Wednesday, June 6th 2012
News: Rage Against The Machine
Jimmy Page Recalls Rage Against The Machine’s Chart-Topping Celebration
Started almost a year ago, Jimmy Page‘s On This Day series has proven to be a nice collection of anecdotes from the Led Zeppelin guitarist. Every day, Mr. Page’s twitter account posts about something that he did years ago on that same date, linking to his official site, which then shows a short description and a picture/video of whatever event that occurred. While the entries are usually (and predictably) centered around Led Zeppelin events, today’s recollection finds Mr. Page sharing some nice words about Rage Against The Machine‘s 2010 gig at London’s Finsbury Park, and their Christmas 2009 chart-topping success.
Jimmy Page wrote: “This concert was a thank you to Rage Against The Machine’s UK fans who, through a canny Facebook campaign, had kept the X Factor record off the Number 1 spot by getting ‘Killing In the Name‘ to the UK Christmas Number 1 in 2009. This band generated energy so intense that you could cut it with a chainsaw. This was a hardcore concert and I left with a renewed respect for the band who are: Zack de la Rocha (vocals), Tom Morello (guitar), Tim Commerford (bass) and Brad Wilk on drums.”
The On This Day entry also contained a great video which shows Rage Against The Machine’s own description of their X-Factor takeover:
While it’s easy to skeptically look at that event as pointless bickering over musical tastes, it was great to see an old classic triumph over a forgettable trend.
Check out Jimmy Page’s previous On This Day entries at this Tumblr.
I saw RATM about 6 years ago at a Rap festival in NYC, Randall’s Island.
While I do not care for their politics, what I can tell you is the anticipation of this reunion concert 30 minutes before they started, along with the energy of the 2 hour set was something I cannot articulate. I felt like I was hanging off a cliff for 2 hours….this sense of energy and enthusiasm, and some strange fear. Can’t explain it…..I have been to dozens of shows and have seen all the top bands, but I will never forget what I experienced in NYC 6 years ago.
i saw RAGE only a few times in the 90s but I still have not forgotten the way i felt during their sets especially once I had the record ;-)
I witnessed an extremely intense show in 95
Big Day Out in Auckland with RATM was sold out in 2008. Otherwise, I would have gone.
RATM is my favorite CD for working out with weights at the gym. I found that other people liked it, too, when I was working out at the University of Copenhagen gym.
I agree with the lyrics and the politics of RATM. Right on, right on!