Why isn't RAGE touring in the United States this year?

"FUCK YOU I WON'T DO WHAT YOU TELL ME!"

Ahh, the great lyrics from the song Killing In The Name screamed by Rage Against the Machine frontman Zach De La Rocha.

I sing this song so much in my head that I should have a bumper sticker emblazoned on my car. Hell, I should get a tattoo or even a bracelet with the letters FYIWDWYTM. Take that Lance Armstrong.

I've had the privilege of seeing Rage Against the Machine waaaaaaay back in the 1993 as the opening band at Lollapalooza 3 in Columbus, Ohio. Since then, I've been mesmerized by Tom Morello's unorthodox guitar playing, Tim Commerford's bass, Brad Wilk's hostile drums combined with Rocha's angry political rants.

When they recently got back together last year for a couple benefit concerts to Fight the Power, myself (along with other fans) were curious...

"So, are they back together for good? And, if so, are they going to tour."

Well, in addition to their first concert as a reunited band at Coachella Valley Music Festival on January 2007 and a couple other tours last year under the moniker Rock the Bells with Wu-Tang Clan and Cypress Hill, they toured. But, not much.

Then, late last year, they announced tour dates overseas in New Zealand, Belgium, Germany, and Scotland among others. In fact, according to their Web site, Rage's schedule is booked all the way until July 13 when they perform in Ireland.

Which leads me to my question: Why isn't Rage Against The Machine touring in the United States during one of the most important elections of our time?

We've got McCain, who's vowing not to leave Iraq for 100 years. We've got the possibility of a first-ever black president elected to office. Not to mention a female presidential candidate. We've got a shitty economy, our politicians are fucking us over right and left (including prostitutes I might add).

Simply put, we've got a dark political cloud hanging over our country and the country's most political band out there right now is touring in Antwerp, Belgium?

Belgium?

C'mon guys. We need your angst in America.

According to a brief article I found on Chicago Tribune's website, it's rumored that Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Wilco and Rage will headline this year's Lollapalooza held at Chicago's Grant Park on Aug. 1-3 (The official lineup will be announced April 7).

But, as far as possible American tour dates for this year are concerned, that's all I found.

Maybe I'm jumping the gun here. Maybe Rage Against the Machine already has a plan. Maybe they'll return to the United States in late summer and join together with other political-minded groups (perhaps the Beastie Boys?) for a fall tour to get people pissed off about our government, to get people to register to vote and celebrate the NeoCon's demise.

Or maybe they'll continue to tour overseas while our nation witnesses political history being made.

In an interview on Blabbermouth.net on May 1, 2007, Tom Morello said:

“I think that the one thing about the Rage catalog is that to me none of it feels dated. You know, it doesn't feel at all like a nostalgia show. It feels like these are songs that were born and bred to be played now.”

Hey Morello, 'to be played NOW' in America. Not 'to played NOW' in Belgium.

All I'm saying is, just like V for Vendetta we need to WAKE UP and smell the coffee Mr. Laruso! We need yo put a fist in the air in the land of hypocrisy. We need a little RAGE to get us motivated about the upcoming political election.

Now, where's that mosh pit?