Rage Against the Machine Future In Doubt
The future of Rage Against The Machine looks uncertain after a statement from drummer Brad Wilk on his Instagram.
Wilk wrote, “I want to let you know that RATM (Tim, Zack, Tom and I) will not be touring or playing live again,” he wrote. “I’m sorry for those of you who have been waiting for this to happen. I really wish it was.”
The drummer added the caption, “Bottom of my heart.. Thank you to every person who has ever supported us.”
Rage Against the Machine were forced to cancel multiple dates of their reunion tour in 2022 after frontman Zack de la Rocha severed his left Achilles tendon, and no rescheduled shows were announced.
The statement follows a March 2023 interview with guitarist Tom Morello, who was asked directly about the possibility of rescheduled Rage Against the Machine dates. He clarified that the entire band would come together for a statement. “If there are Rage shows, if there are not Rage shows, you’ll hear from the band,” Morello said. “I do not know. When there is news, it will come from a collective statement from the band. There is no news.”
The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at the induction ceremony in late 2023. Morello was the only member to attend, hinting in his speech that the other members of Rage didn’t share his enthusiasm for the event.
Rage Against the Machine first announced reunion tour dates in 2019, which were then delayed several times due to the pandemic. When the tour finally did begin in July 2022, with support from Run The Jewels, de la Rocha sustained the leg injury that forced the eventual cancellation of European and North American dates across 2023.Last year, the band’s bassist Tim Commerford revealed that he has been living with prostate cancer