(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Rage Against the Machine warned us about everything, but they weren't alone [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-06-19 Today is Juneteenth. A Day of Celebration. A day of remembrance. I have a lot to remember. Rage Against the Machine is a seminal band. One that spoke out loudly on social and political issues and may have completely predicted the times we live in now. However, Rage essentially broke up in 1999 and hasn’t produced a new album since 2000’s “Renegades.” They never had a chance to comment on 9/11 or the Bush Administration directly. They never had a chance to comment on Barack Obama or Donald Trump. George W. Bush and Bill Clinton were the Presidents during their reign. How much would they have to say about the times we’ve experienced since 1999? It would be difficult to predict exactly what they might say today other than to quote Zach De La Rocha and Tom Morello on various interviews. However, much of what there is to say has been stated by many other groups. As I’ve written several times in my Podcast where I’ve been releasing both original and cover songs I’ve worked on, Tom Morello is an old acquaintance of mine. In 1990, we were both members of the Black Rock Coalition which was focused on promoting Rock and Alternative music by Black and Brown artists. Tom has since said that the people in the BRC were “just trying to get a gig” and that’s true — but it was much more than that. They were trying to foster a new movement in music. This was an attempt to retake the ground that had been given up a generation before when largely Black people retreated from Rock Music after the death of Jimi Hendrix. We intended to take back that ground. But it wasn’t just Racial, it was deeper than that. The truth is that the nature of our lives here in America means that we have some additional concerns about the American experience that predominantly White artists are not concerned with, because they don’t have to be. One of the first of those bands was Living Colour whose seminal hit was the song “Cult of Personality” which certainly resonates now as we look at the Cult of Maga. x x YouTube Video Living Colour’s fast album was mostly a lark. It happened because they had a hand up. Guitarist Vernon Reid had performed on a few songs for Mick Jagger’s recent solo CD. Mick returned the favor by producing the song “Glamour Boys” on Living Colour’s first album — so they had they had the support of Jagger to get signed and to have their album put out. Let’s recall that when this group’s album was released radio didn’t know what to do with it. As a band with black members, they couldn’t play these songs on what was then known as “Black Radio” because that was mostly R&B and occasionally Rap. Then again, Rock radio would also reject it upon seeing the band because they wouldn’t expect that the band was playing Rock n’ Roll. So, the record label didn’t include a picture of the band on the album. Not even on the inside. They were faceless. Invisible. You just had to listen to the music. They also didn't have a hit right off the bat, before “Cult” was released the band had another track that came out. That song was “Open Letter to a Landlord” which was a song about gentrification as poor people were being forced out of their homes by developers looking to cash in with higher rents. And they very directly attacked the issue of Racism and how Black people are often typecast as “dangerous and “criminals” by others on a regular basis even when there’s literally no reason to make that assumption. This is “Funny Vibe” x x YouTube Video On their 2nd album, Living Colour dug even more deeply into social issues with the song “Type” which looks hard at our monetary system and how systemic bias taints our worldview. x x YouTube Video They again addressed race but even more deeply on the song “Pride” which speaks directly to the African diaspora and how “A people were robbed of their freedom, their riches, their pride.” x x YouTube Video Lyrics When I speak out loud You say I'm crazy When I'm feeling proud You say I'm lazy I look around and see the true reality You like our hair You love our music Our culture's large, so you abuse it Take time to understand, I'm an equal man History's a lie that they teach you in school A fraudulent view called the golden rule A peaceful land that was born civilized Was robbed of its riches, its freedom, its pride When I'm at work you say I'm great You watch and ponder, but can you relate? Inviting eyes hands drop, when the music stops Don't ask me why I play this music It's my culture, so naturally I use it I state my claim to say, it's here for all to play It's time for a change Concepts rearrange Can't you feel my rage... It's up to you to seek the truth To know your history, the difference between me and you Relate to me as me, not what you see on TV This was really on the point. This hits racism not just as being about skin color, but being about history and culture. It’s about all the things that make up a person from their ancestry, their language, their cuisine, their clothing — all of these things were stolen from African people in this land. They’ve had to fight and claw through generations to retain elements of their culture and to rediscover who they really are — not what the larger White society tells them to be. And lastly, on the title track of the album ‘Time’s Up” they went directly for the jugular pointing out that the time for the standard social structure is over. Global Warming and Climate Change are here. Things are changing and they’re doing so permanently. x x YouTube Video Lyrics Time's up The rivers have no life Time's up The wold is full of strife Time's up The Sky is falling Time's up The Lord is calling How you gonna stop the clock when the well runs dry All the rivers have died Moment by moment, day by day The world is just slipping away Your future won't save your past The time is now, it won't last The time is nigh Time to do or die Time waits for no one If you want to go on Leave me something to grow on The forests, the trees, the rivers, the seas All die of this disease You know time ain't on your side Don't sit idly by You've got to just try But they didn’t there — on their 3rd album “Stain” the band addressed ever more issues such as Right-Wing fascism in Europe with the song “Auslander” x x YouTube Video Lyrics In a new place, in a strange land An undone new world, not a part of the plan Hatred and fear is the language I know Out of my home, out of control Everything that I want, isn't it everything that you've got? Everything that I want, isn't it everything that you've got? How much more do you think I can take? I yield to your smile, a victim's mistake I don't want your life, I've got my own needs A life of my own, a chance to be free Everything that I want, isn't it everything that you've got? Everything that I want, isn't it everything that you've got? Everything that I want, isn't it everything that you've got? Everything that I want, isn't it everything that you've got? More recently Living Colour has reached back to one of their old song from this album and recontextualized it in the wake of the George Floyd protest. “This is the Life.” x x YouTube Video Lyrics In another life You might have been a genius In another life You might have been a star In another life Your face might have been perfect In another life You'd drive a better car In another life All your jokes are funny In another life Your heart is free from fear In another life You make a lot of money In this other life Everything is clear In another life You're always the hero In another life You always win the game In another life No one ever cheats you In another life You never have to change In another life Your friends never desert you In another life You never have to cry In another life No one ever hurts you In this other life Your loved-ones never die But this is the life you have This is the life you have This is the life you have This is the life In another life You're always the victim In another life You're always the thief In another life You are always lonely In this other life There is no relief In your real life Treat it like it's special In your real life Try to be more kind In your real life Think of those that love you In this real life Try to be less blind The band has also released a new song — “Who Shot Ya” which addresses gun violence. x x YouTube Video Lyrics [Intro: ?] Gun violence takes the life of an African-American man every five hours. It's the leading cause of death for black men under the age of 35 [Verse 1] Who shot ya? Separate the weak from the obsolete Hard to creep them Brooklyn streets It's on nigga, fuck all that bickering beef I can hear sweat trickling down your cheek Your heartbeat sound like Sasquatch feet Thundering, breaking the concrete Finish it, stop when I foil the plot Neighbors call the cops, when they heard mad shots [Chorus] Who shot ya? Who shot ya? Who shot ya? Who shot ya? [Verse 2] Saw me in the drop, three and a quarter Slaughter, electrical tape around your daughter Old school/new school need to learn though I burn, baby, burn like "Disco Inferno" I burn slow like blunts and yayo Peel more skins than Idaho Potato Niggas know: the lyrical molesting's taking place Fucking with me. it ain't safe I make your skin chafe, rashes on them asses Bumps and bruises, blunts and Land Cruisers Big Poppa smash fools, bash fools Niggas mad because I know cash Rules Everything around me, two Glock 9s Any motherfucker whispering about mine And I'm Brooklyn's finest Come on, tell me And they were not the only BRC band doing this. There was also Fishbone who did the songs “End the Reign” and “Servitude” Lyrics In the darkness, I have found my vision I`ve seen the Queen that thrives on desolation A Queendom that preys on both young and old Open your eyes... A pain is growing that mocks all the true healers The light of wisdom is making us all turn cold Those who dare to dream can hold no quarter Open your eyes... Apathy in Babylon Dreams have been deferred so long Those who dwell in misery Ne`re receive my empathy `No one cares for anyone The chorus to her fatal song This woman spites everyone This woman is man... End the reign! I have passion, I have faith and reason Yet she decrees I am less than human (The darkness hides within the light...) But it`s my soul that satisfies her hunger (The evil`s always in your sight...) Open your eyes... When the pretense starts to fall The `prefects` make their margin call Will you join the ranks of sheep That will not a soul to keep Their premise is intelligence Profaned by human arrogance If you stand against it all... Make the bastards fall... End the reign! In the world that you perceive Who are your true enemies ? Is it those you do not know... Or the ones you can`t control Does joy excite every nerve From the `Mistress` that you serve Do you have the strength at all To heed the final call End the reign! x x YouTube Video The video for “Servitude” was shot during their tour with Lollapalooza where they also performed with Rage Against the Machine in 1992. Lyrics Who, who do you serve? For whose empire and for whose whims? Is your honor judged by men? Will you lie? Will you lie if they say it`s their will? Will you die or continue to kill? Until the generals all have their fill Craven cowards Armchair warriors You will serve them well What, what will you write? For whose pleasure, for whose delight? Will your readers see your light? Will you say... That the singer can`t blow you away? That we hate people just `cause they`re gay Women and children all stay away To whom, whom do you pray? Do dollars wash your sins away? Does God love cold hard cash? Do you say... If we all just continue to pay All our ailments will go away And our souls will be saved God`s not with you "Holy Roller" Your heart dwells in Hell Why, Why do you run? Our awareness has spoiled your fun Our eyes see you too clear Will you hide From the joy of expressing our pride For the leaders and people who`ve died While combating your genocide Chains are breaking Minds are waking Soon we`ll serve no more... There was also Suicidal Tendencies featuring Rocky George on Guitar, future Metallica Bassist Robert Trujillo which gained the eyre of the LAPD because there was a street gang with the same name in the LA area. So the group was banded from local performances, later on Secret Service detain lead singer, Mike Muir, to question him about the lyrics to the song ‘I shot Reagan” which had appeared on the Repo Man soundtrack. Yet again this was an attempt to intimidate the group. All charges were later dropped and Mike wrote about it in the song “You can’t bring me down.” x x YouTube Video This song features a truly epic rant toward the end — worth a listen. Lyrics … What the hell is going on around here? … First off, let's take it from the start Straight out, can't change what's in my heart No one can tear my beliefs apart You can't bring me … You ain't never seen no one like me Prevail regardless what the cost might be Power flows inside of me You can't bring me … Never fall as long as I try Refuse to be a part of your lie Even if it means I die You can't bring me … You can't bring me down Who the hell you calling crazy? You wouldn't know what crazy was if Charles Manson Was eating fruit loops on your front porch … Time out, let's get something clear I speak more truth than you want to hear Scapegoat to cover up your fear You can't bring me … You ain't never seen so much might Fight for what I know is right What up? You got yourself a fight You can't bring me … Stand up, we'll all sing along Together ain't nothin' as strong Won't quit, we ain't in the wrong You can't bring me … You can't bring me down Bring me down, you can't bring me down Bring me down, you can't bring me down, no Bring me down, you can't bring me down Bring me down, you can't bring me down You can't bring me down … Tell them what's up, Rocky … You can't bring me down Bring me down, you can't bring me down Bring me down, you can't bring me down, no Bring me down, you can't bring me down Bring me down, you can't bring me down You can't bring me down … So why you trying to bring me? Well, you can't bring me down, no, no, no, no Can't bring me down, no, no, no, no, no, no Can't bring me down, no, no, no, no, no, no Can't bring me down, no, no, no, no, no, no … So why you trying to bring? Well, you can't bring me down … Just 'cause you don't understand what's going on Don't mean it don't make no sense And just 'cause you don't like it, don't mean it ain't no good And let me tell you something Before you go taking a walk in my world You better take a look at the real world 'Cause this ain't no Mister Roger's neighborhood … Can you say, "Feel like shit"? Yeah, maybe sometimes I do feel like shit I ain't happy 'bout it, but I'd rather feel like shit than be full of shit And if I offended you, oh, I'm sorry, but maybe you need to be offended But here's my apology, and one more thing Fuck you! … You can't bring me down Bring me down, you can't bring me down Bring me down, you can't bring me down, no Bring me down, you can't bring me down Bring me down, you can't bring me down … Bring me down, you can't bring me down Bring me down, you can't bring me down Bring me down, you can't bring me down, no Bring me down, you can't bring me down You can't bring me down … Can't bring me down! Can't bring me down! You can't bring me down! Suicidal There were some other bands that I knew of because of my BRC association. One of those bands was Total Eclipse who did get signed and put out a single record, but were almost immediately dropped (just as Tom Morello’s previous band Lock Up had been). They had the song “Don’t be afraid of the dark” which again was a not that subtle argument against prejudice and racism. This band - Total Eclipse - featured two former members, Victor Johnson(guitar) and Andre Berry (bass) of the Bus boys (who you may have seen in Eddie Murphy’s first movie 48Hrs), and also the two members, Bernie K(voice) and Dave Brown(drums) from the all black metal band SoundBarrier. x x YouTube Video They even had a video on MTV. x x YouTube Video Dave Brown eventually passed but many of the other members are still making music. Vic Johnson has been playing with Sammy Hagar as a member of the Wabaritas and The Circle for decades. There was the group Super 8 featuring Bronx Style Bob, who was known as a rapper but sang in this band. x x YouTube Video They also had a song that focused on the day that the Waco tragedy took place, April 19th. Later Timothy McVey blew up the Murrah Federal Building on that anniversary, and the Columbine killers also tried to perform their attack on that day - but missed it and did it one day later. I saw the television Saw what the picture told me I sat in captivation I felt a cold chill down my spine How people often can define The hate that lurks beneath the skin Oh yeah Prechorus: It never really matters Too busy living your hectic life But if it’s your child or your wife There’s no exception close to home Can you help those that you haven’t Somewhere out there all alone? Chorus: Are you taken by the wicked tongue Are you action taken damage done See how the hatred loads the gun Stand up and make it never happen again I saw the television I saw the mother’s crying I saw their pretty faces dressed up and dropped them off to die Now they ask me question why The answer can’t be justified (Repeat Prechorus) (Repeat Chorus) Another BRC group, Subject to Change, that did get signed featured actress Cree Summer (who is part Native American) on vocals and did some hardcore black/native feminist rock songs. They were soon dropped by the label but these songs are still available including tracks like “Beauty is Made” about being a woman living under society’s rules for “Beauty.” x x YouTube Video (I just found this video - I’ve never seen it before) They also had a pretty vicious song about organized religion called “Universal Pimp.” x x YouTube Video Universal Pimp is the Massa mind Behind the planetary spine decline Here their turning tricks for Missionary Man Holy hustler got you on your back Prechorus: Pimping you on purpose Pimping your soul Pimping you like sheep Pimping you to control Chorus: Pimping just enough to bring out the junkie in you Religion is the drug of choice Choosing everything you do (Universal Pimp) (Universal Pimp) Pimp of the Universe Universal Pimp is a master of disguise Call it the death of suicide, the death of mind Universal Pimp is the devil in white-face Minstrial Massiah make a mockery of my race (Repeat Prechorus) (Repeat Chorus) Bridge Preacher is your publicist Make the ghetto a flock of sheep Made my momma a prostitute With my daddys insecurity Mercy Mercai — You can see you mind to jerk off You never been free Mercy Mercai — You can see you mind to jerk off Mercy Mercai — You can see you mind to jerk off You never been free Mercy Mercai — You can see you mind to jerk off Only a slave would pray to the grave Worship and prey to be born again In image of him (I ain’t your slave) Only a slave would pray to the grave (I won’t be your fucking slave) And this song “Only Color” which really breaks down the issue of racism on a whole new level. Plus it has an extended outro of vocal call-and-response that is amazing. White man looking for brown sugar Cuz she tastes so sweet And he don’t have to be there When the son calls out her name Yellow girl Seen through different eyes Hears the pain Of a bombs silent cry Polute the air with polutted minds Through the dark love still can shine Pain is the same for every man Recognize my eyes and take my hand Prechorus: We share life Aint that enough We share life Aint that enough My black man Oh, So full of hate His mind denied And his pride’s been raped He will seek out An empty revenge Fire water Hangs down on the totem pole It’s a spirit dance for lost red soul Go on and search the land but it’s not his anymore Mother Earths in pain We are all to blame We share life, aint the enough (repeat prechorus) Chorus: The only color is red color On the blood that flows thru your veins The only color is red color On the blood that flows thru your veins The only color - my brother Is the one the mind creates You don’t know me I don’t know you Get to know yourself Get to know your own destiny Before this life is through Don’t you think it’s time we Synchronize our religion Be aware We got this life in common (Prechorus) (Chorus) (Outro) Here’s a further discussion of this record which was truly a masterpiece. Another BRC group from back in the day was called Civil Rite — which featured Carl Young (keyboard/sax) on bass, and Tory Ruffin (Left handed Guitar) from Subject to Change - they had a song that again addressed racism which was called “No Country.” Chorus: A man without a country Is a man without a home No language to call his own Bridge: Somebody told me Somebody said That I had a piece of The American dream They also had another song with addressed Black/White relationships which in the past had led to situations like the Scottsboro Boys who were wrongly accused of rape. The Tulsa Race Massacre began because of a black man supposedly “accosting” a white woman by bumping in her exiting an elevator, and obviously Emmet Till was murdered because he “whistled” at a White woman. Never mind the fact that Emmet whistled to help him handle his stutter. In this song, the black male protagonist gets beaten and castrated by the father of his white girlfriend. [Yeah, it goes there] This is “Butt Naked in a Field of Daisies” x x YouTube Video Carl Young bassist from this band eventually joined Michael Franti and Spearhead, the drummer went on to join Bodycount, while vocalist/guitarist Tori Ruffin is now with Morris Day and The Time and the second guitarist J.J. Brown (whose father appeared in Good Times) is still making music and is a friend of mine. About a decade later Cree Summer scored her own record deal as a solo artist and put out a record produced by Lenny Kravitz (ex-husband of her “Different World” co-star Lisa Bonet) and she redid the Butt Naked song into her own version with the genders swapped. This was called “Curious White Boy.” [My first extended conversation with Corey Glover — which happened at a local club in Sacramento in the late 90s — was about this song from Cree’s album which had just come out and really impressed him. I told him about it’s previous history with Civil Rite.] Cree eventually toured on this album which featured a redone version of “Soul Sister” and other tracks from the Subject to Change record. [I also just found this video - never saw it before either] Then after all this you have the absolute worst example of Police censorship with the release and response to the “Cop Killer” by the band Bodycount, lead by Ice-T. Again, this was not a Rap song — but it was characterized by the media as part of “Gangster Rap” — but it wasn’t Rap. It was a Rock song. It was about Police Brutality in the wake of the Rodney King beating and Riots just as much as Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name.” It was just more direct and told a fictional story of someone who was just fed up with the violence and brutality by police who had decided to take matter into their own hands. It’s a STORY - just like “I shot the Sherrif” by Bob Marley and Eric Clapton. It’s not meant to be taken literally. x x YouTube Video Lyric (Into:) This next record is dedicated to some person friends of mine, the LAPD. For every cop that has ever taken advantage of somebody, beat them down or hurt them because they got long hair, listen to the wrong kind of music, wrong color, what ever they thought was the reason to do it. For every one of those fucking police, I’d like to take a pig out here in this parking lot and shot him in the mutha fucking face. Yeah I got my black shirt on I got my black gloves on I got my ski mask on This shit's been too long I got my twelve gauge sawed-off I got my headlights turned off I'm 'bout to bust some shots off I'm 'bout to dust some cops off I'm a cop killer, better you than me Cop killer, fuck police brutality Cop killer, I know your family's grieving (fuck 'em) Cop killer, but tonight we get even, haha I got my brain on hype Tonight will be your night I got this long-assed knife And your neck looks just right Now my adrenaline's pumpin' I got my stereo bumpin' I'm 'bout to kill me somethin' A pig stopped me for nothin' Cop killer, better you than me Cop killer, fuck police brutality Cop killer, I know your momma's grieving (fuck her) Cop killer, but tonight we get even, yeah Die, die, die pig, die Fuck the police Fuck the police Fuck the police Fuck the police Fuck the police Fuck the police Fuck the police Fuck the police Yeah Cop killer, better you than me I'm a cop killer, fuck police brutality Cop killer, I know your family's grieving (fuck 'em) Cop killer, but tonight we get even, hahahaha, yeah Fuck the police Fuck the police Fuck the police Fuck the police Fuck the police Fuck the police Fuck the police Fuck the police, break it down yeah (Fuck the police) for Darryl Gates (Fuck the police) for Rodney King (Fuck the police) for my dead homies (Fuck the police) for your freedom (Fuck the police) don't be a pussy (Fuck the police) have some muthafuckin' courage (Fuck the police) sing along Cop killer Cop killer Cop killer Cop killer Cop killer, (what do you want to be when you grow up?) Cop killer, (good choice) Cop killer, I'm a muthafuckin' Cop killer Cop killer, better you than me Cop killer, fuck police brutality Cop killer, I know your momma's grieving (fuck her) Cop killer, but tonight we get even In reaction, the police and their supporters phoned death threats into the record label promoting Ice T to remove it from future pressings of the album. These are not the songs that you’re average white rock band was singing. You weren’t hearing this kind of thing from Warrant, Poison, Nirvana, Pearl Jam or Alice in Chains. It was about more than just skin color. It was about life - how you live, the conditions you live in, the world that surrounds you. This was what the Black Rock Coalition was about. I was proud to have been a member. Imagine what could have happened if people had even realized all these bands were connected — that there were as many as a DOZEN bands like RATM all at the same time — all of them were taking a stand and making a difference. How different would things be now, if people had really listened back then? [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/6/19/2247475/-Rage-Against-the-Machine-warned-us-about-everything-but-they-weren-t-alone?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/