A socialist rock group signed to a behemoth capitalist corporation? It sounds like a contradiction, but for Rage Against the Machine, it just means they are fighting the devil from within. And their label, Epic Associated (owned by Sony), is making quite a bit of money off the quartet, so it isn't complaining, either.

Consisting of singer Zack de la Rocha, guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Timmy C. and drummer Brad Wilk, the L.A. band gave their first performance in 1991 in a friend's living room. Less than two years later, their Epic debut hit the streets. RATM's quick rise can be attributed, in part, to a 12-song cassette they made in 1992. On their own, they sold 5,000 copies. The group's compelling live shows also got the buzz going. While its blend of tough rap and hard-hitting rock wasn't new--bands have been combining the two since the mid-'80s--RATM did it better than most and added a serious political spin. Their music bristles with cries for revolution, and the guys put their money where their mouths are. The band has worked for causes such as Rock For Choice, the Leonard Peltier Defense Fund, United Farm Workers and the campaign for releasing death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal. The group's perennial theme of freeing the oppressed continued with their second and third albums, Evil Empire and The Battle Of Los Angeles, which also in part decry the U.S. penchant for imperialism. And all the net earnings from the group's recent live appearances, including a stadium tour supporting U2, have gone to a variety of causes.

So do RATM's fans hear the group's radical messages, or do they only hear the pulsating rhythms? Even though the blustering voices of right-wing fanatics continue to ring throughout the '90s, some rockers do hear Rage's call to arms. The rest may not think about it, but they're indirectly feeding the coffers for a number of the band's favorite causes. And ironically, they're also helping to feed Big Business at the same time. The success of this group has made for some strange bedfellows indeed.

This Biography was written by Janiss Garza

(This was not written by me cause i am too lazy! But it is funny that this writter has my same last name! lol

Live and Rare
released: 01 October 1996
(Epic Associated Records)

1. Bullet in the Head (Live) [5:42]
2. Settle for Nothing (Live) [4:57]
3. Bombtrack (Live) [5:53]
4. Take the Power Back (Live) [6:11]
5. Freedom (Live) [5:58]
6. Intro (Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos) (Live) [3:40]
7. Zapatas Blood (Live) [3:47]
8. Without a Face (Live) [4:04]
9. Hadda be Playing on the Jukebox (Live) [8:02]
10. Fuck Tha Police (Live) [4:05]
11. Darkness [3:40]
12. Clear the Lane [3:48]

The Battle of Los Angeles
released: October 25 1999
(Epic Associated Records)

Renegades
released: December 5 2000
(Epic Associated Records)