Prophets Of Rage: Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk, Chuck D, B-Real and DJ Lord will release their self-titled, debut album September 15th, 2017 on Fantasy Records. The album’s bold cover art was designed by iconic street artist Shepard Fairey.
Today, the groundbreaking musicians shared the LP’s politically charged lead track “Unfuck The World,” with a blistering Michael Moore directed video via VEVO (see below). “I am thrilled to once again be working with my old friends and comrades in the struggle for a just world,” said Moore.” “Prophets Of Rage is the right band, saying the right shit, at this very critical moment. This music video is our collective battle cry against those who seek to harm the innocent and the powerless. I am proud to have directed this video and I ask all who see it do their part to unfuck this world. ALL HANDS ON DECK!” Watch the video below
Prophets Of Rage came together during 2016’s tumultuous election to combat the coming storm, wherever it may lead. Fresh off the road and riled up following last summer’s highly successful MAKE AMERICA RAGE AGAIN tour, the group knew it could evolve from protest performance art with a tactical mission, to astand-alone entity with creative ideas all its own. Holed up with longtime Rage collaborator, producer Brendan O’Brien, the band fused the diverse styles, sonic firepower and hard-hitting social consciousness of their previous work, into an inventive and compelling new musical statement, completing the album’s twelve tracks in just over a month of recording. Prophets Of Rage quickly became as much a shared experience between its members as it was a call-to-action for the world at large.
The sessions created a new space for growth and progression, whether with the incorporation of DJ Lord’s turntablist elements or B-Real tackling broader subjects, such as homelessness on the song “Living On The 110.” “When we first got together, we were playing songs from our catalogue, but we were also playing new grooves, with everyone improvising. And that felt really good,” Wilk remembers. “Soon there was a language that all of us speak.” “We went on tour and got good as a band,” Commerford added. “We’re making music in the way that bands made music back in the day.”
At its core, Prophets Of Rage functions not only on a love of music, but a deep belief in its power as a tool, and a weapon. “There were rhythms before there were words,” Morello observes. “Music has both the ability to reflect and transform the times. There’s a long history of that, from slave spirituals, to ‘We Shall Overcome,’ to the Sex Pistols.” Woven into the bands DNA are influences as varied as The Clash, KRS-One, and Johnny Cash, as well as the undeniable ideals and aesthetics of its predecessors: Public Enemy’s frenzied, racing textures, Rage’s jaw-melting riffs, Cypress Hill’s manically playful party energy. “The music is the passport to the world,” Chuck D says, describing the unique bond the group shares. “It’s not always a given to have members who want to go where few have gone.”
As the band states clearly at the end of the thought provoking and compelling new video, “The world’s not going to change itself, that’s up to you.”
PROPHETS OF RAGE – ON TOUR:
June 3 Rock Im Park Festival – Nuremburg, Germany
June 4 Rock Am Ring Festival – Vulkaneifel, Germany
June 5 Pinkpop Festival – Landgraaf, Holland
June 7 Zitadelle – Berlin, Germany
June 9 Download Festival – Donington Park, United Kingdom
June 11 Download Festival – Paris, France
June 13 O2 Academy Brixton – London, United Kingdom
June 15 Festi’neuch Festival – Neuchatel, Switzerland
June 16 Nova Rock Festival – Nickelsdorf, Austria
June 18 Hellfest Festival – Clisson, France
June 20 Rockhal – Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg
June 22 Copenhell – Copenhagen, Denmark
June 24 Download Festival – Copenhagen, Denmark
June 25 Firenze Rocks – Florence, Italy
June 26 Zagreb Rockfest-SRC Salata – Zagreb, Croatia
June 29 Rock Werchter Festival – Werchter, Belgium
June 30 Open’er Festival – Gdynia, Poland
July 1 Bravalla Festival – Norrkoping, Sweden
Sept 15-17 Riot Fest – Douglas Park, Chicago, IL
Oct. 1 Louder Than Life – Louisville, KY
PROPHETS OF RAGE – ON TOUR:
June 3 Rock Im Park Festival – Nuremburg, Germany
June 4 Rock Am Ring Festival – Vulkaneifel, Germany
June 5 Pinkpop Festival – Landgraaf, Holland
June 7 Zitadelle – Berlin, Germany
June 9 Download Festival – Donington Park, United Kingdom
June 11 Download Festival – Paris, France
June 13 O2 Academy Brixton – London, United Kingdom
June 15 Festi’neuch Festival – Neuchatel, Switzerland
June 16 Nova Rock Festival – Nickelsdorf, Austria
June 18 Hellfest Festival – Clisson, France
June 20 Rockhal – Esch/Alzette, Luxembourg
June 22 Copenhell – Copenhagen, Denmark
June 24 Download Festival – Copenhagen, Denmark
June 25 Firenze Rocks – Florence, Italy
June 26 Zagreb Rockfest-SRC Salata – Zagreb, Croatia
June 29 Rock Werchter Festival – Werchter, Belgium
June 30 Open’er Festival – Gdynia, Poland
July 1 Bravalla Festival – Norrkoping, Sweden
Sept 15-17 Riot Fest – Douglas Park, Chicago, IL
Oct. 1 Louder Than Life – Louisville, KY
Photo by Travis Shinn
