RATM, Public Enemy tease Prophets of Rage project
According to reports cited in Billboard, members of rap-rock progenitors Rage Against the Machine, Long Island hip-hop legends Public Enemy and LA stoner kings Cypress Hill are about to roll out a new band, called Prophets of Rage.
Over the past week, speculation was rife that a website under the ProphetsOfRage domain (emblazoned with #TakeThePowerBack) counting down to 1 June might be set to announce a joint tour featuring Public Enemy and Rage Against the Machine. However, news has now emerged that bassist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk will instead be joining forces with MCs Chuck D and B Real to tour tracks from the three groups' hefty catalogues.
All of these pioneering bands have history, of course: B Real famously joined Rage Against the Machine onstage at the inaugural T in the Park back in 1994 (the first of many public appearances), while Chuck has made no secret of his desire to collaborate more extensively with Morello and co.
Since their revival at Coachella festival in 2007, Rage Against the Machine toured sporadically until signing off with performances at 2011’s LA Rising festival and a free festival in London to celebrate breaking Simon Cowell’s grip on the UK’s Christmas single chart.
Frontman Zack de la Rocha has only occasionally surfaced over the intervening period, first with his rap and keys project One Day As A Lion, secondly as an occasional collaborator with Run the Jewels. A wealth of material recorded with the likes of DJ Shadow, EL-P, ?uestlove and Trent Reznor recorded over the last 15 years remains unreleased.
UPDATE: In a statement released today (31 May), the group confirm: "Prophets Of Rage combines the sonic firepower of Rage Against The Machine, Public Enemy and Cypress Hill. We can no longer stand on the sidelines of history. Dangerous times demand dangerous songs. It's time to take the power back. It’s time to make America RAGE again." They are expected to make their live debut this evening at legendary Los Angeles venue The Whisky A Go Go. Plans beyond that remain unclear, although the first interview with Rolling Stone confirms that new music is in the offing.