Rage Against the Machine Set for 2016 Return?
Update: It appears that Prophets of Rage will not involve a full-on Rage Against the Machine reunion. Rather, it will be a collaboration between RATM members (minus Zack de la Rocha) and Chuck D of Public Enemy and B-Real of Cypress Hill. Details here. Original story below.
This year has been one of the wildest roller coasters in rock history. The painful losses of some of the most beloved artists have dominated the headlines, but 2016 has also brought unexpected reunions, and it appears that Rage Against the Machine could be next on that list!
A countdown clock, dubbed 'Prophets of Rage,' has been launched here (although it's not always loading, probably due to heavy traffic), ticking away until the clock expires on June 1. Accompanying the clock is an image of a broken slash through a circle with silhouettes of five people all extending their arms and clenched fists with the hashtag #takethepowerback underneath the timer. The hashtag is the name of a Rage Against the Machine song. Visitors can also input their email address, where they will then receive an email labeled "Clear the Way" with in image inside (seen below) reading "Clear the way for the prophets of rage," a line from the Public Enemy song "Prophets of Rage."
Additionally, Public Enemy mainman Chuck D. posted a video of Rage Against the Machine performing "Bulls on Parade" live in 2010 to his Twitter page, suggesting that Public Enemy may be involved, too. The campaign is active far beyond the Internet as the cryptic promotional flyers have also began surfacing all over Los Angeles, both of which can be seen directly below.
Rage Against the Machine last performed live in 2011 with the future of the group remaining uncertain regarding further shows and/or work on new material.
This year has brought the reunion of Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan in Guns N' Roses, who have already performed an initial small wave of shows, including two at the Coachella festival. Glenn Danzig and Jerry Only have also mended fences and will be playing together as the Misfits with Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein at two editions of the Riot Fest in September. It will be the first time the three have all shared the stage together since 1983.
Prophets of Rage Email Flyer
See Where Rage Against the Machine's Albums Landed on the Top 90 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1990s
10 Best Rage Against the Machine Songs