Rage Against The Machine

Guide Note

Rage Against The Machine is a Grammy-winning American hard rock band whose fusion of hip-hop, metal and social activism not only helped them become multi-platinum recording artists, but allowed them to spearhead the rap-metal movement of the '90s. Formed in Southern California in 1991, the band hit the ground running when they signed to Epic Records and released their self-titled debut by the end of 1992. It was an instant success, backed by the band's heavy use of guitar riffs, vocalist Zack de la Rocha's angry, political, no-holds-barred lyrics, and strong singles such as "Killing in the Name" and "Bombtrack." Because of guitarist Tom Morello's penchant for experimentation and creating unique sounds with the instrument, the album's liner notes contained the phrase "no samples, keyboards or synthesizers used in the making of this record," a sentence that would be printed on every Rage album to come.

The band released three more albums before de la Rocha left the band and the remaining members formed Audioslave with former Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell. But in 2007, after Audioslave had disbanded, Rage Against the Machine reunited at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

Fast Facts

1. Formed: 1991
2. Record Label: Epic Records
3. Grammy Awards: 2
4. Additional Grammy nominations: 4
5. MTV VMA nominations: 3
6. Hometown: Los Angeles
7. Support the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN)
8. "Sleep Now in the Fire" video directed by Michael Moore