Sadly, it may be a moment before we receive any substantial news from the members of Rage Against The Machine in regard to their rescheduled European and North American tour dates.
After vocalist Zach De la Rocha sustained a leg injury in Chicago during the band’s US reunion tour in July, he persevered through the remainder of the tour performing while seated. Unfortunately, due to the severity of Zach De la Rocha’s Achilles tear, the band was forced to cancel their European show dates and their 2023 North American tour dates.
Read more: Fiddler Records Founder Amy Fleisher Madden Announces New Book
In a statement from Rocha posted to the band’s social media accounts on October 4, 2022, he shared, “It’s been almost 3 months since Chicago, and I still look down at my leg in disbelief. Two years of waiting through the pandemic, hoping we would have an opening to be a band again and continue the work we started 30 some odd years ago. Rehearsing, training, reconciling, working our way back to form. Then one and a half shows into it and my tendon tears. Felt like a sick joke the universe played on me. As I write this I remind myself it’s just bad circumstance. Just a fucked up moment. Unfortunately it is a moment that requires a lot of work and healing. I have a severe tear in my left Achilles tendon and only 8% of my tendon was left intact. And even that portion was severely compromised. It’s not simply a question of being able to perform again, but extends to basic functionality going forward.”
Read more: 100 gecs Have Remixed System Of A Down’s “Toxicity”
The post continues, “That’s why I’ve made the painful and difficult decision to cancel the remaining shows on our 2023 North American leg. I hate canceling shows. I hate disappointing our fans. You have all waited so patiently to see us and that is never lost on me. I never take that for granted. For you I have the ultimate gratitude and respect. To my brothers Tim, Brad, and Tom; El P, Killer Mike, Trackstar and the whole RTJ crew; to everyone on our production team: techs, cooks, drivers, assistants, security squad, to anyone and everyone who made the shows thus far possible, all my love and respect. I hope to see you very soon.”
In a new interview with Rolling Stone, guitarist Tom Morello shares that the band hasn’t discussed the future of their canceled tours. He explains that the band is ” in time of healing” at the moment. He adds, “If there are Rage shows, if there are not Rage shows, you’ll hear from the band. I do not know. when there is news, it will come from a collective statement from the band. there is no news.”
Morello continues, “If Rage Against the Machine are going on a hiatus, Rage Against the Machine would say, ‘We’re going on a hiatus.’ That has not happened. I will say that I understand and respect the frustration. There is a sort of frustration to not knowing when you’re in the band, but that’s led to a lot of great music.”
Read more: Scowl Share Dizzying New Track “Psychic Dance Routine”
The band performed their first show on their reunion tour in East Troy, WI before Zach De la Rocha suffered his Achilles tear on July 11 in Chicago, IL. They wrapped the tour’s first leg on August 14 in New York, NY at Madison Square Garden before announcing the cancellation of their European and 2023 dates. Check out the band’s performance from their set on July 9 in East Troy, WI below.
