The “elite task force of radical musicians” that makes up Prophets of Rage will be recording music together, according to a new interview with guitarist Tom Morello.
“We hope to do some recording and release music before we go out on tour” starting in mid-July, Morello told Wall Street Journal’s “Speakeasy” podcast. Right now, the band has one or two ideas percolating, including “The Party Is Over,” which they debuted at a May 31 club concert in Los Angeles.
The Rage Against the Machine ax man and human rights activist spoke about the future plans of the Prophets – his riotous project featuring Machine mates Tim Commerford (bass) and Brad Wilk (drums), Public Enemy’s Chuck D and DJ Lord, and Cypress Hill’s B-Real. The sextet recently announced the 35-date Make America Rage Again tour in response to presumptive Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s slogan “Make America Great Again.” The Republican National Convention in Cleveland is among POR’s show targets.
In addition to the fresh studio tracks, Prophets of Rage are performing “a playlist dream mash-up” of RATM, Cypress Hill, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys and other seminal songs, according to Morello.
This isn’t the first collaboration between members of Rage Against the Machine and the rap luminaries. Chuck D has performed with RATM on numerous occasions, and Morello has produced a number of Cypress Hill tracks. In the meantime, Rage Against the Machine front man Zack de la Rocha is sitting this project out to work on a long-awaited solo album.