Rage Against the Machine rages at Coachella music festival [Shoot the president]

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 30 April 2007 | SOLVEJ SCHOU

[Fractal Trader]

Thousands of sunburnt fans roared in unison and pumped their fists in the desert air Sunday night as reunited political rockers Rage Against the Machine took the stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.

[SNIP]

Stomping, shouting into his microphone, grabbing his curly hair and inciting the audience to "keep fighting," de la Rocha powered through songs ranging from the bass heavy "Bulls on Parade" to the anthem "Killing in the Name."

He also railed against the war in Iraq and likened Bush administration officials to Nazi war criminals.

"This current administration is no exception. They should be tried and hung and shot," he said.

Drummer Brad Wilk, bassist Tim Commerford and guitarist Tom Morello, who wore a hat with the word "UNITY" on it, completed the lineup.

"They changed my life. They made me a liberal," said sweat-drenched history teacher Rafael Ramon, 25, who had waited in a crowd packed shoulder-to-shoulder in front of the stage all day.

"All of America needed Rage to come back. They've been missing," he said

[Mr. Blonde]

“When you live in a capitalistic society, the currency of the dissemination of information goes through capitalistic channels. Would Noam Chomsky object to his works being sold at Barnes & Noble? No, because that’s where people buy their books. We’re not interested in preaching to just the converted. It’s great to play abandoned squats run by anarchists, but it’s also great to be able to reach people with a revolutionary message, people from Granada Hills to Stuttgart.”-—Tom Morello

[Trajan88]

I bet de la Rocha has no problem seeing his bank account grow in size with all those "dead" presidents.

He and his bandmates are all Commie-loving, scumbag hypocrites. Folks that follow/like Rage are goofs for supporting same... said fans should wake up and smell reality.

Rage's video a few years ago, taped in front of the NYSE on Wall St., where they pretty much protested against captitalism was a joke... I'm sure the band was later squired off in a limo, surrounded by security while on their way to a charted jet that took them to a tax haven destination such as Amsterdam to consult with their private banking representative.

IDIOTS.

[Bommer]

Tom Morello is one of the more inventive guitarists ever.

Which is why no one knows who the hell he is and is touring again with a band that didn't amount to suck!

[Mr. Blonde]

I think you would be surprised the number of people who know who he is. Just because a lot of Freepers don't, doesn't really mean a whole lot. But, judge for yourself. Do you not think guitar as turntables is the least bit inventive? Solo starts at 2:30.

[weegee]

What grade is he in? Is he graduating high school soon?

[GunRunner]

[xarmydog]

Hmmmm.Their music sucks.Want to kill the PRES.?Where is there next last gig???I want to underline last but do not know how.Ah,I may get into trouble with the suits but,their so called GIG better not be near me.YEAH you FAGS!!Rage against the machine.While you RAGE,I will be very quiet.And up close.Too bad I will have to listen to to your crap to ============================================= rage also.

[Mr. Blonde]

Where can I get the bottom one? That is pretty funny. There are an alarming number of kids I see out at the bar wearing these shirts who have zero idea who Che was.

[GunRunner]

http://www.thoseshirts.com/anticheshirts.html

[stylecouncilor]

ping

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

I thought the same thing. Can this be reported? Where can we report it?

[jdm]

Last time I saw this "band" was when they were the "musical" guest on Saturday Night Live, with Steve Forbes hosting (April 13, 1996). Several of the band members are approaching 40, if not in their 40s, but they still act like children.

The only reason I remember the exact date of this episode of SNL is because a girl I went to school with was murdered that weekend, while working at KFC (robbery).

In fact, on Fridays, it was common for her to swing by the store where I worked part-time (I was in college myself, at the time), before driving to her job in South Toledo.

I didn't realize that I would be the one to ring up her last 20 oz. bottle of Mountain Dew, last ("box, please, the 'soft pack' gets destroyed in my purse") pack of Marlboro Lights.

Anytime someone mentions "Rage Against the Machine" or "Saturday Night Live" or "Steve Forbes," I'm immediately taken back to April 1996. It just stays with me.

Sorry to go off on a personal story, but I do agree with you 100% on this...

They’re just a bunch of punkass anarchists acting tough on stage in front of their fans.

:O) You said it better than I ever could!!!!

[ken21]

the los angeles times last sunday published the song lyrics

that hoped president bush would drown.

you hafta wonder if these musicians have brains.

[Mr. Blonde]

I don't think there would be much to report. The law about threatening the president reads:

"...Whoever knowingly and willfully deposits for conveyance in the mail or for a delivery from any post office or by any letter carrier any letter, paper, writing, print, missive, or document containing any threat to take the life of, to kidnap, or to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States, the President-elect, the Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President of the United States, or the Vice President-elect, or knowingly and willfully otherwise makes any such threat against the President, President-elect, Vice President or other officer next in the order of succession to the office of President, or Vice President-elect, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both."

What he said isn't really a threat. It is more advocacy of an abstract idea. If he said he was going to kill the president that would be different. He wasn't really inciting violence and Brandenburg v. Ohio says,

1."[our] decisions have fashioned the principle that the constitutional guarantees of free speech and free press do not permit a State to forbid or proscribe advocacy of the use of force or of law violation except where such advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action."

So as distasteful as the remark may have been, I don't think it was an illegal remark.

[Pookee]

Which is more ironic - the fact that this group of socialists has gotten rich by selling music in a capitalistic system or the fact that some of those people who have made these guys rich and helped give them a voice are conservatives who oppose their socialist views?

While I also like their music we must all remember that we vote with our credit cards every day and every dollar we give to liberal entertainment is a vote in support for the ideals contained within. Rage or any band with similar values will not get one more dollar out of me.

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

Here is the Irony. If I were to say at a rally that Tom Morello should have his hands and jaw broken so he could never again play guitar or spew his communist views, he'd call me a fascist.

Do you know how I know that Tom Morello is a tard? Because he wants to shoot and hang President Bush. What would be the point? Either way he'd be dead before you do the next thing to him . . . DUMB*SS!

A band that is anti-capitalist on major record label? Are you serious? Are your "fans" that stupid too?

[rockthecasbah]

Rage Against the Machine: more loud wimps with guitars

Yawn...

[Mr. Blonde]

Two things you are confusing people. Tom Morello didn't say this. Zack de la Rocha did. I'm not sure what de la Rocha's educational background is, but Morello graduated with honors from Harvard so whatever else he is he isn't dumb.

Second if you did say that, I think he might surprise you. After all this is his view on the First Amendment, "To me it seems pretty straightforward. There are two opinions one can have about freedom of speech, you're for it or against it."

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

Tom Morello: Boy in Tights

[Big Guy and Rusty 99]

Tom Morello, Zack de la Rocha? Who cares? Dumb*ss = Dumb*ss. If he didn’t agree, he wouldn’t be a part of it.

I too was once enamored by all things Harvard. I spent my high school days in Harvard Square. I can tell you that a lot of people who have gone to Harvard I’d classify as “on the shallow end of Darwin’s wading pool.” I did have a few friends of mine who did go to and graduate from Harvard. they told me that it was much harder to get into Harvard then to go to Harvard. Also I believe the Ronnie James Dio of the Clinton administration, Robert Reich, teaches at Harvard. I rest my case on the quality of a Harvard education.

As far as the first amendment goes, these people support communism so the first amendment rights of anyone who opposes them amounts to exactly jack freakin’ squat. I think that his quote was referring to HIS free speech, not anyone who disagrees with him. I think if a mooselim terrorist were to saw off any member of rage against the machine’s head, it would infinitely increase that member’s intelligence. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want that in any way BUT it would be brought about by their own actions. who am I to question someone else’s fate?