Rage Against The Machine
 

me and my friend were having an argument about this, but does anyone else feel that rage is the greatest band ever and that no one sounds like them?

I do believe RATM is ONE of the greatest bands ever, but I think quite a few bands have come up with definite influences drawn from them. I dont think anyone will ever sound exactly like them. Not with Toms drugged out guitar work or Zachs awesome voice. It sure is nice to see them getting some well earned respect! Bring those fuckers back though, audio slave is not doin it for me at all!

Agreed. Rage Against the Machine is one of my favorite bands ever(along with Nirvana and Led Zepplin and the man Johnny Cash) and nobody will ever sound like them no matter how hard they try. I met Tom Morello last year and he is cool as hell. An amazing guitarist too. Zach has the most unique voice i have ever heard.

I used to be so pissed about Audioslave cuz i dont like Chris Cornell but now i am starting to like them. They kind of grow on you. But I say bring Rage Against the Machine back. It would be the greatest day ever if Zach and Tom and Brad and Tim got back together for a cd or a tour, unless kurt cobain rose from the grave to bring back nirvana. I didnt get to see them live ever so it would be spectacular for them to that.

i would have to agree with you 100%. tom wails on the guitar. and adioslave just does not do it for me either.

Ditto, ditto, ditto, ditto, ditto with all that was said above.

Rage has that awesome edge sound to their music that is so original, you have to love it...

It’s not just their sound but also the fact that their music carried a powerful message. They are perhaps one of the most political bands in history.

Greatest band ever? Meh.. I dunno about all that. Great band? Yup. Listening to one of their songs on the radio right now :D I really do like them alot. Good shit.

They have a unique sound that may never be duplicated. Tom Morello (the guitarist) is a genius. However, they are not the greatest band of all time.

the thing about RATM was not how much they rocked, but what they said in their songs that made them so appealing to me. If you listen to the music and dont pay attention to what is said they still kick extreme ass, but once you pay attention to the lyrics it's unreal

One of the most politically hypocritical bands in history, perhaps. I think that as far as instrumentals go, ratm is a good band, but the lyrics and "message" (and vocals, really) are awful. RATM has been 100% commercial since their first couple of albums, and yet they rail against the "corporate empire" that they are taking money from. Puh-lease.

Ok, you may have a point here and I usually hate repeating rumors I hear but I have heard from many insiders that Zach did rack up millions from the band but has made huge contributions to inner city schools, political movements in other countries and so on and so on. I cant see Zach being a money grubbing fuck, I do believe and want to believe that he has donated much of his earnings. I also think that if the really wanted to get thier message heard, then they needed to get on a bigger label than the one they were on before the self titled album came out. Sony comes along, gives em a big fat deal, they make a shit load of money but get heard and donate a lot, I think thats better than just staying low and keeping quiet. I am also prepared to be yelled at by many of you now hehehe.

Hated the political affiliations, but their music was unreal. Of course Audioslave is comparable, but they definitely don't have the edge that RATM did.

Its tough to say Rage Against the Machine was the best band ever. Not because they're not a great band, but because its hard to compare them with any other band out there.
They were the first band since the 60s to hit the mainstream with an almost purely political message. This is probably one of the main reasons they won't be remembered as the best band ever, since they pissed off a lot of right-wingers in this country.
Besides their message, they could rock with the best of them and get the crowd going like no one else. They were the best live band I've ever had the privilege of seeing in person.
As far as being hypocrites, they worked within the system to get their music out to the mainstream. If they hadn't done that, alot of people would have never been turned onto their message. Also, the band donated a significant portion of their proceeds to charities like Amnesty International. That's not to say they're perfect, but they're far from hypocrites.
I hope we'll get to see more bands like Rage Against the Machine.

In your opinion they are the greatest band, in my opinion they are a really good band. I love their music, and have everything I could get my hands on. I hate Audioslave, when people said it sounds just like Rage, I was outraged!! They sound nothing alike, and thank god for that. Would love to see them back together, much better as the original.

one of the best and one of my favorites for a loooooong time!!!

They got repetative after the first two albums. I like their versions of Ghost of Tom Joad and Maggie's Farm though.

In middle school I had the biggest crush on Zach de la Rocha. He's one of the hottest men that ever lived.

I too like Rage. I dont know about the best, but they were damn good. Since the break up, the lead singer needs to make some music. To me, he made the band. Go Del La Rocha......

Audioslave makes a crack, seriously tight set of musicians with a sound quite unlike anyone else, sound like Chris Cornell's Zep-loving, forelock-tugging journeymen sessioneers. This should never have been allowed to happen.
RATM were great. I bought the message; even if they weren't practicing what they preached, it still sounds convincing to this born-yesterday headbanger.

What he said. RATM is a great band, but greatest ever is a stretch for me.

They do kick ass though--great music to get you going.

I listen to Rage for a few reasons. Mainly because they knew how to rock... but still only in that "Alterni-Rock/Cooler-than-you" kind of way. The message was a good base for what was really goin' on in the World. I never took what Zach said directly to heart... it was just song lyrics. It was loud and pissed off my parents... I've never been into the real hard stuff... the hardest I get is Slipknot or Mudvayne. And that's not really hard or real for that matter.

Rage was fun music to listen to when you where a pissed off teenager putting an American flag sticker on you car up-side-down. It made you wanna flip off a cop or steal a pack of smokes from you mom. It just fueled teenage stupidity. I still love it.

I saw them all naked. At 'palooza in Philly. Instead of performing that day, they stood naked on stage for like 5 minutes. They all had duct tape over their mouths and "PMRC" written across their chests. Pretty cool protest against the whole parental advisory sticker thing. I would have enjoyed seeing them play, though. They were a great band. :)

RATM definitely does have their own unique sound, but if you listen to enough of it, it begins to sound the same. That's the only problem... Down Rodeo anyone? :)

Great First album but the political focus turned me off. I like songs with meaning but have more to say than "the man this the man that".

I think they're one of the greatest bands of all time. Toms guitar sound will not ever be duplicated.

Anyone know the story behind the breakup? I've never got the whole story.

and what ever happened to zach is he gonna have a cd out anytime soon or what? anyone knows something??

he did release a song on the internet with dj shadow about the war in iraq. www.marchofdeath.com to get it. i like the song but it just isnt the same without tom wailing on the guitar in the background.

FUCK YOU I WONT DO WHAT THEY TOLD ME!

Anyways, I have to agree they were a amazing sounding band. Matter of fact for the past week i have been playing all of their CD's.

As for them getting back toghether and sounding the same. It wouldnt be the same. Cause alot of them have moved on. Look at Van Halen. You wont see David again thats for sure.

Anyways i have to agree kinda. Semi Greatest Band :>

Not a true fan of Rage Against the Machine....but,

AUDIOSLAVE ROCKS!