Did Rage Against the Machine Play at Woodstock ’99?
The music festival Woodstock ’99, held on July 23-25, 1999, was marred by riots, fires, and other violent incidents. The event was billed as a 30th-anniversary celebration of the original Woodstock Festival, which took place in 1969. Rage Against the Machine, an American rock band, was one of the headlining acts at Woodstock ’99. In this article, we’ll explore the band’s performance at the festival and answer the question: Did Rage Against the Machine play at Woodstock ’99?
Rage Against the Machine’s Concert Setlist at Woodstock ’99
According to setlist.fm, a website that archives concert setlists, Rage Against the Machine performed on July 24, 1999, at the Woodstock ’99 festival. Their setlist consisted of:
- Testify
- Born of a Broken Man
- Guerrilla Radio
- Know Your Enemy
- Killing in the Name
- Bulls on Parade
- People of the Sun
- Down Rodeo
Reception and Fan Reaction
The band’s performance was met with enthusiasm from the crowd, who were eager to see one of the most popular acts of the era. Fans praised the band’s energy and intensity, with some even describing the performance as "electric."
Incidents and Rioting
However, things took a turn for the worse towards the end of the festival. As Limp Bizkit took the stage for their headlining set, the crowd grew restless and began to riot. According to eyewitness accounts, people were smashing into each other, and bottles and trash were being thrown. The situation escalated quickly, and the festival grounds were soon engulfed in chaos.
Was Rage Against the Machine Responsible for the Riots?
In the aftermath of the festival, many blamed Rage Against the Machine for sparking the rioting. Some fans had grown impatient, waiting for Limp Bizkit’s set to start, while others were disappointed by the band’s decision to shorten their set.
Woodstock ’99: A Festival Gone Wrong
Despite the controversy surrounding Rage Against the Machine’s performance, the band itself has not been directly implicated in the rioting. In an interview with Billboard, band member Tom Morello stated, "We had no idea what was happening. We didn’t instigate anything… We didn’t see any of the chaos until we left the stage."
Woodstock ’99: Lessons Learned
The Woodstock ’99 festival will forever be remembered as a cautionary tale about the dangers of excessive crowd control and poor security measures. Despite the rioting and destruction, Rage Against the Machine’s performance remains a high point in the festival’s history, and their setlist remains a testament to the power of music to bring people together.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Rage Against the Machine did indeed play at Woodstock ’99, and their performance was a highlight of the festival. While the event was marred by rioting and chaos, the band’s set was not directly responsible for the incidents. The festival itself was a commercial and reputational disaster, but the music and the memories made by the attendees will live on.
Timeline: Woodstock ’99
- July 23: The festival opens with performances by Everclear, Papa Roach, and Buckcherry
- July 24: Rage Against the Machine headlines the main stage, followed by Limp Bizkit and Red Hot Chili Peppers
- July 25: The festival concludes with performances by DMX, Ice Cube, and Deftones
Performers: Woodstock ’99
- Rage Against the Machine
- Limp Bizkit
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- DMX
- Ice Cube
- Deftones
- Everclear
- Papa Roach
- Buckcherry
*…and many more!
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