Some things from Company Flow's El-Producto on his involvement with Zack's forthcoming solo album: "I ship them to him and he'll take as many as I can give him, so the pressure's on me. El-P said he met de la Rocha through their involvement with Rawkus Records, the New York rap label for which Company Flow records.

"Zack got in touch with us, actually. He was hanging around Rawkus and heard [the Company Flow song] 'Patriotism' [from Soundbombing 2], and we connected. Zack has serious flow control. Most people are on some kid's shit, which is cool, you know, I'm on somekid's shit too, but few people have Zack's lyrics."

De la Rocha recently dipped his foot into the solo arena with the song "Mumia 911" on The Unbound Project, Volume 1, an all-star hip-hop album, due May 16, benefiting Abu-Jamal's legal defense. He also could be heard on last year's all-star Lyricists Lounge album from Rawkus, on which he shared the microphone with old-school rapper KRS-One on the song"C.I.A. (Criminals in Action)."

Invisibl Skratch Piklz turntablist Mix Master Mike (born Mike Schwartz) said in February that he planned to collaborate with de la Rocha on a track for his upcoming album, Terrorist, tentatively due in October. "I met [de la Rocha] when we played a show together [in January 1999], and ... we got heavily involved in hanging out and sharing views on music," Mix Master Mike said.

A recording session has not yet taken place, according to Felice Agi, a spokesperson for Mix Master Mike's label, Asphodel Records. As far as Zack's solo album, it has no title and no release date, an Epic Records spokesperson who requested anonymity said. He/she also said no additional information was available on other artists slated to collaborate with de la Rocha on the album.

---

The music base is having a contest. Enter here. The winner recieves a 4"2' promotional banner from Epic Records for The Battle of Los Angeles, signed by the band. 5 runners-up will recieve a copy of the album. Very nice, indeed.

Yes, indeed: According to representatives from the underground New York hip-hop outfit Company Flow, Zack de la Rocha will be heading into a New York City recording studio this May (next month) to begin production of his solo album. He made a 'wish-list' of producers he'd like at the helm of his debut, and has recruited his top choice, Company Flow's El-P, to produce at least four of the tracks.

Company Flow cut short a tour of Japan recently so El-P could fly back to the States to meet de la Rocha and discuss working together. El-P is scheduled to spend the entire month of May in the studio with the Rage Against the Machine frontman.

Other hip-hop artists being tossed around to produce the remaining tracks include Roni Size, DJ Premier, and Mos Def, although none of them would confirm.

The album will be released by Rage Against the Machine's label, Epic, which had no details on the musicians joining de la Rocha in the studio or on an official release date. (Thanks to Ian Mance for passing on this info from CDnow.com)

The verse of "Roll Right", without vocals, appears on the skate video "Rodney Mullen vs. Daewon Song, Round 2", during the World Industries segment. The credits list only "Rage Against the Machine" with no song title. It's interesting to watch how skate culture is working and growing, even without Rage's music in the background. When it is there, however -- well, even better. (Thanks to Andrew Langan for letting me know)

The UK 7" release of SNitF that was supposed to be released on 4.04.00 was actually released yesterday, and is pressed on limited edition red vinyl, with a live version of Guerrilla Radio as the B-side. The tracklisting for the German release of the single is as follows: (Thanks to Ian Mance for this info)

1. Sleep Now in the Fire (LP Version)
2. Sleep Now in the Fire (live in Mexico City)
3. Bulls on Parade (live in Mexico City)
4. Freedom (live)

Also, Digitech has released a new Whammy Pedal that is modeled after the original, which Tom uses. Whether or not Tom has anything to do with this 're-release' is uncertain.

To further pacify rebellious culture, A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys has developed a 'split-personality' entitled "Johnny No Name" who covers rock songs. During his solo tour, he sang Rage's "Killing in the Name" to the pre-teen audience -- Being sure to, of course, censor the "Fuck you I won't do what you tell me" segment. From Rollingstone.com: To Johnny, all rock songs -- be they political or not -- are about sex. "It's all in the pelvis," he later explained. But Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name" was sapped of its original intent by McLean's pelvic thrusts. Swiveling his hips, Johnny lifted his shirt to show the space between his stomach and his underwear, and would teasingly start to take off his jacket, only to show just a glimpse of shoulder and armpit. "I have a surprise for you later," he joked, "and no, my pants are staying on." Holy shit.

It's also interesting to note that Toronto University used Backstreet Boys songs, and other pop songs, to torture anti-sweatshop activists staging a sit-in protest at the president's office. Read the story. (Thanks to David Desola)

The Battle of Mexico City video will be released May 2nd, 2000, and may possibly include videos for Guerrilla Radio, Sleep Now in the Fire, and Testify. (?)

Rage has a new manager: John Silva, who has worked with Foo Fighters and Beck.

Rage will play June 16 at the Heineken Jammin' Festival in Imola, Italy.

They will also appear at the rally for political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal in New York at the Madison Sqaure Garden Theatre on May 7th. Check out www.mumia2000.org  for more info.

Here is an interesting image from a mini-magazine for grade schoolers called "Math". Thanks to Kron's little sister for finding it.

Brad told ShoutWeb.com that they would not join Korn and Limp Bizkit on the "Monsters of Rock" tour this summer: "No, absolutely not. We're setting up a tour with the Beasties and probably somebody else. I don't think that would be good for the band. I have nothing against Korn and Limp Bizkit or anything." He also went on to convey that he wished that they would have asked the band instead of just throwing it out there.

On an unrelated note, Rage will play in Finland on June 18th, at a festival called "Provinssirock".

Ian Mance sent in some speculated track listings for the import versions of the Sleep Now in the Fire single:

Release Date: 4/7/2000
Country: AUSTRALIA
Tracks:
1. Sleep Now in the Fire
2. Guerrilla Radio (live)
3. Bulls on Parade (live)
4. Freedom (live)
5. Sleep Now in the Fire (live)

Release date: 4/1/2000
Country: UK #1 (limited)
Tracks:
1. Sleep Now in the Fire
2. Bulls on Parade (live)
3. Sleep Now in the Fire (live)

Release date: 4/7/2000
Country: UK #2 (limited)
Tracks:
1. Sleep Now in the Fire
2. Guerrilla Radio (live)
3. Freedom (live)
4. Sleep Now in the Fire (video)

Rage has been invited to play at Neil Young's annual Bridge Benefit music festival in October. The benefit concerts are traditionally acoustic. Rage will also play the Rock AM Ring Festival - which is June 9-11, as well as the Swedish Hultsfred Festival.

Teencore bands "Korn" and "Limp Bizkit" are planning a summer tour together, and have asked Rage to join. Thus far, Rage has not responded.

Sony will release a CD & 7" version of the Sleep Now in the Fire on 03.31.00. It is also being released in London on 4.4.00.

Mix Master Mike to work with Zack - 2/10/00

Mix Master Mike - who is known for his work on the Beastie Boys' "Hello Nasty", as well as his album "Anti-Theft Device" - is working on a full-length album, and after sharing views on music with Zack during the Mumia benefit in early 1999, has invited Zack to lay down some vocals on the album. No dates for the album release, as of right now.

Also, a repeat of the episode of Conan O'Brien with Rage as musical guests will be aired on Monday, Febuary 21. (Thanks for ohmyjoe@aol.com)

Star Trek nerd/Rage guitarist Tom Morello is scheduled to have a cameo appearance on Star Trek Voyager some time this spring. He'll be a human Starfleet officer, and deliver a few lines. Producer Rick Berman said: "This time [Tom Morello played an alien on the Star Trek movie "Insurrection" -ed], we told him he'd play a human. He did a great job. It was a little pick-me-up for everyone." (Thanks to Henry Lee)

According to www.snoopsdogghouse.com, on March 28th, Snoop is releasing "Snoop Dogg: The Death Row Greatest Hits". It will feature Dr. Dre, Daz, Nate Dogg and Warren G, and Rage Against the Machine. This means that the Snoop Bounce remix that Rage played on will be easily available. (Thanks to Andrew Betteridge)

Rage Against The Machine Shoot Video - 1/27/00

Rage Against the Machine shot a video for their next single, "Sleep Now in the Fire," in New York on Wednesday (Jan. 26), MTV News reported. About 100 people showed up to watch the shoot, which took place in front of Lower Manhattan's Federal Hall, according to MTV. Following the shoot, the rap-rock band and the video's director, Michael Moore, tried to shoot more footage inside the heavily guarded New York Stock Exchange across the street but were not allowed to enter. The band loudly argued with security guards before being turned away, according to MTV News. Moore is best known for directing the documentary "Roger and Me," which focused on the aftermath of the closing of a GM car factory in his native Flint, Mich. Rage's latest album, The Battle of Los Angeles, launches lyrical assaults on targets that include capitalism and the police.

Gary Bauer Labels Rage "Anti-Family"... - 1/26/00

During the republican party's primary presidential debates, candidate Gary Bauer labeled Rage an "anti-family" band who supports "cop-killers" as reason to criticize candidate Alan Keyes for crowd surfing ("moshing") to a Rage song at an earlier political party. Keyes said he "had no idea", and therefore he was not "morally responsible". (Thanks to Santiago Papini)

The media broadcasts republican and democrat debates to give the American people an illusion of choice. The system thinks that the average person won't think past the issues being presented to them on the television screen. In this particular case, they are leading the American eye to believe that important issues lie in whether or not a candidate was doing something like "moshing" while listening to an "anti-family" and "pro cop-killer" band like Rage Against the Machine. The worst part of all is that the accusations made against Rage are completely false. Both of the major political parties, the republicans and the democrats, serve the same corporate interests - the corporate interests that create a hellish landscape for the disposessed in America, and especially the rest of the underdeveloped world. The media presents debates and candidates like ritalin to Americans based on the amount of money in the candidate's campaign funds. It is foolish to choose candidates on grounds such as these. Take back democracy.

Vikas Bhatia has informed me that Rage were on Wallstreet in New York City today filming the video for "Sleep Now in the Fire". Michael Moore is directing the video. Rage decided to "storm" the New York Stock Exchange as part of the video, and were ushered inside soon after by NYSE security. They were reprimanded inside and no arrests were made.

Sony DVD's page lists Rage Against the Machine: "Live in Mexico City" as a March release that is "subject to change". I'd say, however, that the chances of the release are fairly good. (Thanks to Neptune)

You can vote for artists, including Rage, at the Bammies Ballot site. Ticket information is also available at that website.

Fadly Zakariya from Malaysia has informed me that Guerrilla Radio has managed to get some airtime on the Malaysian radio station, HITZ FM. Rage songs on the radio are a rarity in Malaysia - and Fadly encourages all Malaysian Rage fans to call and request more Rage songs. "Hijack the mainstream."

Rage hit with new single: "Sleep Now In The Fire" and possible home video in the Spring. - 1/20/00

Rage follow up their hit track, "Guerrilla Radio" with the new single "Sleep Now In The Fire." Be sure to call your local radio stations and request it now! Expect to see a video for the new single real soon. There's been talks of releasing the live performance from Mexico City as a home video sometime in the Spring. Details to come.

Europe opening bands, RATM in Brazil, Zack and ATR - 1/13/00

Asian Dub Foundation, from what I hear, is opening for Rage during the European tour.

Last Friday, Rage appeared on MTV-Brasil, in a program call "Fim de Semana Especial" (Special Weekend), presented by Fabio Massari, who talks with Zack, Tom and Tim. Massari talkedwith Rage about the Mexico City showand Zack apologized to Brazilian fans for neglectingthem promising come Brazil in 2000. They poor people of Zapatista struggle. questions Tom were studio how recorded their songs. says its was like A Song per Day Brenden OBrien studio. Tim media makes famoususing polemic themes lyrics personal opinions Mexican government attempting boycott City. (Thanks to NiX!)

Atari Teenage Riot's Alec Empire is quoted as saying: "I want to do stuff with [Rage Against the Machine's] Zack [De La Rocha]. We don't know exactly when yet but sometime in the first half of the year."

Rage on Woodstock 99 Album - 1/5/00

Rage has a song on the recently released Woodstock 99 album! The song, a live version of "Bulls on Parade", is one of many performances recorded at the festival.

Good news! Rage has permeated the thick walls of mainstream Hollywood culture: "Extra TV" mentioned that Rage, a "radical, left-wing band," is "here to stay." (Thanks to Misha for noticing)

The Battle of Los Angeles has gone double-platinum. (Thanks Ed)

Rage's "The Battle of Los Angeles" was number two a list of the best albums of 1999 put out by USA Today. They quoted: "...sound and fury coalesce brilliantly."

Rage also took home the Rolling Stone critic's choice award for Best Artist & Album of the Year. The soundtrack to "The Matrix" won the fan poll for the best soundtrack of 1999 - "Wake Up" is on the soundtrack.

As if a Spanish greatest hits album wasn't enough, Cypress Hill also have a brand new record in the can. "Skull & Bones" is due out in March, and, according to rapper B-Real and percussionist Eric Bobo, it contains a new Cypress Hill sound. "We experimented a lot with this record," says to Billboard Bobo. "A few songs are a heavy rap-metal kind of thing. [Drummer] Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine played on a track." (Thanks to Jonathan)

The media dropped subliminal messages to the public that suggested a relation between Rage Against the Machine and Adolf Hitler this past Sunday during CBS's presentation of "TIME's Greatest People of the Century". While an expert of some sort discussed how Hitler was the first real "rock star", in the sense that he used the media to create a "God-like" aura surrounding him, RATM's cover of "The Ghost of Tom Joad" played in the background. Many fans found this unsettling. (Thanks to Moe. A, Graeme Schanrr, and Jonathan Ashley)

Zack is on the list for the "Party of 2000" in the latest Rolling Stone. I'm not sure what the "Party of 2000" really is, or if Zack's presence on the list is significant, but it has a good caption from Zack regarding the state of hip-hop:

"I was listening to hip-hop early on, growing up in both East Los Angeles and Orange County, and I had a lot of white friends who refused to talk to me the second I put on an ADIDAS sweat suit and was breaking, or when I was walking through campus with my radio, playing Eric B. and Rakim, and LL Cool J and De La Soul. To so many whites then, it was just noise. To me, it was people reclaiming their dignity.

"I think power is the ability to define phenomena. And hip-hop is a way in which young people, mostly poor and black and mejicanos, were able for the first time to describe their experiences. It was a form of resistance - about community, about getting out to the park, picking up a microphone and rockin' it.

"Culturally, what has happened to hip-hop is disturbing - the kind of deep materialism running through the songs, the fuck-everything-but-what's-good-for-me thing. I've always thought that if Reagan was a rapper, he'd be in Puff Daddy's crew. One of the things that keeps the engine of capitalism going is the idea that freedom is equated with your ability to buy products. People feel that their humanity is reflected somehow in the products that they buy. You are what you accrue. Hip-hop has gone from challenging people and engaging in dialogue to encouraging them to buy more, to be more productive consumers. And that's been very sad to watch.

"That is something I hope Rage Against the Machine is a part of changing. And I think people are going to see through that superficiality. There are a number of groups - Company Flow, Arsonists - who are seeing hip-hop again as a vehicle by which to engage in things that are substantial in people's lives, not to push this whole jiggy mentality. "

RATM, and The Battle of Los Angeles, were number 1 on a list of "The Best of 1999". TIME's reasoning: "Because Tom Morello--who can make his guitar sound like a harmonica, a pair of turntables or a street uprising--is the most thrilling guitarist in rock today. Because rapper-singer Zack de la Rocha mixes poetry and polemics into song lyrics that would do Chuck D or Bob Dylan proud. Because in a year in which a riot of rockers copped beats from hip-hop, no other band made the rap-rock union resonate with such ferocity and intelligence." Check the entire list here. (Thanks to David)

RATM.com has posted some new European tour dates:

01/28/00	London, England	Wembley Arena
01/30/00	Brussels, Belgium	Forest National
01/31/00	Hamburg, Germany	Sporthalle
02/01/00	Rotterdam, Holland	Ahoy Halle
02/03/00	Paris, France	Zenith
02/04/00	Dusseldorf, Germany	Philipshalle
02/06/00	Berlin, Germany	Arena
02/07/00	Munich, Germany	Zenith
02/08/00	Ljubljana, Slovenia	Halle Tivoli
02/10/00	Zurich, Switzerland	Hallenstadion
02/11/00	Montpelier, France	Zenith
02/13/00	San Sebastian, Spain	Plaza de Toros
02/14/00	Madrid, Spain	La Cubierta
02/15/00	Barcelona, Spain	Palais dels Esports
02/17/00	Rome, Italy	Paleur
02/18/00	Milan, Italy	Fila Forum

According to an e-mail from RATMdirect.com, "Sleep Now in the Fire" is the new single. Contradicting information states that "Calm Like a Bomb" is the new single. Any official news would be appreciated.

RATM was been mentioned in TIME magazine recently, in an article about the WTO protests in Seattle, WA. Though the WTO article does not mention RATM specifically, they use the band's name for the cultural term of resistence in the title. In the same issue, in the "Arts" section, there is an article about Bob Marley, and it mentions Rage stating Marley as an influence. (Thanks to Dan Cassar)

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