Rage Against The Machine Launches Reunion Tour With First Concert In 11 Years

Rage Against The Machine finally reunited after 11 years, including two years of delays due to the pandemic, to kick off their reunion tour on Saturday night at Alpine Valley Music Theatre. The quartet loaded the setlist in East Troy, Wisconsin for the Public Service Announcement Tour opener with classics as well as a few surprises following a set from support act Run The Jewels.

Vocalist Zack de la Rocha, guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk opened their first performance since a 2011 show at the L.A. Rising festival with “Bombtrack.” The song would be one of six played from Rage Against The Machine, the group’s 1992 self-titled debut album.

Rage Against The Machine followed the powerful opener with “People Of The Sun” and “Bulls On Parade,” a pair of cuts off 1996’s Evil Empire before returning to their debut album for “Bullet In The Head.” Zach de la Rocha was in fine form despite his long absence from the stage in leading the band through such beloved songs as “Testify,” “Know Your Enemy” and “Freedom.”

While most of the 16 songs played by Rage at Alpine last night were performed during the band’s series of 2010 concerts and lone 2011 show, the four-piece did serve up a few deep cuts. Evil Empire tracks “Tire Me” and “Without A Face” both saw action for the first time since 2008. Additionally, the band dusted off “War Within A Breath” from 1999’s The Battle Of Los Angeles which was also last played 14 years ago.

The members of the group didn’t address the crowd during the concert. However, graphics with political messages were displayed including images of a police car burning and the words “ABORT THE SUPREME COURT.” RATM stuck to their own material with one exception as they performed a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “The Ghost Of Tom Joad” for the first time since July 23, 2000. The concert came to a close with perhaps the group’s best-known song, “Killing In The Name.”

Watch fan-shot video footage from Rage Against The Machine’s return below:

Setlist (via Setlist.FM)

Set: Bombtrack, People Of The Sun, Bulls On Parade, Bullet In The Head, Testify, Tire Me, Wake Up, Guerrilla Radio, Without A Face, Know Your Enemy, Calm Like A Bomb > Sleep Now In The Fire, War Within A Breath, The Ghost Of Tom Joad, Freedom, Killing In The Name