An Open Letter to Rage Against The Machine
Published March 12, 2007
Attn: Rage Against The Machine
RE: Your return to the music industry
Date: March 12, 2007
Dear Rage-
Before I begin this letter, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jerry Rojas from Dallas, Texas. I am a fan, one of many throughout the world since 1996.I first heard you through several of my classmates in high school. Matter of fact, our class song was “Bulls On Parade”, which is something I have always taken pride in. I know how influential your self-titled record was and is to this day but “Evil Empire” to me was part of a significant change in my life, especially coming out of high school and into college. When I hear the opening riffs that Tom Morello drops on “People of the Sun”, it is like an immediate surge of adrenaline and it continues throughout the whole album.
That album prompted me to rethink how important is it to be informed on what is going on in the world and what is happening in other countries and how what we do here affects them and vice versa. I become more aware of the struggles in Mexico, especially in the state of Chiapas. I learned who the EZLN are and developed a respect and admiration for the Zapatistas who endure the suffering daily. Throughout all of your music, it also taught me who Leonard Peltier and Abu-Mumia Jamal are and why their stories are so important. I also learned that music could be such a powerful & vital tool for social change.
Having said that, I eventually bought everything in the RATM catalog and even obtained a bootleg of your show at the Download Festival. I bought the first home video you all released and played “The Ghost of Tom Joad” single that came along with it a million times at least. I only was able to see you all live once in Ft Worth, Texas back in 1996 at the Will Rogers Coliseum. That show is one of my top shows EVER. It doesn’t matter that it was over 11 years ago, it is still as vivid a memory as ever.
- An Open Letter to Rage Against The Machine
- Published: March 12, 2007
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Music
- Writer: Jerry Rojas
- Jerry Rojas's BC Writer page
- Jerry Rojas's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
fag. you act like ratm is like some type of god. they are great musicians, but trust me, they are not changing the face of modern youth. Another thing, there were not more people voting for american idol than the election, there were more votes submitted. get the facts straight,and grow up you stupid fuck.
Yep. I would like RATM back as well. Evil empire was a bit underated, but overall, all the albums are brilliant.
Well said Jerry! We need you back RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE!
Their music taught me to always question authority!
I am in a glass case of emotion!!
great letter btw, i just hope one of the band memebers comes across it, altho i dont think its as relevent now that theyve set more dates for performances and are touring. but still good on ya for shouting out about how much we need em back, cos we do, RAGE RULE!!
Right on motherfucker. Rage is one of the only bands of our generation that actually changed the way people think about themselves and the world around them. Today, music's message centers around materialism, which is precisely why Rage must reunite for at least one more album. Maybe some of the adverse effects recent popular culture has had on the youth of America can still be reversed. With rage there is hope.
LA VERDAD ES QUE RATM NO HA SIDO SOLIDARIO CON LOS MOVIMIENTOS SOCIALES DE LATINOAMERICA, PARECE QUE SOLO SE CUELGAN DE ALGUNOS DE ELLOS. ¡LASTIMA!
RIGHT ON !!!!!!
RATM is a "Fist in the air in the land of hypocrisy"
This country needs them. The world neds them
The point is you have to play to win. That is the point. It is a tedious depressing performance when someone takes the gift of individualism and decides to bury his 1000 gold pieces. This is the greatest tragedy. What an amazing display is never seen. People take all their lives to do what they are told by other people? What? What kind of existence is that? Its the living dead is what it is . Its the most ungrateful act that can ever be done. Your gift isnt good enough? Think of all the people that you are disrespecting with that belief. Thats very disrespectful and it will have its consequences. You will eventually figure this out, but it will take a long long painful time. This you can bet the farm on. The law of dialectics makes it so. So rise up! Do it now! The time has come. Pull the trigger. Respect your existence as the greatest gift to have ever been brought to this earth. You have to or you will not get it. Thats the consequence. I didnt make this up. These are universal laws. This is how it works. So again, rise up!! Get the fuck up!!! Its time. No more fear. No more second guessing. Its get on track or miss the train. There is no more time. The time is now. You dont get that still? You are a coward! You are a coward!! Arent you? Answer me with all your heart right now!!!! Are you about fear or are you about love. This house will not stand divided. You know this intuitevely. You always have. You are part of it. Recognize it already. Fear has never been a worthy opponent. Shit! God Damn it!!!! Do it already!!!!!! What are you waiting for? Some formal inventation? Its not coming. Trust us. You have to do it. You got the chance. Do it. Stop wasting everyone's time. Youve known whats going on since day one. The chance knocks at your door. Do you not hear it? Let those who have ears hear! I know you have enjoyed yourself but its time. Lets get to work, son. It will be fun. You know it will.............................Get focused. Get believing already. Youve got it. You got the goods. It was you all along. I think you always knew. What a son!!!!!! I know Dad. Lets do this.........Now............NOw......................NOW..............................................NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Id like to thank Rage Against the Machine for their courage, their stength and their compassion. They are the Truth. They are Spirit. It is so.
wow..that last response was pretty hard-core..kudos to christopher for sure.
"You got the chance. Do it."
well-said my friend.
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Great piece, Jerry! RATM was very influential for me as well. Their debut album, in my view, is still extraordinarily fresh and is one of the very finest records to come out of the 90s. I had the pleasure of seeing them live in New York City in 1996 or 1997 and it was likely the highest energy show that I will ever witness.