Early Beginnings
The band came together quickly in Southern California in 1991. Guitarist Tom Morello had left his former band, Lock Up, and as he was deciding on the direction of his career, he went to a club one night in Los Angeles. It was at this club where he heard Zack de la Rocha rap, and he decided that the two of them could form the foundation for a powerful group. The two got together and recruited the other two original members of the band, Brad Wilk as the drummer and bassist Tim Commerford.
The group’s first performance was humble in nature, but that status didn’t last long. Their first gig was at a house party in Orange County, and their innovative sound was an immediate hit with local fans. The band gave itself its current name and began to play the club scene in Los Angeles and Orange County, and Rage Against the Machine tickets became an immediate draw.
Commercial Success
The band’s growing reputation and following led many record labels to pursue them, and they ultimately decided on Epic Records because the company gave the band complete creative control. This control was a major issue, as the band’s lyrics often contained searing social commentary and lyrics that were extremely controversial.
The band’s first full album release, which was self-titled and put out in 1992, went triple platinum, and instantly installed the band as a household name with music fans everywhere. They continued their roll with each of their three subsequent releases, as all of them sold in huge numbers.
Their work was also noticed by industry experts, as Rage Against the Machine won two Grammy Awards and was nominated for several others. However, they were never really about commercial sales, but rather put their priority on live performances, which remain legendary in nature for their pure energy and anger towards authority in general.
Breakup and Reunion
In the year 2000, de la Rocha left the band because he did not agree with the overall decision-making of the band as a whole. This split persisted until early in 2007, when the band announced that it would be making an appearance at the Coachella Music Festival in Southern California. This announcement has created a frenzy of excitement, and Rage Against the Machine tickets are sure to be one of the biggest draws at this enormous musical celebration.