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Rage Against the Machine's lead singer Zach de la Rocha has left the band, declaring that all the other band members are now capitalist tools who are oppressing the masses. In an official statement he said he could "no longer work with capitalist pigs" and would now work "on my own projects, as well as wage a nonviolent campaign against my former bandmates until the group is dismantled." The statement continued: "I have been very disappointed with the amount of rage the band has been projecting and it would be hypocritical for me to continue working with men who are not as angry as I am."
It is unclear what the vocalist's specific complaints were, but he is reportedly disappointed that other members aren't as angry as he is. "Zach feels they have sold out," reveals a source. "He wants to quit selling albums and touring as he feels making money off music is an abandonment of their principles." Another friend of de la Rocha described an incident where the band stopped for dinner on a tour stop. "The guys wanted to get some food, and were going to head into McDonald's to get some salads.," he says. "Zach was appalled that anybody would eat there and threatened to quit right there."
It is also believed that de la Rocha was frustrated with bandmates' recent good manners in dealing with media, who he sees as one monopolistic greedy capitalist behemoth. The recent disruption of the MTV Movie Awards was a disappointment, in his view, because it did not actually prevent the show from continuing. Yet another source of tension, according to insiders, was the desire by certain elements within the group to start making songs with melodies.
De la Rocha assured his fans he would continue to be as personally irritating to as many as people as possible. He also urged them to place all their Rage records in a gigantic bonfire, and then throw all their money into the flames.
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