Today, NME ran an article that revealed that guitarist John Frusciante has left the Red Hot Chili Peppers, which is a shame for me because Frusciante's playing was the principal reason
I listen to the Peppers. RHCP's best albums were marked by Frusciante's involvement, starting with their breakout Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Frusciante left the band after that and was replaced by Dave Navarro for the mediocre One Hot Minute. Frusciante rejoined the band in 1999 for Californication, the album that would solidify the Chili Pepper's popularity.
It seems to me that Frusciante's departure is a nail in the Chili Pepper's coffin. In 2006, RHCP released their last album, Stadium Arcadium (the band's most critically successful album), and then went on tour. Following the tour the band went on hiatus, starting in 2007. Drummer Chad Smith went to play with Sammy Hagar and Joe Satriani in the band Chickenfoot and bassist Flea did live shows with Thom Yorke. However, according to Chad Smith, the Chili Peppers have been in the studio since October so we'll see what becomes of the band. Frusciante is reportedly going to be replaced by friend and multi-instrumentalist Josh Klinghoffer.
So while the Red Hot Chili Peppers are seeing some potentially devastating changes, Rage Against the Machine is seeing a bit of a comeback, according to another article by NME. Today, Rage appeared live on Radio 5 in the UK, playing their song "Killing in the Name". The reason for their appearance is that a campaign has been started (via Facebook) to get "Killing in the Name" to the Christmas Number One slot on the UK Singles Chart in order to beat out the main contender, X Factor winner Joe McElderry's cover of Miley Cyrus' "The Climb".
The campaign started as a grassroots protest against the commercialization of the UK music industry, specifically in response to the fact that the Christmas Number One slot has been dominated for the last four years by the winners of the popular singing show, X Factor. The campaign has been getting results as the "Killing in the Name" leads "The Climb" by 36,681 copies.
While Simon Cowell has come out against the movement, defending Joe McElderry, it seems to me that Cowell is only protecting his interests. It seems laughable that he could truly care about a product of his pop singer fabrication machine. It also seems absolutely ludicrous that the single is a cover of a Miley Cyrus song that was released earlier this year. I mean, really? Is that the best the pop industry can do? Give us a rehash of a song we just heard? It's almost as if they're spitting in the public's face, as though Simon Cowell is sneering and daring the audience to refuse to buy his crap.
Though they did not have any part in organizing the movement, the members of Rage say they support the significance behind the campaign and are "honored" that their song was chosen. They have announced that the proceeds from the sales of their single will be donated to a charity called Shelter that aids the homeless.
Their appearance on the Radio 5 was made in support of the campaign and, in classic Rage style, caused controversy when, despite being asked to play an edited version of their song, decided to keep to the original. Yes, Zach de la Rocha screamed "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" on live radio. I would expect no less.
Following a series of reunion performances in 2007 and 2008, it seems that Rage is still relevant and active in one form or another. However, despite the possibility of future performances together, the band still says they have no intention of producing another album.
