Rage Against The Machine was formed in 1991 in Los Angeles, California, USA, by four musicians who had previously been active in other bands troughout the country. In 1992 they released a cassette with twelve songs on their own which sold more than 5000 copies through live shows and their fan club. In October of 1992 they did their first European tour supporting Suicidal Tendencies and in November their self-titled debut album was released through the major label Epic Records.
In March of 1993 the band began an American tour with House Of Pain. On the 18th of July they played the Lollapalooza III in Philadelphia and as a silent protest against censorship they stood naked on stage for 15 minutes without singing or playing a note. In September they headlined the sold-out Anti-Nazi league benefit at the Brixton Academy in London. Several American tours followed in late 1993.

In August of 1994 they were certified platinum for sales of one million copies. The album also certified platinum in Canada, UK, France, Belgium and Chile; double platinum in New Zealand; and gold in Germany, Denmark, Holland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Australia.

During these years and throughout the career the band took part in many benefit concerts. In April of 1996 their second album "Evil Empire" is released on Epic Records. The next month it entered Billboard Top 200 Albums chart at #1. On the 16th of June RATM played the famous Tibetan Freedom Concert at Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, an even that lasts for two days and draws a sell-out crowd of more than 100 000 making it the largest US benefit concert since Live Aid in 1985. Other bands appearing were Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins, Fugees, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Yoko Ono.

The new album was yet again certified platinum in the US and several tours followed once again. In October of 1997 "Evil Empire" reached double platinum sales. On the 13th of December 1997 the band member Tom Morello was arrested during civil disobedience in a "March Of Conscience" against sweatshop labor. On the 12th of April 1999 the vocalist Zack de la Rocha speaks before a full session of the International Commission of Human Rights of the United Nations of the case of Mumia Abu-Jamal and the application of the death penalty in the United States. In 1999 the band played several major festivals all over the world.

On the 2nd of November in 1999 (on election day) the band released their third and final studio album "The battle of Los Angeles" through Epic Records. In the year 2000 Zach De La Rocha announced his departure from the band and RATM, one of the greatest metal bands in history, was no more. The three remaining members started jamming together with the former Soundgarden front man Chris Cornell but nothing seems to have come of it yet.

Taken from www.tartareandesire.com