 Essay About Zack |
Zack de la Rocha Network Forum > the 'burbs > .:: Commons of Culture ::. > .:: Artifex Lounge ::. > .:: Essays ::.  |
 Jul 15 2003, 05:24 PM
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#1
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 Freedom Advocate  Group: Activist Posts: 5,060 Joined: 21-June 03 From: Vermont Member No.: 483  |
WHY ZACK HAD TO LEAVE
My favorite recorded performance of Zack de la Rocha’s actually comes from a bootleg. It’s a freestyle based around the rhythm section. He is working out future lyrics, most obviously – “Testify”. Bouncing around puns like “my mao-tse tongue” and “offensive like Tet”, Zack weaves in and out, breathes sharp and delivers like Gil-Scott Heron or Ice T…depending on the point of the jam. It is a great performance by bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk but sadly missing is the strange guitar of Tom Morello. Or is it? In SPIN Zack complained of the samey-ness of Tom’s leanings. Taking Zack out of the Zeppelin loops may free him up…give him a sense of adventure. I now know why he left Rage Against The Machine. As sad as that suddenly makes me… In nine years Rage Against The Machine released three albums that now form the RATM Trilogy – their self titled debut in 1992, EVIL EMPIRE in 1996 and THE BATTLE OF LOS ANGELES in 1999. These albums have a similar thematic structure and the music leans toward the riffs of 70s metal like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath or Rush. Sometimes whole riffs were lifted …like the allusion to Zep’s “Kashmir” on the first album’s “Wake Up”. But oft-times the riffs were elevated by a hardcore sensibility that separated it from mainstream grunge. Guitarist Tom Morello(who Jackson Griffith described as “a monkey playing with a crystal set” in PULSE magazine) uses his riff catalog to his advantage while experimenting with everything from his effects pedals to the actual cord itself to produce a sound more like a synthesizer than a guitar. It was this arsenal along with the tight rhythm section that set up the unholy meeting of prog rock and hip hop. Over this din came Zack de la Rocha, 35 years younger than Elvis and determined to explore anger as a leitmotif. His poetry came from severe personal experiences and his keen interest in literature and history. Only 22 when the first album was released, Zack possessed a maturity that impressed music fans of all ages…yet he was still punky enough to give us the mantra “fuck you—I won’t do what you tell me”. His energy and literacy were a lethal combination and won the band a strong following based on their cultural and political ideals. But within the structure of Rage Against The Machine lied some uneased tensions concerning the future of the group. Zack’s frustration with the unilateral direction of the music was starting to wear on him as an artist. He began to see that his art wasn’t just his poetry over Zeppelin riffs but an extension of his own musical experience. This included working with different sounds and composition styles. Something he just could not have gotten done in Rage. So he left. And for many the disappointment of the break-up of what was the true artistic triumph of the 90s was unbearable. I remember getting e-mails from friends who were actually angry at Zack for doing this. Nine years of relentless touring and three strong studio albums are the testament to this moment in history…but like Kerouac’s roman candles it burned out quickly. But now I think of Zack’s little jam and wonder what would have happened if Zack had just done a solo album and never actually really left. And then I think how contrived that sounds. The Trilogy will stand up and Rage Against The Machine will not be forgotten…. This post has been edited by Lpldbloom: Jul 15 2004, 11:02 AM |
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Jul 16 2003, 06:31 AM
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#2
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Freedom Advocate Group: Activist Posts: 5,060 Joined: 21-June 03 From: Vermont Member No.: 483 |
Not to toot my own horn but I would appreciate any feedback on my little essay.
Please! |
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Jul 16 2003, 10:28 AM
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#3
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 Nun Chuka Kata Group: Moderators Posts: 6,756 Joined: 29-April 03 From: On top of you Member No.: 412 |
Insightful..good job.
-------------------- I know you're out there. I can feel you now. I know that you're afraid. You're afraid of us, you're afraid of change. I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end, I came here to tell you how this is going to begin. Now, I'm going to hang up this phone, and I'm going to show these people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a world without you. A world without rules and controls, without borders or boundaries. A world...where anything is possible.
Where we go from there is a choice I leave to you. |
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Jul 16 2003, 12:01 PM
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#4
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Freedom Advocate Group: Activist Posts: 5,060 Joined: 21-June 03 From: Vermont Member No.: 483 |
^ Thanks REV
-Maurice |
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Jul 17 2003, 06:43 AM
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#5
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 Activist Group: Activist Posts: 69 Joined: 29-June 03 From: okc, ok Member No.: 499 |
a fine essay!
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Jul 17 2003, 06:47 AM
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#6
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Freedom Advocate Group: Activist Posts: 5,060 Joined: 21-June 03 From: Vermont Member No.: 483 |
I know that was unsolicited shunt, I appreciate it.
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Jul 17 2003, 08:42 AM
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#7
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 är du också likgiltig? Group: Moderators Posts: 6,819 Joined: 29-January 03 From: Salina Cruz, Oaxaca Member No.: 188 |
Nice very nice...your a good writer.
 And you threw in a reference to Jack Kerouac, very nice. 
-------------------- Hey we got the PMA. Hey we got the PMA.
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Jul 17 2003, 08:49 AM
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#8
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Freedom Advocate Group: Activist Posts: 5,060 Joined: 21-June 03 From: Vermont Member No.: 483 |
^Thank tons Zap!!!!
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Jul 17 2003, 02:09 PM
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#9
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 GRAPEFRUIT MOON Group: Activist Posts: 1,548 Joined: 4-April 03 From: Toronto, Canada Member No.: 357 |
well written.....
 Zack.......    
This post has been edited by Rage Man Leca: Jul 17 2003, 02:12 PM -------------------- riot of words
What exactly are the great historical accomplishments of your race that makes you pround to be white? Capitalism? Slavery? Genocide? Sitcoms? Guns? War? Pollution? NAFTA? This is your fucking white-history my friend. -Propagandhi NATIONALISM ONLY BRINGS DEATH NO BORDERS NO NATIONS |
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Jul 17 2003, 02:26 PM
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#10
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Freedom Advocate Group: Activist Posts: 5,060 Joined: 21-June 03 From: Vermont Member No.: 483 |
I want to thank everyone for the kind words on the essay. I promise to share more when inspiration hits...
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Jul 20 2003, 03:43 PM
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#11
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Just Doin' My Thing Group: Activist Posts: 1,479 Joined: 26-June 03 Member No.: 495 |
This was a very informational essay, and well written.
but....because you asked for feedback and i dont bullshit, i didnt see any structure to your essay. This is just me because i write many essays though, and follow a few different forms. Very good though, sorry, i am just critical when people ask for a opinion -J |
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Jul 20 2003, 03:50 PM
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#12
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Freedom Advocate Group: Activist Posts: 5,060 Joined: 21-June 03 From: Vermont Member No.: 483 |
That's cool. It shows you read it carefully and I appreciate that... |
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Jul 20 2003, 04:24 PM
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#13
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 "Welcome to Neotokyo" Group: Activist Posts: 323 Joined: 19-July 03 Member No.: 534 |
great essay, I just downlaoded that freestyle and its great.
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Jul 20 2003, 07:12 PM
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#14
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Junior Activist Group: Activist Posts: 8 Joined: 20-July 03 Member No.: 537 |
well composed essay.. from the sound of it, produced from a true fan of zach...nice structure and good topics...topics and feelings i could relate too,well done.
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Jul 20 2003, 10:00 PM
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#15
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Urban Guerrilla Group: Activist Posts: 476 Joined: 12-December 02 Member No.: 96 |
Very good essay
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| Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 25th May 2013 - 12:36 PM |