First Time Watching RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE - "Freedom" 

Leonard Peltier is still incarcerated 30 years after this song was released.

For most of us, in 1992 / 1993, this was our first introduction to Rage. This was the first single. This video was played on MTV pretty often.

If you want to learn more of the story of Pine Ridge and Indian Removal as a whole, Knowing Better has a great video on the subject. It's over 2 hours long, but it's well worth it. The story goes so much deeper than what was explained in this song, even with the commentary. I promise it's not wasted time. Rob, and everyone reading this, if you care about activism, or the themes presented in RATM's songs, at least check that one out.

This was Rage's first major hit, I remember watching this video on MTV.

That line is deep ! "set up like a deck of cards , they sending us to early graves for all the diamonds , THEY WILL USE A PAIR OF CLUBS TO BEAT THE SPADES !" Wow ! Tell it Zack !!!!

Regarding that "chill" guitar solo. I always thought of it like this. It's like a daydream. Tom goes off all nostalgic like, day dreaming about a time that once was. When he was free. When his people were free. And it is beautiful. Then Zack come in and he's like yo, "drop that!". Like snap back to reality brother, 'cause that's just not what's up right now. And Tom returns to reality.

Rob, I have just discovered you, you have no idea how you touch my heart when you are discovering Rage Against the Machine, how you feel about them is incredibly honest and pure, just like they have always been! I am a Union member, an activist and have fought for fundamental human rights my whole life! As I go to a march, a rally, or an action to bring awareness, I listen to RATM to get my head in the game, one of your viewers has suggested you to listen to Take the Power Back, I would love to watch your reaction! I am a strong believer that we must All stand TOGETHER to make change in this country, and is the only way to take the power back! I have met Mary Morello, Tom’s Mother, I was able to shake her hand and thank her for her activism and for giving Tom to us! Tom has actually gone to various rally’s, and strikes to stand with Union workers, we all need to follow his example, and stand up like Rage has done for us so many times, they have set the bar very high but we can do it, like Tariq Trotter from the Roots says at the close of every Tonight Show episode “Get Involved” it’s what we need to do to Take The Power Back! Keep on listening to Rage, you’re on the right track!

I hate to say it, but as a hip hop fanatic you haven’t even gotten to what may be your favorite jams. Pistol Grip Pump, Microphone Fiend, How I Could Just Kill a Man. All on the Album ‘Renegades.’ Love the channel, keep it up.

The scary thing about Rage is that their music still has relevancy today over 30 years later. Love all your videos, man. Keep it up.

It's set up like a deck of cards. Sending us to early graves for all the Diamonds♦️ They use a pair of Clubs ♣️ To beat the Spades ♠️ Fantastic lyricism.

Fun Fact- their studio recording for this album was also live. They played in a room surrounded by friends. Footage can be seen in Dave Grohls Documentary on Sound City

✊🏾 Zack a real one for this. ✊🏾

Someone get him to listen to "Take the Power Back. " His reaction to it will be so sick.

For education and knowledge of this particular situation, check out the book In The Spirit of Crazy Horse written by Peter Matthiessen, Eye opener as to how the FBI conducted illegal operations against AIM, illegally extradited Leonard Peltier from Canada, conducted a kangaroo court to find him guilty of killing the two FBI agents where he has been in Federal Prison since the 70s. An era in American history that is mostly forgotten even though it was barely 50 years ago

A good follow-up to this song would be Wake Up. Won’t get into the specifics, but it’s a great combo of focusing on a specific topic while also delivering a Rage classic

Sioux tribe of native Americans.I visited Pine Ridge reservation in 1981. Sometimes called the second Wounded Knee, 1890 was the 1st one. Most are extremely poor to this day living on the worst lands.

I believe this whole album was produced with all musicians and vocals at once in order to have that live sound.

Morello and Springsteen- Ghost of Tom Joad … at the rock and roll hall of fame for some killer Morello Solo Action

The whisper of "anger is a gift" into screams for freedom/screams about the lack thereof is powerful. This and people of the sun are some of my favorite RAtM songs.

The intricacies of Rage Against the Machine go far beyond the lyrics. To this day I go back and hear some Rage tracks and I’m like, “was that part there 10 years ago, 20 years ago?” lol When I first heard Rage on the radio, it was edited and thought it was a cool jam. But I was into Hip Hop/Rap mostly and barely really getting into rock music. Mind you my older brother was into heavy metal so yeah I was about 5 when I heard Metallica and Black Sabbath but frightened by the posters, at first. Then I actually saw Rage live for their Evil Empire album debut and I was hooked! I went from a little thug in the streets of L.A. to being proud of who I was. People of The Sun was a game changer for me and I actually learned more about my people through RATM than any of my schooling growing up. That line in FREEDOM, “what does the billboard say? Come and play come and play! Forget about the movement!” had so much more meaning to me way after the release of that album. And I think that’s what resonates with a lot of people from today because we as people are still being forced to play along with someone else’s games and it makes us forget about who we are or where we come from. Another song similar to that is No Shelter which is one of top 10 favorite songs. (Doing a top 5 is extremely difficult if you’re a fan boy of Rage lol) I love how you focused more on the message on this track and I know for sure if you hear it again, you’ll feel what I’m getting at. Musically, unless you have perfect pitch and 100% focus, hearing the song once is enough. But damn, the louder I play it, the more I want! 🤣 Keep up the great reactions! 👏🏽 🔥 (I’ll keep future comments shorter) lol

I followed you because of these RATM reactions and each and every one lifts my spirit. Thank you for sharing the joy of experiencing this great band for the first time. I'm 45 and your videos bring back memories of listening to these songs when they came out and really widening my understanding of the world (I'm from Greece and back then the information we could readily get on US politics was not that much or easy). Keep them going. Can't wait for you to listen to Wake Up!

This is what youll NEVER learn about in US History class.

Anger is a Gift.

I have been watching you here and there for a while, and I need to become more regular. You care about the lyrics and you break them down. You care about the causes. You channel the spirit of the music. Ballin' I'm gonna hook you up on Patreon when I get my next bag.

Rage was such a sick Band! there message was spot on.

Rage dropping the knowledge and history with every track. Keep ‘em coming!

Free Leonard Peltier. Still incarcerated. There’s a great book called In The Spirit of Crazy Horse talks about the incident and many of the quotes from the video came from this book

I've been waiting for you to hear this. Loving the channel. This was the first Rage song we all heard back in the day.

Anarchists always advocate for indigenous populations. For all oppressed people and marginalized groups. Whether or not that is their political leaning now i am not sure. But as an anarchist myself, i can confirm this. Topics like this are pretty common in anarchist circles. We are a very well read group with an eye towards history as well. Its no surprise they wrote about this one.

Great reaction. Wake Up. Wake Up. Wake up!!!!

They bring spotlights to so many struggles and fights against oppression and injustice, love Rage so much for that.

This was the song that put them on the map!! FREEDOM!!!

I saw them 3 times when I was a teenager in high school, I saw them at reunion tour in the early 2000's and saw them last year when zach tore his leg up. People who also grew up listening to them didn't keep the same passion for their music like I did. They opened my eyes to a lot of things we didn't learn in history classes. I am very happy you have started to find them and appreciate what they did.

Been waiting on this one brotha. Always pictured myself walking out to a UFC fight to this lmao

I remember seeing this video when it came out. I was instantly a fan, and have been ever since.

Final track on the first record, and what a way to go out. Keep doing your thing man, love the channel!

Rob, gotta hear No Shelter! It's a banger for sure!

This is the last song on their first album and has been mentioned already, this was most people’s first exposure to Rage Against the Machine. Zack sharing untold history. Please react to Mic Check or Maria from Rage.

Thank you very much for reacting to this video and analyzing it. Not enough content creators watch this video and actually interpret it. Great job!

you're correct, Rages first 2 albums were recorded live in studio in front of a small group of select friends

You’re right. It sounds like a live performance because the album was recorded as a live performance. It wasn’t recorded in isolated layers where the drums are laid down, then the guitars and vocals. The producer, GGGarth Richardson said he wanted to capture the band’s raw energy. He decided it was best to record it as a concert. Friends and family were even allowed in the studio for it. 🔥

Leonard Peltier will have what is probably his last parole hearing on June 10th 2024. We will be watching. Thank you RATM

If you haven't yet, you've gotta check out "People of the Sun". One of their best hooks and as powerful as anything else they've ever done.

Leonard Peltier is still in fuckin prison for a crime he didn’t commit. Tom is still trying to get him freed.

Oh shit I been waiting for this one so bad!

I seen you like a while ago when you first heard Rage. They caught you. Theyre awesome. Keep that feeling bro. Cause most folks who loved them for the right reasons while they were active didn't

Every song in this album is a masterpiece there's nobody out there now a day's that fills their album with tracks like this.

Sagat just staring grimly at us from the background, lol.

guys Guerrilla Radio is exactly what he needs when it comes RAGE energy

Love the channel man I appreciate it! I think you would like the song Mother by Danzig

Yes! This is the song that got me into RATM over 30 years ago.

Music like this is so important, but hard to listen to without feeling something bad/angry, still to this day. Huge respect to the whole of RATM.

Thanks for reacting to an awesome song and video.

BULLET IN THE HEEEEEAAAAAAD

Only coming across this because you got shared on twitter by Tom motherfucking Morello (who I'm seeing in concert in June not to make you jealous). You're making me fall in love with RATM all over again. What a fuckin band.

Ah one of my top 5 favourite Rage songs!

I remember watching "Incident at Oglala" on campus when it came out, and this song reinforcing my understanding of those events. As a college sophomore, I was telling my Dad about the film & the injustice of Mr. Peltier's continued incarceration I love my Dad. He was like well who made that movie? What are their goals or agenda? A documentary just has facts in it but doesn't automatically equal factual reality. I was like DAD ARE YOU BEING SERIOUS RIGHT NOW? Like it doesn't take any agenda to see this as an affront to our humanity. I love my Dad. But he was wrong on this one. FREE LEONARD PELTIER!!!!!!!!!

Hey my man Rob, you did a reaction to Ren Hi Ren. You should do hunger next. That dude can rap his ass off. I gotta get your take on his stuff. Rage is our favorite band and I'm telling you Ren is right up there for me so think you are going to be shocked by how different all his songs are.

You need to see them perform “The Ghost Of Tom Joad”.

Love this since I’m part Native and listened to this since it came out in the mid 90’s , and I was a local activist In my youth for Native rights, women’s rights,LGBTQ rights, and counter protesting when white supremacists came to Springfield Illinois

They took the native freedoms but gave them the "freedom" to sell themselves. Freedom?

Been checking out your Rage reactions and loving it. Have you checked any of Zach's work with Run the Jewels...shit is fire. Also did a track with KRS-ONE called C.I.A

You said this sounds like a live performance and while this was recorded in studio they did record this album with the entire band in a single room playing together live instead of tracking their parts separately. That’s what gives it the raw, live feel. They even had a bunch of friends in the room to get the feeling of playing for an audience.

The whole first album was recorded live in the studio with a small audience. They did this to capture a sound and an energy.

Fun fact: Although RATM album cover of the guy on fire does look really cool, what’s even cooler is it’s a Buddhist monk in Saigon in 1963 who set himself on fire to protest the persecution of Buddhists in South Vietnam. Very bad ass and upon knowing that it was done in a protest by a political activist, it even more embodies what the band is all about

You should watch the live performance at 99 Woodstock of this some. Zack adds a lot to it!!

I get so stoked whenever a new robtv vid drops. That being said, my man needs to check out Forward by Anaal Nathrakh. 🤘

It's funny u say it sounds like it's live because if I remember correctly when they recorded this 1st album they were all in the same room and pretty much laid the whole album down like that where they just played it out as opposed to everyone recording they're shit separately. God these guys were amazing!!

Also listen to a song from Robbie Robertson called 'Sacrifice' that features Leonard Peltier talking about his story from prison.

I actually watched a video a couple of weeks ago that goes over how the producer, Garth Richardson, recorded the first album for Rage. The content creator, AudioHaze, asked the producer how he recorded the album so he can try to emulate the same raw, live-like sound using modern methods and equipment. Super awesome stuff.

I've been waiting on this reaction, too!!

How you have not reacted to 'Renegades of Funk' by now, is sincerely mind-boggling! It would behoove you to react to the official music video; if you consider yourself a fan, that is.

The Whole album was recorded that way, all of them in one room with a live audience at Sound City in LA.

Hi Rob, I was around 20 when Rage Against The Machine came out. I’m in Australia btw and only just found your clip if you reacting to “Killing In The Name Of” & it was BRILLIANT to see your reaction which we ALL had when we first heard that song. It’s one of those “life changing” or “life affirming” songs. Every particle of it you feel in every cell of your body. Your reaction took me right back there! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 I thought you might like this short of Rage playing live on the TV in England on the very proper tv channel the BBC, back in the 90’s. Somewhat reminiscent of when The Doors were asked to change the lyrics from Higher when they appeared live on an American tv show and Morrison ignored the directive. I think you’ll like this… ru-vid.comeo34LFFWNPQ?si=MKXABqsgvW7kXmVs

Ft. Leavenworth, less than an hour from here. The tic tac toe is also about forgetting your name while in prison and playing tic tac toe on the walls of the cells. Voice of the Voiceless is the story of Mumia Abu Jamal, a falsely imprisoned Black Panther in Philadelphia.

In the 90s bands would often record like a live performance then overdub the vocals to capture that live sound

Great reaction ❤

And this song hits me hard being indigenous

"Anger is a gift" tag for gen x in the 90s

It's a great song Rob the story behind it is ,and will always be relevant, thanks, he is locked up to this day.

Fun fact: When recording their first album, producer Rick Rubin wanted to capture the energy of their live performances, so he had them record while playing together.

If you want to dive deeper into AIM and this history, I highly recommend the book 'Where White Men Fear to Tread' by Russell Means. It's incredible and life-changing.

Rage painted themselves into a corner with their name. Their name restricts them to raging in every song. They handled it wonderfully.

"Use a pair of clubs to beat the spades" Damn

Love your videos, found em today and they brought a lot of the joy back from when I first started listening and decoding the lyrics bit by bit. Zach is the greatest lyricist of all time. I know the channel is about rock reactions but since you were unfamiliar with Zach you probably haven't heard his collaboration with KRS-One and the Last Emperor called CIA (Criminals In Action). It's not Rage levels of good, but you may enjoy hearing him rap in a more traditional sounding rap song. Also if you wanna see Tom Morello truly go off watch a live performance of the ghost of tom joad by Bruce Springsteen where he shows up as a special guest

They civilized freedom till no one is free, except for a rebel by coincidence you and me. Still one of my favorite rage against the machines songs ever. You can even blaze this up around the 2024 election.

Yo rob the full album was recorded as a live performance to capture the energy .. very little retaking 💜

Classic album, every track is fire. Another laxxed back track is Pantera: 'We'll meet again' (Remastered)

Rage is one of my all time favorite bands, so I don't want my next comment to take away from that... But this guys brain will melt if he does a react to TOOL. @RobTV please check them out on your next wave. :)

i believe the album evil empire was recorded live, all members in 1 large room.

Imo every song on their first album is a banger. You should definitely listen to all of them but maybe first check out "Settle For Nothing" as it is quite unique and I think you would really enjoy "Township Rebellion"

Want a different Rage vibe…. Check out Renegades of Funk!!!

Township Rebellion is a fun one, got a real funky beat in the verses

If you haven’t yet, you should check out their cover of pistol grip pump. Omgggggg 🔥

AIM(American Indian Movement) worked with , and was supported by the Black Panthers, the Black Panthers reported on them in their newspaper, and the government FBI attacked them the same because they were fighting against the white supremacy and assimilation mindset, with Native kids had been taken away from their families and put into boarding schools usually ran by the Catholic Church that tried to kill the Native culture and was rampant with physical and sexual abuse and murder which is finally being discovered with the discovery of mass burials of Native children at formal boarding schools in the US and Canada

Please do ''Wake Up'' by Rage against the machine

Tom Morello plays his guitar like it’s a turntable and makes you think he’s actually scratching

"Take the power back"

@RobTV I hope you go back and watch the video and focus on the text. That scrolls across the bottom of the screen. It’s hard to read and goes by fast, but it gives more context to the big text screens.

One of the first songs I learned on guitar. Still bangs.