SHORT FEATURE:
Rage Against The Machine Rage Against The Machines Back
by Tom Morello

(First appeared in BAM magazine, 11/29/96)

Johnny Angel's Scream in the November 15th issue of BAM characterized Rage Against The Machine Against the Machine's Tom Morello and his bandmates as simplistic sloganeers. "[Rage Against The Machine and others] have nothing much to say, or are inarticulate except in their ability to borrow the aspects of the past they find romantically appealling, no matter how out of context they are," Angel wrote.

Mr. Morello took exception; here's his rebuttal:

Johnny Angel is one of those sad little garden-variety "rock journalist" hacks who, frustrated as a musician, continues to scribble bitter, self-important diatribes against bands like Rage Against The Machine Against the Machine who have managed to reach and communicate to a large audience. Tragically, Angel (a veteran of several crappy LA bands) continues to miss the point now as he did four years ago when he dismissed Rage Against The Machine as "the darlings of the Melrose metal-testosterone rock set." And while it's bold of him to actually submit such a confused article on substance and symbolism in rock (BAM, Nov. 15th), he is still as wrong as ever.

Of course evoking the symbols of revolutionaries like Che Guevera, Angela Davis, and Emiliano Zapata means little in and of itself, but when you link them to the modern day struggles of Mumia Abu-Jamal, Leonard Peltier, the Zapatistas, and battles against police brutality (as we do in our lyrics, videos, liner notes, interviews and info booths at our shows), it demonstrates that young people today can be part of an ongoing resistance to oppression. Are you claiming, Johnny, that imperialism, racism, sexism and economic exploitation are problems of the past? We have allied ourselves with people like Che and Angela because their struggles directly relate to the struggles of today. There is a permanent culture of resistance in this country--and in this hemisphere--and we will unapologetically continue to highlight it, promote it, and be a part of it.

Angel is either insultingly elitist (as he so often was when he used to stink up the pages of the LA Weekly) or just butt-ignorant when he suggests from the lofty perch of his Stairmaster that no one's consciousness is raised by these efforts. In addition to raising almost $200,000 for various worthwhile causes over the last couple of years, we've provided outreach for many activist groups, and the response from our audience has been amazing, even downright "substantive." And while our tactics might not be stylish enough for jaded scenesters like Angel, the kids get it.

But don't take my word for it, call the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee at (913) 842-5774, the Mumia Abu-Jamal Defense Committee at (215) 476-8812, the Committee to Support the Revolution in Mexico at (915) 532-8382, Refuse and Resist at (213) 962-8084, or Parents for Rock and Rap at (847) 362-1434 to check--or better, to join.

Rock and rap music is important because it can communicate, provoke and inspire (Public Enemy and the Clash sure did for me) as well as provide an antidote for the bullshit, lies and apathy that are shoved down our throats in the classroom, on TV, and in the stilted prose of Johnny Angel's sorry-ass columns.

(c) 1996 Tom Morello