Rage Against The Machine cause rage at Leeds

United Kingdom | | 24 August 2008

Rage Against The Machine received a riotous reception as they headlined the second day at Leeds Festival (Saturday).

The band's first visit to Leeds since their recent reformation saw their politico-rock cause the first serious crush at the main stage barrier this year.

Frontman Zack de la Rocha appealed for calm, as the band stopped halfway through second song 'Bombtrack' while the crowd moved back.

The last time RATM visited Leeds Festival was in 2000, but classic tracks such as 'Bullet In Your Head' and 'Killing In The Name Of' still resonated with the Leeds crowd.

De la Rocha also changed the lyrics to 'Killing In The Name Of' to read "some of those who hold office/ Are the ones who burn crosses".

Political activism was alive across the rest of the Main Stage line-up earlier in the day. Anti-Flag advised one fan member to burn his Visa Mastercard flag during RATM's set.

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly's laidback stylings were backed by a banner that compared the price of coffee to a plantation worker's wage, while Serj Tankian followed up 'Praise To God, Pass The Ammunition' by bringing together the holders of an Israeli flag and the holders of a Lebanese flag in the centre of the crowd, in a poignant display of unity.

However, the highlights of the late afternoon fare came in the mass singalaongs that greeted The Enemy's 'Away From Here' and The Fratelli's anthem 'Chelsea Dagger'.