Rage Against the Machine Cancel 2023 North American Tour Due to Zack de la Rocha's Injury

"It's not simply a question of being able to perform again, but extends to basic functionality going forward"

Photo: Ming Wu

BY Megan LaPierrePublished Oct 4, 2022

Rage Against the Machine have announced the cancellation of their 2023 North American tour dates, which were set to include Canadian stops in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg next March.

Bandleader Zack de la Rocha sustained an injury performing at the second show of the band's long-awaited reunion tour with Run the Jewels in Chicago this July. While he intrepidly continued to perform sitting down that night and for another month of their itinerary, RATM did have to cancel their European shows "per medical advice."

Rumours have swirled about the nature of de la Rocha's injury, and the musician has confirmed: he tore his left Achilles tendon, which attaches the calf muscle to the heel bone, leaving him with only eight percent of the connective tissue intact. It's a notoriously rough injury and occasionally requires surgery, and the vocalist says he's in need of a lot of "work and healing."

In a statement shared on social media, de la Rocha wrote:

It's been almost three months since Chicago, and Is till look down at my leg in disbelief. Two years of waiting through the pandemic, hoping we would have an opening to be a band again and continue the work we started 30 some odd years ago. Rehearsing, training, reconciling, working our way back to form. Then one and a half shows into it and my tendon tears. Felt like a sick joke the universe played on me. As I write this I remind myself it's just bad circumstance. Just a fucked up moment.

Unfortunately it is a moment that requires a lot of work and healing. I have a severe tearing in my left Achilles tendon and only 8% of my tendon was left intact. And even that portion was severely compromised. It's not simply a question of being able to perform again, but extends to basic functionality going forward. That's why I've made the painful and difficult decision to cancel the remaining shows on our 2023 North American leg.

I hate cancelling shows. I hate disappointing our fans. You have all waited so patiently to see us and that is never lost on me. I never take that for granted. For you I have the ultimate gratitude and respect.

To my brothers Tim, Brad, and Tom; to EL P, Killer Mike, Trackstar and the whole RTJ crew; to everyone on our production team: techs, cooks, drivers, assistants, security squad, to anyone and everyone who made the shows thus far possible, all my love and respect. I hope to see you very soon.

Zack de la Rocha


See the post from RATM below.
 
 

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