Brad Wilk: Rage Against the Machine “Will Not Be Touring or Playing Live Again”

Rage Against the Machine “will not be touring or playing live again,” according to drummer Brad Wilk, effectively signaling the end of the band.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Wilk said, “I know a lot of people are waiting for us to announce new tour dates for all of the canceled RATM shows. I don’t want to string people or myself along any further. So while there has been some communication that this may be happening in the future… I want to let you know that RATM (Tim [Commerford], Zack [de la Rocha], Tom [Morello], and I) will not be touring or playing live again.”

“I am sorry for those of you who have been waiting for this to happen,” Wilk added. “I really wish it was…”

Rage Against the Machine initially announced their intention to reunite in 2019, but due to the pandemic, their tour was delayed until summer 2022. Unfortunately, de la Rocha suffered a serious leg injury during the band’s second show, and while he soldiered through the first leg of the tour, the band ultimately canceled their European run of shows as well as a second leg of US tour dates so that de la Rocha could heal.

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In a May 2023 interview, Morello was asked whether the band ever intended to reschedule the canceled tour dates. “If there never is another show, I think that this tour made the case,” he told Rolling Stone. “It’s not about how much you tour. It’s about what it’s like during those moments when you do. Rage Against the Machine has played 19 shows in the past 12 years. And the resonance of those 19 shows feel, in talking to fans, like those were historical events that furthers the idea of what that band is like live onstage.”

“Rage Against the Machine is like the ring in Lord of the Rings,” Morello added. “It drives men mad. It drives journalists mad. It drives record industry people mad. They want it. They want the thing, and they’re driven mad. If there are Rage shows, if there are not Rage shows, you’ll hear from the band.”

In November 2023, Rage Against the Machine were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of its 2023 class. Morello was the only member of the band who attended the ceremony. “Like most bands, we have differing perspectives on a lot of things, including being inducted into the Rock Hall,” he noted during his acceptance speech. “My perspective is tonight is the great opportunity to celebrate the music and the mission of the band, to celebrate with the fifth member of the band: Rage Against the Machine’s incredible fans. The best way to celebrate this music is for you to carry on that mission and that message.”

Rage Against the Machine previously broke up in 2000 before reuniting in 2007. They broke up for a second time in 2011.