Rage Against The Machine's Rage Factor

The day of this highly anticipated show is upon us, as RATM are playing a victory show in London for fans who helped them reach Number 1 at Christmas 2009. The delight at people uniting and buying more than 50,000 copies of their hit 'Killing In The Name' and pushing yet another of Simon Cowell's pop tragedies out of the way for the title was a stand for all those sick of manufactured pop. Yes we are not saving the world, but as Rage say, "We have to start somewhere..." and what better place than our ears.

The show, as you may know, was announced after this victory against the high panted one, and was a lottery / registered affair, like if Glastonbury and Live Aid had a ticket sale baby together. I managed to get a ticket and have been looking forward to this day for a long time. Having bought the single four times and donating to the charity Shelter also I thought I had also 'paid' somewhat for my ticket, I just hope many if not all of the people at the show had at least bought the song and fought the cause...

Upon arrival many people are drinking their own booze outside the gate, some may have tickets, the others may just want to hear the show from beyond the walls. The police are everywhere, more so than at any festival. We miss a little of the Gallows but catch a cover of the Clash's 'I Fought the Law' and 'Orchestra Of Wolves' punk in the sunshine...

Roots Manuva was never really a band I was bothered about seeing, so I heard their sounds of hip hop, dub and electronica from several mass queues including the bar, toilets and T shirt stand. Thanks god I had already eaten or that would have taken even longer. The amount of toilets is ridiculous, not enough at all, there were just one set, although the amount of food stalls was ridiculous too, but on the other side of the scale. I know it's a free event, but the people that have to come on Monday afternoon to have a nice picnic or whatever may be sitting in the remnants of a fresh river, what with all the peeing men (and desperate women) going along the fence. Nice. I know Rage are political, but if they are in any way environmental and have a knowledge of Britain's binge drinking culture they should have know that we need more loos, or a urinal at least.

The line up is a great mix of punk, rap and gypsy punk, just right to get the crowd going for the main band. Gogol Bordello are a lively band to watch, and the number of people in the band just seems to grow and grow! Main man Eugene Hutz is non-stop from start to finish. One band member surfs the crowd on the bands big drum whilst still performing… insane.

The bit of rain is trying to dampen spirits but everyone is so excited now it's ridiculous. A few desperate bodies are appearing to climb over the fence near the toilets, not patrolled by security (the men peeing have a bit of a surprise!). I was kicked by one but the look of excitement on his face made me forgive him straight away! Then just before the band start around 2 to 3 hundred people break down the fence near the stage and charge to into the crowd, finally in the event after waiting patiently outside. There were more than 40,000 here to start with, so the face in ticket system doesn't work if the people checking the tickets don't check your face (which they weren't)!

After a little wait a cartoon depicting Simon Cowell pops up and takes the piss out of the pop mogul, saying his boy lost and showing him surrounded by piles of money and wearing no trousers. Rage Against The Machine take to the stage and blow it to bits. 'Testify' sees the crowd that was a little sleepy looking throughout the day suddenly mosh in unison to the band that provided Santa's soundtrack last year. After this it's hit after hit (though it may be me but some of the songs like 'Know Your Enemy' sound a little bit slower in pace than what I remember). A cover of The Clash's 'White Riot' (a popular band choice to cover today) was astounding; one of my highlights.

Zach De La Roche is beaming from ear to ear, and the whole band really love the atmosphere. He urges us to rise up against the Gaza flotilla attack as a prelude to 'Township Rebellion'. Halfway though the set the band bring out Jon and Tracy Morter, the couple who started the facebook campaign that stared all this off. The band hand a huge check to them for the homeless charity Shelter (they are donating 100% of their proceeds today to the charity). If they hadn't done this clever campaign maybe another song would have toppled he X Factor, but Rage go about it eh right way, putting on this show and donating their time. As they leave and return to play the 'Christmas single' (18 years old this year!) the chant from front all the way to the back of "Fuck You I Won't Do What You Tell Me!" reminds us that this was the perfect song for the job.

My only complaint is that the set finishes a little early, and runs at an hour and 10 minutes. I'm looking forward to their set at Download Festival next week, but I have a niggling feeling they did this show as a warm up to the festival, and it was probably organised around the same time last year as the European festivals were getting sorted, so they didn't travel here just to celebrate… but the main thing when people say this and put these niggles in my head is that it's a free show, off their own back. And a blinder it was too. How many massive bands do that ay? Thanks to RATM!!!

Setlist:
Testify
Bombtrack
People Of The Sun
Know Your Enemy
Bulls On Parade
Township Rebellion
Bullet In The Head
White Riot
Guerrilla Radio
Sleep Now In The Fire
Freedom

Killing In The Name

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