.gif)
Rage Against the Machine (demo tape)
Encyclopedia
Rage Against the Machine is the original demo tape
by Los Angeles
rap metal band Rage Against the Machine
, released in December 1991. The 12-track tape was recorded at Sunbirth Studio in Los Angeles
, California
after drummer Brad Wilk
joined the band, but before they had played their first live show. When the band began performing live shows they sold the tape for $5, and sold around 5,000 copies. The band were signed to a record deal with Epic Records
on the strength of the demo's success shortly afterwards.
As well as being sold at early live shows, the demo tape was sent to a number of record companies to showcase the band. Atlantic Records
was sent one, and produced a number of copies which they sold under their name. The band later discovered this but decided not to take action. The Atlantic Records tape has a different cover to the one seen above, with a picture of a man with a distorted face and Rage Against the Machine with the lettering taken from different newspaper headlines.
, with only five songs being left out; "Darkness of Greed", "Clear the Lane", "Mindsets a Threat", "Autologic" and "Narrows". Two of these were eventually included as B-sides
, with the remaining three songs never seeing an official release. Some of the tracks on the demo are almost identical to the versions that appear in the debut album, whereas others have noticeable differences; the tempo of "Take the Power Back" on the demo for example is much slower and has a different final verse. The record was notable for the first appearance of the song "Bullet in the Head
" which became a hit when reissued as a single later in the year after being transferred intact (with re-recorded vocals for the verses only) from the demo to the album.
The track "Darkness of Greed" hails back to vocalist de la Rocha's previous band Inside Out that had broken up earlier the same year. Inside Out performed the track on many occasions, and several ROIOs exist of the performances. (Rage later re-recorded it for The Crow
soundtrack.) Another significant indicator of Inside Out's influence on Rage Against the Machine's initial direction is the name "Rage Against the Machine" was also the title of another Inside Out track.
The main riff from "The Narrows" would later be reused as the main riff for "Fistful of Steel" and parts of "Mindset's a Threat" would later become a part of "Wake Up" and are present in "Freedom" and in the solo on "Bullet in the Head". The main riff for "Clear the Lane" is nearly identical to that used on their 2000 cover of The Rolling Stones
"Street Fighting Man".
"Darkness" and "Clear the Lane" were both digitally remastered and included as b-sides on the "Killing in the Name" single and have both been reissued on singles and promos many times since.
The artwork features images from a newspaper's stockmarket section with a single match taped to the inlay card. The statement "no samples, keyboards or synthesizers used in the making of this record" can be found on the cover, and the band also refer to themselves as "Guilty Parties" as they did in each subsequent original studio album.
The songs on the demo were as follows:
Both catalog numbers are etched into both sides, RELAPSE-3 L-41056 appears as RELAPSE-3 L-41056-X on the B-side. A xeroxed
paper insert shows the band name and a portion of the debut CD's front cover and back has track titles and newspaper clips just like the demo tape. Some copies have the bands name in all capitals stamped on the white label.
This is apparently a Japanese fan club pressing.
The versions of the B-sides are, in fact, the original rough demo productions and not the remastered versions that previously appeared on the "Killing in the Name" single.
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
by Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
rap metal band Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
, released in December 1991. The 12-track tape was recorded at Sunbirth Studio in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
after drummer Brad Wilk
Brad Wilk
Brad Wilk is an American musician, best known as the drummer of the American rock bands Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave.-Family and early life:...
joined the band, but before they had played their first live show. When the band began performing live shows they sold the tape for $5, and sold around 5,000 copies. The band were signed to a record deal with Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
on the strength of the demo's success shortly afterwards.
As well as being sold at early live shows, the demo tape was sent to a number of record companies to showcase the band. Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
was sent one, and produced a number of copies which they sold under their name. The band later discovered this but decided not to take action. The Atlantic Records tape has a different cover to the one seen above, with a picture of a man with a distorted face and Rage Against the Machine with the lettering taken from different newspaper headlines.
Tracks
Most of the songs on the demo tape were included on the band's eponymous debut albumRage Against the Machine (album)
Rage Against the Machine is the debut studio album by rap metal band Rage Against the Machine. The album was released on November 10, 1992...
, with only five songs being left out; "Darkness of Greed", "Clear the Lane", "Mindsets a Threat", "Autologic" and "Narrows". Two of these were eventually included as B-sides
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
, with the remaining three songs never seeing an official release. Some of the tracks on the demo are almost identical to the versions that appear in the debut album, whereas others have noticeable differences; the tempo of "Take the Power Back" on the demo for example is much slower and has a different final verse. The record was notable for the first appearance of the song "Bullet in the Head
Bullet in the Head (song)
"Bullet in the Head" was a single released by political rap metal band Rage Against the Machine from their debut album in 1992. A fan favourite and one of the album's heaviest tracks, "Bullet in the Head" refers to the band's belief that the government uses media to control the population, drawing...
" which became a hit when reissued as a single later in the year after being transferred intact (with re-recorded vocals for the verses only) from the demo to the album.
The track "Darkness of Greed" hails back to vocalist de la Rocha's previous band Inside Out that had broken up earlier the same year. Inside Out performed the track on many occasions, and several ROIOs exist of the performances. (Rage later re-recorded it for The Crow
The Crow (film)
The Crow is a 1994 American action film based on the 1989 comic book of the same name by James O'Barr. The film was written by David J. Schow and John Shirley, and directed by Alex Proyas...
soundtrack.) Another significant indicator of Inside Out's influence on Rage Against the Machine's initial direction is the name "Rage Against the Machine" was also the title of another Inside Out track.
The main riff from "The Narrows" would later be reused as the main riff for "Fistful of Steel" and parts of "Mindset's a Threat" would later become a part of "Wake Up" and are present in "Freedom" and in the solo on "Bullet in the Head". The main riff for "Clear the Lane" is nearly identical to that used on their 2000 cover of The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
"Street Fighting Man".
"Darkness" and "Clear the Lane" were both digitally remastered and included as b-sides on the "Killing in the Name" single and have both been reissued on singles and promos many times since.
The artwork features images from a newspaper's stockmarket section with a single match taped to the inlay card. The statement "no samples, keyboards or synthesizers used in the making of this record" can be found on the cover, and the band also refer to themselves as "Guilty Parties" as they did in each subsequent original studio album.
Track listing
- "BombtrackBombtrack (song)"Bombtrack" is the song by Rage Against the Machine that opens their self-titled debut album. Like most of Rage Against the Machine's songs, the song's lyrics discuss social inequality, proclaiming that "landlords and power whores" were going to "burn"...
"–4:14 - "Take the Power Back"–5:52
- "Bullet in the HeadBullet in the Head (song)"Bullet in the Head" was a single released by political rap metal band Rage Against the Machine from their debut album in 1992. A fan favourite and one of the album's heaviest tracks, "Bullet in the Head" refers to the band's belief that the government uses media to control the population, drawing...
"–5:17 - "Darkness of Greed"–3:45
- "Clear the Lane"–3:54
- "Township Rebellion"–4:28
- "Know Your Enemy"–4:22
- "Mindset's a Threat"–4:03
- "Killing in the NameKilling in the Name"Killing in the Name" is a song by American rap metal band Rage Against the Machine, featured on their self-titled debut album, and was released as the lead single from the album in November 1992...
"–6:38 - "The Narrows"–4:39
- "Autologic"–4:07
- "FreedomFreedom (Rage Against the Machine song)"Freedom" was a single released by Rage Against the Machine from their self-titled album in 1994.The song is played in Drop D tuning on the guitars and has a distinctive riff in the intro and chorus...
"–5:44
Personnel
- Zack de la RochaZack de la RochaZacarías Manuel "Zack" de la Rocha is an American rapper, musician, poet, and activist best known as the vocalist and lyricist of Rage Against the Machine.-Early life and childhood:...
– vocals - Tom MorelloTom MorelloThomas Baptiste "Tom" Morello is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist best known for his tenure with the bands Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, his acoustic solo act The Nightwatchman, and his newest group, Street Sweeper Social Club...
– guitar - Tim CommerfordTim CommerfordTimothy Robert Commerford , also known by his various monikers/stage names is the bassist/backing vocalist for American alternative metal band Rage Against The Machine and the now-defunct supergroup Audioslave.-Biography:Tim Commerford was born on February...
– bass (listed as Timmy C.) - Brad WilkBrad WilkBrad Wilk is an American musician, best known as the drummer of the American rock bands Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave.-Family and early life:...
– drums - Rage Against the Machine – production
- Auburn Burell – recording engineer
7" EP
Sometime after their debut CD was released, an unofficial white label 33 RPM 7" vinyl was produced simply titled Rage Against the Machine. It featured 3 tracks from the demo tape.Both catalog numbers are etched into both sides, RELAPSE-3 L-41056 appears as RELAPSE-3 L-41056-X on the B-side. A xeroxed
Photocopier
A photocopier is a machine that makes paper copies of documents and other visual images quickly and cheaply. Most current photocopiers use a technology called xerography, a dry process using heat...
paper insert shows the band name and a portion of the debut CD's front cover and back has track titles and newspaper clips just like the demo tape. Some copies have the bands name in all capitals stamped on the white label.
This is apparently a Japanese fan club pressing.
The versions of the B-sides are, in fact, the original rough demo productions and not the remastered versions that previously appeared on the "Killing in the Name" single.
Track listing
- A "Mindset's a Threat" - 3:59
- B1 "Darkness of Greed" - 3:42
- B2 "Clear the Lane" - 3:50