According to Brad Wilk, the drummer of Rage Against the Machine, the band has decided to call it quits for the third time. Wilk made the announcement in an Instagram post addressing the cancellation of several dates on Rage’s Public Service Announcement reunion tour. He expressed his reluctance to give false hope and confirmed that the band, consisting of Tim, Zack, Tom, and himself, will not be touring or performing live again. Wilk apologized to the fans who had been eagerly awaiting their return, expressing his own wish that things were different.
This isn’t the first time Rage Against the Machine has disbanded. The group, comprising Zack de la Rocha, Tim Commerford, Tom Morello, and Brad Wilk, rose to prominence in the early 1990s with their powerful and politically charged music. However, in 2000, de la Rocha announced his departure due to a breakdown in the band’s decision-making process. The remaining members formed Audioslave with lead singer Chris Cornell, who later left the band in 2007.
In 2007, Rage reunited to headline Coachella and embarked on subsequent tours. However, in 2011, they played their final show at L.A Rising, marking their second breakup. Nevertheless, the band experienced a resurgence in 2020 when they announced the Public Service Announcement tour. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the postponement of the tour, and when they resumed in 2022, de la Rocha suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during the second date. Although they completed the first leg of shows, they ultimately had to cancel the remaining dates due to the severity of his injury.
Most recently, during their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Rage was notably absent. Tom Morello was the sole member present to accept the honor and acknowledged the band’s differing opinions on various matters, including their induction. Despite the disagreements, Morello expressed gratitude to the band and thanked the fans, whom he referred to as the “fifth member of the band.”
