Channel your Rage

The members of Rage Against the Machine

Iconic rap metal band Rage Against the Machine's (RATM) hit track, Killing in the Name, ends on a naturally cathartic note. The song begins with a section where vocalist Zack de la Rocha repeats the lines, "Now you do what they told ya/ Now you're under control" 12 times over. Then, it ends with him singing, "F''k you, I won't do what you tell me," as the intensity and volume rises each time he repeats the sentence, to hammer in the message of irreverence the words are meant to convey.

Cocking a snook at any sort of oppression has, in fact, played an integral part in shaping RATM's music. This, in turn, has allowed successive generations of the '90s and post- Millennium youngsters to give voice to their frustrations about the powers that be.

Ruell Baretto

A significant population of Mumbai's youth, too, has been taken in over the years by the powerful political messaging in the band's lyrics. And the present generation will now have a chance to feel the sense of release that the music can bring about, at a tribute gig for RATM scheduled for later this week.

The concert is part of a property titled In Memory Of, which aims to revive the music of pre-2000 greats. What normally happens is that a motley crew of musicians take the stage one after the other, hand-picked from local bands in the city. This edition, for instance, will see around 20 musicians, with Siddharth Raveendran of Tadpatri Talkies, Reinhardt Dias of BLAKC and Ruel Baretto of Bombay Bassment being some of the names on the bill.

Baretto tells us that the socio-political climate in the country today leaves enough reason for citizens to feel a sense of disillusionment. "No one's really allowed to express themselves freely, whether it's about the food you eat or the religion you profess. And RATM's music talks about standing up to that sort of oppression. It gives you the guts to do and say what you have to. And it teaches you how to express your rage in a controlled way," he says, pointing out how, 27 years after their debut album, the rap metal legends remain as relevant in this day and age.

On: July 26, 8.30 pm
At: Hard Rock Cafe, off Veera Desai Road, Andheri West.
Log on to: bookmyshow.com
Call: 26743901
Cost Rs 500

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