Zach de la Rocha. Tom Morello. Tim Commerford. Brad Wilk. Rage Against The Machine. One of the most influential bands of the 90’s-00’s alternative music scene. This group of musicians produced some of the best protest jams of all time. As time went on RATM would release 4 albums before taking hiatus’ and retiring in early 2024. This talented group of musicians always kept themselves busy though, so let’s look at some of their well known and not so well known side projects.
SOME YOU KNOW
Audioslave
Audioslave is by far the most popular and successful group to be formed with former members of Rage Against The Machine. It’s hard to imagine a group not being successful with someone like Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell at lead singer. Lasting from 2001-2007 releasing 3 albums, earning 3 Grammy nominations and producing 11 hits Audioslave proved to be one of the most successful supergroups in recent memory. Cornell’s melancholy vocals over Morello’s screeching guitars proved to be a perfect match that damn near matches the chemistry Wilk, Commerford and Morello had with Zach de la Rocha in RATM. Audioslave became the first American band to play an open air concert in Cuba. The performance is captured in a live DVD that I can not recommend enough. Cornell disbanded Audioslave in 2007 due to musical differences. Fans rallied for a reunion years after and Audioslave reunited to play the Prophets of Rage’s Anti-Inaugural Ball in 2017. Sadly Chris Cornell passed away later that year nixing any chance of full Audioslave reunion.
CPG’s Favorite Tracks: “Show Me How To Live” “Dandelion” “Broken City”
Prophets of Rage
Another supergroup, Prophets of Rage consists of members from Rage Against the Machine, Cypress Hill and Public Enemy. A protest band from the very beginning, Prophets of Rage declared open season on the 2016 Election year. The band’s live performances were often protests of various social and political issues across the United States. While not as fine tuned as other RATM adjacent projects Prophets of Rage were able to write ten songs in two weeks and record demos in 3 months. Their first, and only album received mixed reviews and the group disbanded in 2019 with the announcement of Rage Against The Machine’s reunion.
CPG’s Favorite Tracks: None, he doesn’t care for Prophets of Rage.
The Nightwatchman
Tom Morello’s solo project The Nightwatchman debuted in 2003. His first self-titled album was entirely acoustic further showing Morello’s skill as a guitarist. Inspired by Bruce Springsteen, Morello created the Nightwatchman persona due to his desire to return to more politically charged music and social activism. The Nightwatchman has released three albums and produced a few minor hits. If you’re a fan of Springsteen, Bob Dylan and other rock and folk singers, the Nightwatchman is Morello’s ode to those able to tell larger than life tales through their music. While he doesn’t always stick the landing and some of this lyrics can be considered borderline parody there is some good music to listen to in the Nightwatchmen’s catalog. Tom Morello still performs as The Nightwatchman today.
CPG’s Favorite Tracks: “Until The End” “Whatever It Takes” “Speak and Make Lightning”
SOME YOU DON’T
Street Sweeper Social Club
Formed in 2006, Street Sweeper Social Club is the product of a collaboration between RATM’s Tom Morello and The Coup’s Boots Reilly. SSSC hit the ground running with their debut “100 Little Curses” and their self titled debut album. They supported the likes of Jane’s Addiction and Nine Inch Nails. Morello and Reilly have an uncanny chemistry that’s extremely close to how Morello’s guitar backs up Zach de la Rocha’s lyrics and delivery. SSSC’s musical delivery is bombastic and filled with all the usual Tom Morello guitar antics he’s famous for. Street Sweeper is by far one of the best kept secrets in the RATM’s spinoff catalog. Whether it’s original tracks like “Promenade” or covers of LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out” SSSC delivers the familiarity of RATM’s process but there’s something that Boots Reilly adds to the mix that makes Street Sweeper something special. Street Sweeper Social Club is now on hiatus as Morello and Reilly focus on other projects.
CPG’s Favorite Tracks: “Promenade” “The Oath” “Paper Planes” (MIA Cover) “The Squeeze”
One Day As A Lion
In 2008 and unlikely duo formed One Day As A Lion. Zach de la Rocha and former The Mars Volta drummer Jon Theodore collaborated on the project eventually adding The Locust keyboardist Joey Karam. With a relative simple sound de la Rocha looped a keyboard through a delay pedal to make the band’s backing beats compliment Theodore’s drumming. The project released their first single “Wild International” as well an accompanying EP in July of 2008 which picked up notable air time on Australian radio. Despite talks of a full length album nothing every materialized and after a few live performances and one-off appearances One Day As A Lion quietly dissolved in 2011.
CPG’s Favorite Tracks: THE WHOLE DAMN EP!
Wakrat
Rage Against The Machine bassist Tim Commerford formed Wakrat in 2015. Heavily influenced by punk and hardcore, Wakrat is by far the most different of all the RATM side projects. After playing their first show, which his bandmates in RATM and Audioslave came to support in 2015, Wakrat released their debut self-titled album in 2016. Wakrat is an odd bird. It is so different from any other project here sounding closer to Nine Inch Nails than anything Commerford has before been a part of. Commerford provides vocals as well as bass in the band. Wakrat is still an ongoing project but have not released any new material since their debut album. They’ve been a supporting act opening for many of Commerford’s other bands while on tour.
CPG’s Favorite Tracks: Still trying to figure this one out. It’s certainly unique.
