Rage....

[Kev]

ok sorry if this is just a repeat of an old question (i'm very new) but...
do you guys think that RATM have just ripped Che Guevara (and other icons) for their own profit? as good a band as they are/were, and i know they've brought the idea of him to a new generation in a way, but now kids think he's just some guy Rage made famous...which really pisses me off.
i mean, does anyone actually believe that any part of Rages income (or SOAD's, for that matter) goes towards institiutions Che would have supported?

[Fires of History]

Kev,

Welcome. I appreciate your critical thinking, your cynicism. However, my stance on Rage has always been the same.

I have found with my friends in 'real' life that this analogy works somewhat, or at least causes a better conversation about Rage in a more realistic context. And it has to do with one of Rage's most successful soundtracks, The Matrix.

Everyone in the Matrix, human at least, hates the Matrix. It's practices, policies, and police. However, what choice do they have? How are they to fight the Matrix outside of the Matrix? Was Neo a hypocrite for using the Matrix?

And, while this is a loose analogy, the point to me is the same. Each of us are stuck in whatever system we were born into, just like the characters on the Matrix, and it doesn't really say anything that people would use the system against itself.

Just as each of us, in different parts of the world, faces government that we can't just wish away. We live in a capitali$tic system that we can't just wish away either. And there is no other alternative, it's not like Rage could have released their albums in only deserving non-capitali$tic countries, nor would they really want to.

I agree that making big bucks off albums is a little questionable from a band apparently 'rebelling.' However, Zach, at least, has done his damn level best to stay moving in the activist scene. I have also heard that he didn't keep near all his royalties and has used his money to help issues, causes, others, etc (anyone know more about this?).

Regardless, Rage is what Rage is. A band. I would rather they just put their album out, even in such a profit driven industry, than not release anything at all.

And, if there is one thing I know for sure, it is that many of the younger people I know in 'real' life have been turned on to politics in a way that no other band could have even hoped to ignite.

Just my opinion though, and, yes, maybe it's an ends justify the means argument, but what other choice does Rage, and us, have?

Cheers Kev :)

[deadpool 52]

That deserves to be saved.