Rage Against the Machine

Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1991 by vocalist Zack de la Rocha, guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk. The band fused hip-hop rhythms and rap-style vocal delivery with heavy, funk-inflected metal riffs, creating a sound that became a template for the rap-metal and nu-metal movements of the 1990s. Morello developed a highly distinctive guitar style, using pedals and unconventional techniques to mimic turntable scratching and electronic textures without samples.

Both de la Rocha and Morello grew up in politically active families, and this shaped the band from the start: their lyrics attack corporate power, government repression, racism and imperialism, turning the band into one of rock's most recognizable vehicles for left-wing activism. Their self-titled 1992 debut, featuring «Killing in the Name» and «Bullet in the Head», established them as a fierce new voice in rock, while 1996's Evil Empire and 1999's The Battle of Los Angeles, with songs like «Bulls on Parade», «Guerrilla Radio» and «Sleep Now in the Fire», cemented their influence.

The band broke up in 2000, with members going on to form Audioslave (Morello, Commerford, Wilk) and pursue other projects, before reuniting multiple times for tours. Their combativeness on stage matched their lyrics, and they remain a benchmark for politically engaged rock music.