Rage Against The Machine Single Hits One Billion Streams
Rage Against The Machine have joined Spotify’s Billions club, with their classic single Killing In The Name notching up a billion streams on the platform.
Rage guitarist Tom Morello reacted to the news with a post on his socials reading, “KILLING IN THE NAME” just hit 1 billion streams on Spotify! Thanks to all those who listened to it: those who love it, those who hate it, and those that have enjoyed it without understanding it. Righteous proof that rebel music and irony are alive and well.”
Despite the good news, the future of the band is still in doubt. Rage were forced to cancel multiple dates of their reunion tour in 2022 after frontman Zack de la Rocha severed his left Achilles tendon, and no rescheduled shows were announced.
In January of last year, drummer Brad Wilk made a statement saying, “I want to let you know that RATM (Tim, Zack, Tom and I) will not be touring or playing live again,” he wrote. “I’m sorry for those of you who have been waiting for this to happen. I really wish it was… Bottom of my heart.. Thank you to every person who has ever supported us.”
The statement followed a March 2023 interview with guitarist Tom Morello, who was asked directly about the possibility of rescheduled Rage Against the Machine dates. He clarified that the entire band would come together for a statement. “If there are Rage shows, if there are not Rage shows, you’ll hear from the band,” Morello said. “I do not know. When there is news, it will come from a collective statement from the band. There is no news.”
The band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at the induction ceremony in late 2023. Morello was the only member to attend, hinting in his speech that the other members of Rage didn’t share his enthusiasm for the event.