Rage Against the Machine to play at Target during RNC

[jefferson_dem]

Rage Against the Machine to play at Target during RNC

August 4, 2008

Political rap-rock giants Rage Against the Machine will give a rare performance at Target Center in Minneapolis on Sept. 3, which not so coincidentally is the same week as the Republican National Convention in St. Paul. Tickets go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. for $60.

Target Center's news release for the concert makes no mention of any political overtones, but fans know to expect plenty of verbal fireworks. Rage guitarist Tom Morello has already committed to perform with country-rocker Steve Earle at a union rally Sept. 1 at St. Paul's Harriet Island, the first day of the convention. The band has lashed out at the Bush administration at other shows this year, including last weekend's Lollapalooza festival in Chicago. Morello expressed interest this summer in performing during both party conventions.

Known for such feisty radio hits such as "Killing in the Name," "Bulls on Parade" and "Testify," Rage also performed during the Democratic National Convention in 2000 in Los Angeles, a free outdoor show that turned into a melee where police used tear gas and pepper spray on the crowd.

The band broke up soon after that show. It reunited for a few shows last year but is not a full-time band. Vocalist Zack de la Rocha's first solo album is due out this month.

http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/music/26257699.html?location_refer=Most%20Viewed:Homepage:12

[Bicoastal]

1. Oh, they'll be playing at the Target CENTER, not an area Target store...

...that would be pretty punk rock. Still, very cool.

[Muttocracy]

5. I was wondering the same thing for a moment! :)

[kurtboss]

2. That's Awesome

I expect Rage will not be kind to McCain... well you can guarantee that. Just wonder if they'll endorse Obama (as much I love RATM not an endorsement he wants...)

[SidneyCarton]

3. I doubt they'll endorse Obama

Zach's political views are so far left, I think Kucinich is too far right for him.

[IndependentDem]

8. here is what he has to say...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpXVN-Qfr2A

[G_j]

4. RATM Lollapalooza 2008

it got pretty hairy, people were pushing so badly trying to get up front..


the music is explosive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7obVy1YyTM&feature=related

[Milo_Bloom]

6. From that 2000 concert

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlvplKPH0k0

[Hugabear]

7. Charging $60 for a RATM concert ticket?

Something don't seem quite right about that...

[ellisonz]

11. I get what you're saying...

...but the arena isn't free and the event workers need to get paid.

[Occam Bandage]

13. They don't need $60/seat to pay the broom-and-mop guys.

It seems young Western revolutionaries have a tendency to turn into bare-fanged capitalists once they're the ones balancing costs and income.

[ellisonz]

16. What about the sound guys?

Security? Or do you just think dumbasses should be allowed to jump on stage and trash the equipment? Do you think RATM should just work for free? Really, like you're so fucking hardcore. I think RATM has earned the right to have a semi-controlled environment see DNC LA 2000.:rofl:

[Occam Bandage]

20. So, you're telling me it takes 1.1 million dollars to hold a concert?

The Target Center's capacity for end-stage concerts is 19,000 people. The show will sell out. That is $1,140,000 gross. You actually believe that the break-even point for a one-night concert is 1.1 million dollars? Note also that I am giving them the benefit of the doubt on ticket pricing; I highly doubt that front-row seats are going to cost the same as the nosebleeds.

I don't really care if they make a profit. But when your band claims to be about revolution against the current political/economic system, and when you then put on a concert where the cheapest seats are $60, ensuring the lower middle class and working class cannot afford entry, expect me to laugh.

[ellisonz]

26. Yes.

Actually, if you're at all familiar with how much it costs to see a top-line concert anymore $60 baseline is pretty reasonable, even with the Ticketbastard add-ons. But obviously this discussion isn't about the actual cost of putting on a concert in a major arena, this is about your holiness.

"If RATM doesn't play for free in a empty cornfield in the middle of nowhere, in the dark, with no speakers and lights, for less than $10 dollars I'm going to whine whine whine..."

[BlooInBloo]

9. hahaha! Nice that they're able to put off their animosity towards each other....

in the face of bigger fish to fry.

[Frank Booth]

10. Can't the poor people of Minneapolis be left in peace?

[Occam Bandage]

12. Fuck the man! That'll be $60, please.

Seriously, fuck the man! Let's have a revolution!

...huh, looks like artists who go political are facing a right-wing backlash. Man, the Dixie Chicks just lost their careers once their distributors bailed on them. Oh well. Better not release any new political albums or put on any concerts for a while. Wouldn't want to rock the boat.

...hey, what? The country is shifting left again?

Yeah! Fuck the man! Only $60 plus taxes, fees, and TicketMaster convenience surcharge to hear me say it live!

[Heddi]

14. the only people who are against the man

are those that can afford to be, apparently.

Why do I feel that those $60 seats are actually located down the street, across the bridge, with a post right in front of you? You wanna SEE and HEAR a concert? Pfft. You better be willing to pay at least $150 for a seat in the same ZIPCODE as the concert.

Loved REM when I was younger. LOVE LOVE LOVE. Used to see their shows at little venues and bars...couple bucks. Got bigger, and ticket price went up to $25 max. That's okay.

Then in 1993 I went to a concert and the cheapest seats were $45...all the way up to $200 for front row.

fuck that.

I remember around the same time Pearl Jam went on tour and refused to use Ticketmaster because of the fees they charged. EVERY TICKET for that concert was $19.99. No fees. Less than $20 to see a kick ass concert that lasted I swear 4 hours. I wasn't that hot to go, but went with my little cousin. Man, that was a kick ass show and how concerts should be.

Now you pay $150 to get nose-bleeds and you see 45 minutes of show. Rip off.

[VolcanoJen]

15. Damn I love me some Rage.

Sweet, but I still doubt one thing has anything to do with the other, save for a scheduling coincidence that likely happened long before the nomination of either party was settled.

Still... cool. :-)

[H2O Man]

17. Very good!

Nominated. And recommended that people attend, if possible.

[bklyncowgirl]

18. Oh at first I thought you meant they were playing AT the GOP convention

Pigs were sprouting wings and the Devil was seen at Macy's buying a fur coat.

[bklyncowgirl]

19. Oh at first I thought you meant they were playing AT the GOP convention

Pigs were sprouting wings and the Devil was seen at Macy's buying a fur coat.

[ellie]

21. I love RATM

"Fuck you I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you I won't do what you tell me!"

Everyone! Join in.

[DevonRex]

22. Okay!!!

"Fuck you I won't do what you tell me! Fuck you I won't do what you tell me!"

I love RATM, too. Such great energy, such great lyrics.

[Occam Bandage]

23. The joke, of course,

is twenty thousand people, each wearing $30 RATM T-shirts, shouting "I won't do what you tell me" in unison from $60 seats.

[DevonRex]

24. That is rather amusing. :) But hey, anything that detracts from

that damned repub convention is okay by me.

They'll be lucky if the tees are only $30. I got CSNY tees at their Red Rocks show here a couple of years ago and they were $45. I did get a really cool hat, like the one Neil Young wears, for $30, though. I love that hat. Worth every penny.

Plus, with the peace sign on it, it kinda pisses off the repukes in my neighborhood. I used to have a great bumper sticker that said "Doing my part to piss off the religious right." Alas, somebody scraped if off. Obviously a member of the religious right.

[junkiebrewster]

25. Rage Against the Machine?

They were on Epic / Sony. They ARE the machine.