for it? 20$ a month?because if you are its too much for an overrated article like this.tell me how many bands address issues like what RATM does?you stupid right wing asshole. i live in india and RATM has a great impact on us.

Name: Newband
Subject: Rage is over, move on
-- Apr 28, 2003 at 6:05AM
Audioslave is a completely new band. You can't compare them with RATM because their music is so different and has a different message to get across. And as for Rachael, you are fucking idiot. You have absolutley no idea what RATM lyrics were about. The band is keeping its political side through other means.

Name: HaveALife
Subject: Do you have one
-- Apr 27, 2003 at 10:21PM
Does anyone have a life out there? I'm watching FoxNews right now. I love George Bush. I have a great job. I love music. Bye.

Name: BlindDevotion
Subject: RATM is da bomb
-- Apr 27, 2003 at 10:19PM
You guys are idiots. RATM is the only music in the world that I will every listen to. If I'm exposed to any other music, I have to leave. If a commercial on TV plays any tune, I have to turn it off. If an elevator plays The Frank Chatsfield Orchestra playing Little Deuce Coupl by the beach boys, I get off at the next floor. RATM rocks. They're the only ones who will ever rock. For the next 97 years of my life, I can't listen to anything else. Fuck?

Name: Henry
Subject: More on Johnson
-- Apr 27, 2003 at 10:16PM
Wow, these last posting are the only two in the whole thread that haven't used the word f_ck. Just to add to TKuel's point, you can bet that Chris, Tom, and the others don't just listen to their own stuff. Lookit - Tom has obviously been influenced by Fripp. I'm sure he has other influences. Audioslave, RATM, and others are just merely patches in a musical quilt. It's all good I once heard someone say.

Name: TKuel
Subject: Johnson's AudioSlave Rant
-- Apr 27, 2003 at 10:13PM
Excellent commentary, Johnson. Someone told me that if you are truly into music, that your musical horizons will open up as you get older. These kids who will only listen to "the best band in the world RGTM" are showing some odd insane devotion reminescent of a 12 year old. Man, I dig jazz, prog, Audioslave, and others.

Name: Johnson
Subject: AudioSlave
-- Apr 27, 2003 at 7:23PM
I've never heard such ignorant rantings in my life? You like the music? Buy the CD? You like politics? Go watch the news. One band doesn't make or break your life. Who cares who's singing with which group now? When people get together to make music, it can be magic. After a while, sometimes the magic fades and a new combination comes around. Listen to a wide variety of music. I love Stan Getz (sax). I love SRV. I love Yes. I love Merle Haggard. Open yourselves up more and don't get locked into a single band. Come on!

Name: queef
Subject: stuff
-- Apr 22, 2003 at 10:09PM
first off all ratm is the greatest band ever. they play exhilerating music that flows and reflects their opinions clearly, secondly they have the balls that most bands lack. they dont care if they end up in jail because that will only fuel their fire more. unfortunetly they broke up and music fans are left with a void. if u dont like ratm... eat a dick

Name: funker
Subject: stuff and shit
-- Apr 17, 2003 at 10:46AM
education is the gayest and shit. ignorance is bliss and shit. and laura should probably stop talking and eat some shit. thanks for the thought that i give a shit about your opinion, but i cant say that i do.

Name: rckagnstracsm
Subject: rage and audioslave
-- Mar 24, 2003 at 11:13AM
The genre of rock has one ultimate band, and that's rage against the machine. When a band has shaped your life since you were around 8 years old in '92, that says something. Their statements are untouched and their hardcore heart-pumping music is just unstoppable. As for Audioslave....thats still Tom, Tim and Brad up there, they still bring with them that same hardcore feeling of wanting to go fight for the Zapatistas and although they don't have that same political vibe, a true rage fan realzes that offstage rage still exists everytime you speak up for the injustice of those oppressed. Chris Cornell isn't bad and the music is great.If you'd ask if i'd rather have rage back, thats a dumb question. They are and have been the best band ever.
As for the author of this article, you need to sit down and read a bit about what rage really stands for, you'd realize then that they fucking mean it. If you've ever seen rage in concert you'd have no question as to whether they meant it. I, to this day, have yet to see a more exciting band. When they are up there they command atention and they make you move.
As for all of you who are saying that Audioslave sucks, you are all a bunch of fucking posers. One person doesn't make the band and one person certainly doesn't make the message. Fuck you.

Name: Rage rocks
Subject: Rage against the machine
-- Mar 24, 2003 at 5:43AM
we think rage against the machine is the best band in the fucking univers. Fuck Chris cornell from audioslave he is a sucker!!! please come back ratm we love you!!!

Name: rachael
Subject: audioslave
-- Mar 12, 2003 at 4:37PM
AUDIOSLAVE SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! racge is the coolest not just because of there music because of there lyrics I am very very upset that zack left the band and I wish he could go back but it is not my decision . fuck chris cornel I hate sound garden('s music)and I am angry at at tim mostly for sayin shit like rage faild when it is not true rage is staring to have an effect on 13 14 and 15 year olds there is now a jr high underground in my school so tim if you ever read this fuck of I am 13 Im alive I can see the world and what gos on in it and if you think rage faild than screw u u are wrong because we are the ones it is effectin

Name: Laura
Subject: ignorance
-- Mar 11, 2003 at 7:06PM
Yeah, you sound really detatched. Hey "funcker', why don't you get educated! Then maybe you'll be on your way to an understanding of what you are talking about.

Name: funcker
Subject: 6g6o6d
-- Mar 10, 2003 at 12:02PM
i sit here and read all these articals, people jabbering and wasting time trying to figure out what race they are...FUCK IT! I read articles saying stupid shit in general just to "whites". To even catagorize a mass of people into one living form(white,black,red , fuckin pink)is fuckin racist as hell. We as humans with, i thought anyway, logic and understanding should never look down on a society or race for shit their ancestors did, i didn't kill thousand of natives and steal their land during endless battles in S.D. If i could change what happened i would, but its impossible, so fucking get over it. "YOU" didn't get "YOUR" land stolen, your ancestors did. You weren't put into slavery, they were. I wasn't prosicuted by hitler, my relatives did. Humans do fucked up things and we need to learn to let go more of things that happened in the past, we cannot change those things. Talking about and blaming people for the things that happened in the past will only stir up shit that should be forgotten. I understand what happened was horrbile, but you didn't even fuckin experience any of the shit you bitch and protest about. But look at it this way... I bet if someone were to say "oh fuck those muslims, man, they bombed us and shit," you'd get furious and probably call them racists, but still you bitch about how my people raped your women and stole your land and killed your men, well guess fuckin what, i disowned and detatched myself from the shitty culture that supposedly is "mine". Fuck them and fuck you.

Name: franky fyocker
Subject: eat peyote
-- Mar 10, 2003 at 11:45AM
RATM is the best band in the world. They are way cooler than jesus.

Name: tian
Subject: audioslave kicks ass
-- Mar 8, 2003 at 7:20PM
wtf is this shit? Audsioslave is the shit. The reason audislave doent spit political slogans is cause Tom MOrello is channeling his political voice through other means. Audioslave with chris cornell is great, cornell has a great voice. And no , zach is not in jail. He is working on a solo with trent renznor and he night release it soon. Just go see audisolave in concert

Name: HELLO???
Subject: zach de la rocha
-- Feb 22, 2003 at 12:10AM
I LOVE RATM.. AND I LIKE AUDIOSLAVE BUT IF YOU GUYS WANT TO ROCK THE HOUSE LIKE YOU DID BEFORE.. YOU NEED TO GET ZACH BACK!!!!

Name: rada
Subject: zach
-- Feb 6, 2003 at 4:43PM
RATM was a great band no doubt. But i think Audioslave is a good band also. Zach wanted to go be a bloody mexican and leave RATM. Thats his fault, dont take it out on Tom for trying to make music with other people (Cornell)!!!!

Name: juan
Subject: zach in jail?
-- Feb 5, 2003 at 11:46PM
i have heard rumors that zack is in jail becuase he fed homeless people despite the city laws in marina del rey

Name: Zapata blood
Subject: Zack
-- Jan 13, 2003 at 6:03PM
Is Zack still singing. I heard still singing without his and they said he coming out with a new album

Name: r.a.t.m
Subject: AudioSLave
-- Dec 30, 2002 at 8:41AM
R.A.T.M, were and still are the greatest band, AUDIOSLAVE, is nothing without Zach. Now the music has no meaning.

Name: BUZZ PRESS
Subject: INTERVIEW
-- Dec 2, 2002 at 6:04PM
This is Buzz press from Athens, greece. An underground music, arts and human rights magazine. We d like an interview from Jack la Rocha can help us anybody about it?

Name: SuperNova47
Subject: AUDIOSLAVE
-- Nov 23, 2002 at 11:02PM
Tom, No offense to your music but Audioslave sux. I mean you guys(RATM) are still great behind the vocals. But what the heck is up with your album? I mean you lack political lyrics, and Chris Cornell basically holds down you guys. It may sound harh but soon enough you will see.
CJ
SuperNova47@aol. com

Name: TOM MORELLO
Subject: AUDIOSLAVE
-- Nov 14, 2002 at 3:29PM
TO MY FANS, I'M HALF BLACK
AND IRISH. ZACK IS FULL
BLOODED MEXICAN. IT DOESN'T
MATTER IF WE'RE GREEN,
ORANGE, OR PINK. WE ARE
ALL THE SAME. IT DOESN'T
MATTER WHAT ARE RACE IS.
ALL THAT MATTERS WE ROCK.
NOT WITH ZACK, BUT WITH
CHRIS CORNELL NOW. WHO LOVES
ROCK AND HIP HOP MUSIC.

Name: Aussie
Subject: race
-- Nov 5, 2002 at 7:22PM
does it matter ? I think not, if u do then u don't understand the point...

Name: Methtical1919
Subject: He's not white
-- Aug 13, 2002 at 7:30PM
Zach is not half white. He's half mexican and half Native American.

Name: MEXICAN
Subject: PILGRIMS
-- Jun 23, 2002 at 1:32AM
FUCK ALL YOU FUCKEN RACIST WHITE PEOPLE WHO TRIED TO KEEP THE MEXICANS AND THE BLACKS IGNORANT AND TRY TO LABEL US ZAPATA VIVE AND HES COMING BACK TO CUT YOUR FUCKEN EARS OFF

Name: ZAPATISTAS
Subject: REVIEW
-- Jun 23, 2002 at 1:26AM
ZACH DEL LA ROCHA IS NOT WHITE HES STRAIGHT FUCKEN MEXICAN AND TOM MORELLO IS NOT WHITE EITHER JUST BECAUSE HE SOUNDS EDUCATED DOESNT NECESSARILI MEAN HE WHITE.JUST BECAUSE MORELLO LIKES ROCK DOESNT MEAN HES WHITE.. SO EVERYONE GET YOURE SHIT STRAIGHT

Name: Kris
Subject: Well...
-- May 21, 2002 at 7:50PM
I'm a RATM fan since the beginning, what's the big deal if they're mostly black or white? They's right! I wish there where more people who would spread there message, I mean famous people, cos most of the times when people get money with making music they forget where it's all about, they didn't.

Name: The Editors Respond
Subject: Re: um
-- May 5, 2002 at 4:55PM
Marie --
Zach is half-Mexican & half-white, and I believe Tom is not 100% black. Not to sound like a racial alchemist, but when you mix this in with the 2 other white dudes, this gives you "mostly white."

Name: marie
Subject: um
-- May 4, 2002 at 4:41PM
How is RATM "mostly white" when Zacy De La Rocha is chicano and Tom Morello African-American.. cool article but get your facts straight. Nothing like bringing down an article than lack of accuracy.

Name: josh
Subject: new years party
-- Feb 16, 2002 at 9:51PM
how was the "new years party?" becasue i am sure he "really" called!

Name: diggs
Subject: new years party
-- Nov 23, 2001 at 3:08AM
zach de la rocha called me today and told me he is planning a new years party and said everybody is invited. if your in the l.a. area he lives in the los feliz area. the address is 1950 normandie ave. so lets rage this new years!

Name: Mr.Self-destruct
Subject: Review
-- Nov 18, 2001 at 12:35PM
I loved the review. R.A.T.M are a terrific band and I believe that they do mean it. Tom Morello is one of the best guitarists ever because of his constant innovation. Since the band released it's first eponymous album in 1992, they have been constantly pushing the limits. And I think that even someone who doesn't like the music should respect the message that's being said. So much raw power in music deserves respect.

Name: joe MEXICAN
Subject: MISTAKES
-- Oct 11, 2000 at 1:11AM
HAY GUY THATS A GREAT REVIEW AND I AGREE WITH YOU EXCEPT THE PART ABOUT RAGE BEING MOSTLY WHITE.ZACK DE LA ROCHA IS A FULL BLODDED CHINCANO,NOT HALF MEXICAN AND TOM MORELLO ISNT WHITE EITHER HE'S BLACK.

Name: vo0d0o
Subject: The Rage
-- Aug 27, 2000 at 11:45AM
First off, i agree with your review. I am a newfound fan of RATM. Years before I would have simply dismissed them as a bunch of losers making money off of adolescent rage. But that isn't true, i supppose.There struugle does appear to be genuine and I would have even more respect for them if I didn't see their faces on MTV so much.


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