What It Means for Rage Against the Machine to Headline Coachella in 2020
The rap-metal band’s return to the music scene during an election year is a perfect example of the complicated relationship between music and politics.
Written by Kriss Conklin
Illustrated by Paige Giordano
During the ‘90s, Rage Against the Machine was an unstoppable musical force fueled by a desire for political justice and revolutionary changes to the “institution.” Many of Rage’s songs offer searing commentary on various historical events, figures, and movements, from criticism of Reagan-era sentiments to the erection of the U.S.-Mexico border wall. On Dec. 20, 2019, Rage announced they will headline the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. This will be the first time Rage plays Coachella, since the band first headlined the festival over a decade ago in 2007. Previous headlining acts of the music festival range from Beyonce and Kendrick Lamar to Red Hot Chili Peppers and Radiohead. While it is not entirely unheard of for a rock band to headline the mainstream music festival in its 21 year history, Rage’s name appearing at the top of the bill during an election year is no coincidence. Given the political climate of America in 2020, Rage Against the Machine headlining Coachella is telling of the increasingly complex relationship between music and politics.
Since Rage’s inception in the early ‘90s, the political state of the country has fluctuated dramatically, as have the band’s breakup and reunion patterns. The rap-metal group first disbanded at the beginning of the 21st century before getting back together on-and-off since 2007. This year, the band announced a full-length tour with Run the Jewels, appropriately titled Public Service Announcement, shortly after the Coachella lineup was released. Rage Against the Machine’s renewed presence in the music scene feels like a glimmer of hope in the midst of a dark and hard-to-navigate America. By having Rage perform at a festival as big as Coachella, it feels as if the Indio-based event is trying to make its own political statement during this trying election year.
Rage Against the Machine has been vocal about their political ideologies since the band’s inception. Guitarist Tom Morello says Rage Against the Machine “is a band that speaks to the silent majority, the alienated, the disaffected, (and) the disenfranchised.” The leftist and sometimes radical approaches Rage takes to politics can be heard in many of their songs, including “Killing in the Name” and “Sleep Now in the Fire,” whose topics vary widely from police brutality to the negative effects of American colonization on indigenous peoples. Each of the band’s members have also been involved with various political protests, activist organizations, and charities. According to their website, Rage will donate “100% of the money over the fees and base ticket prices to local charities and activist organizations in each city.” In addition, all profits from the first three shows on the Public Service Announcement tour will go to immigrants’ rights organizations.
Although Rage Against the Machine is well-known for their leftist activism, controversy arose about the band headlining Coachella since the music festival’s co-founder, Philip Anschutz, has a track record of donating large sums of money to charities who support anti-LGBTQ causes. According to a statement from Anschutz’s lawyer, the Anschutz Foundation “stopped funding certain organizations after it was brought to our attention that some of their activities were inconsistent with our values.” Anschutz also made a personal statement saying he supports the rights of all people, regardless of sexual orientation. In 2018, Anschutz donated $1 million to the LGBT Fund of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Given the state of the country’s political sphere at the moment, the ethics are questionable for a band like Rage Against the Machine to play at a festival whose owner once supported charities with anti-LGBTQ ties. On the other hand, the band has an opportunity to spread important messages about the government by performing as one of the headlining acts at Coachella during an election year. Although Anschutz’s past donations to certain organizations are frowned upon by many and contradict the ideologies Rage stands for, the presence of the ‘90s rap-metal band at this music festival may serve as a catalyst for Americans to re-examine the state of their country and how they are engaging with the government.
Politics have always found their way into music, but at this point in 21st century America, music and politics seem to go hand in hand. As the country’s general population of voters continues to shift views and expand demographics, it seems there is only one thing that can unite people in these times of distress. Rage Against the Machine may not be everyone’s go-to when handed the AUX cord, but maybe music will be the solution to the American problems of discord and ignorance. Perhaps, on the Coachella stage, Rage can set an example for current and upcoming musical artists to advocate for social justice, fighting for what they believe in and seeing past illusions put in place by the establishment.
Amid concerns about the coronavirus, the Coachella music festival has been postponed to October. The first half of the Public Service Announcement tour (March 26 to May 20) has also been postponed to later dates.