Rage Against the Machine and Mormonism

It has become a daily occurrence for me to notice at least one clean cut Mormon kid on the BYU-I campus wearing a Rage Against the Machine shirt. I have to admit, as a person who routinely wears his Rage shirt which was purchased in '99 after the release of Battle of Los Angeles, that it's comforting to know that other's enjoy their radically political rap-rock.

A brief history on Rage Against the Machine, they're known for their outspoken Chomsky loving rhetoric which flows through their heavy metal riffs; in fact, "the machine" is liberal double speak for "establishment." If you want to know what kind of band they are consider this, the official Rage Against the Machine website states that "following the 9/11 attacks, Clear Channel create[d] a list of 'songs with questionable lyrics.' RATM has the distinction of being the only band to have all its songs on the list."

Add that to the fact that 99% of Madison County voted for George W. Bush in 2004 and you have yourselves a culture erratic. Of course, it's not too odd to have political radicals, left or right wing, in the LDS church due to the neutrality stance in terms of politics. It's just a coincidence that the majority turn out to be right wing and/or constitutionalists.

Long story short, RATM if you want to play a show that will get you back in the spotlight fast come to Rexburg Idaho. You'll be playing in front of your fan base in a county where 99% of it's population see your political ideals as utter garbage. It's the perfect formula for the controversial show that will get you back on top.