Rage Against the Machine have called it quits again. In a message to fans, drummer Brad Wilk said the group will not be resuming or continuing in any capacity with their Public Service Announcement reunion tour. This is their third breakup after breakups in 2000 and 2011.
“I know a lot of people are waiting for us to announce new dates for all the canceled RATM shows,” he wrote on Instagram. “I don’t want to push people or myself further into a corner. Even though it has already been communicated that this could happen in the future, I want to let you know that RATM (Tim, Zack, Tom and I) will no longer be touring or playing live. I'm sorry to those of you who have been waiting for this to happen. I really wish it was…”
After an eleven-year break, Rage reunited in 2022 and embarked on an extensive tour of North America and Europe. But frontman Zack de la Rocha suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during the tour's second stop at Chicago's United Center. He ended the first leg of the tour by sitting on a road case every night, but the plug was pulled on the remainder of the tour this year to allow the singer to properly recover.
“I hate canceling shows,” de la Rocha wrote to fans. “I hate to disappoint our fans…You have all waited so patiently to see us and that has never been lost on me. I never take that for granted. I have the utmost gratitude and respect for you.”
The band remained largely silent in the following months, and guitarist Tom Morello was evasive about the band's future when speaking to Rolling Stone in March 2022. “Rage Against the Machine is like the ring in Lord of the Rings,” he said. “It drives men crazy. It drives journalists crazy. It drives people in the record industry crazy. They want it. They want the thing and are driven crazy. When there are rage shows, when there are no rage shows, you hear about the band. I don't know it. If there is any news, it will come from a joint statement from the band. There are no news.”
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Zack de la Rocha emerged from seclusion on October 12, 2023, when he made a surprise appearance at a Run the Jewels concert in Los Angeles. He joined the group for “Close Your Eyes (And Count to Fuck)” and was back on his feet, giving Rage fans hope that he was ready to continue the Rage tour. However, he sat out the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the following month. Morello was the only member of the group to show up.
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“Like most bands, we have different views on many things, including induction into the Rock Hall,” he said during his acceptance speech. “In my opinion, tonight is a great opportunity to celebrate the music and the mission of the band – the fifth member of the band, the incredible fans of Rage Against the Machine. The only reason we are here and the best way to celebrate this music is for you to carry on this mission and this message.”
Unfortunately, Rage will no longer be carrying out their mission in concert halls in the foreseeable future. They played just 19 shows in 2022, with de la Rocha largely immobile for 18 of them, but they remained one of the biggest live acts in rock. Let's hope they find a way to get back together sometime in the future. Your story deserves a better ending than this.