- published: 11 Nov 2014
- views: 1819199
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk. Rage Against the Machine is known for its "fiercely polemical music, which brew[s] sloganeering leftist rants against corporate America, cultural imperialism, and government oppression into a Molotov cocktail of punk, hip hop, and thrash." They draw inspiration from early heavy metal instrumentation, as well as rap acts such as Afrika Bambaataa,Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys and Dutch crossover band Urban Dance Squad. As of 2010, they have sold over 16 million records worldwide.
In 1992, the band released its self-titled debut album, which became a commercial success, leading to a slot in the 1993 Lollapalooza festival. The band did not release a follow-up record until 1996, with Evil Empire. The band's third album, The Battle of Los Angeles, followed in 1999. During their initial nine-year run, they became one of the most popular and influential bands in music history, according to music journalist Colin Devenish. They were also ranked #33 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. The band had a large influence on the nu metal genre which emerged during the mid to late 1990s.
Rita May, Rita May
You got your body in the way
You're so damn nonchalant
But it's your mind that I want
You got me huffin' and a-puffin'
Next to you I feel like nothin' Rita May
Rita May, Rita May
How'd you ever get that way?
When do you ever see the light?
Don't you ever feel a fright?
You got me burnin' and I'm turnin'
But I know I must be learnin' Rita May
All my friends have told me
If I hang around with you that I'll go blind
But when you hold me
I know there must be somethin' on your mind
Rita May, Rita May
Won't you come out and play?
[Incomprehensible] where you been?
What's that crazy place you're in?
I'm gonna have to go to college
'Cause you are the book of knowledge Rita May
All my friends have told me
If I hang around with you that I'll go blind
But I know when you hold me
That there really must be somethin' on your mind
Rita May, Rita May
You got your body in the way
You're so damn nonchalant
It's your mind that I want
I'm gonna have to go to college