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Ever wonder how the music that shaped your youth continues to resonate even as your perspectives evolve? In this deeply personal exploration, I take you through my decades-long relationship with Rage Against the Machine—from my accidental first encounter at Lollapalooza '92 to rediscovering their power as an adult with different political views.
My journey with RATM mirrors how our connections to formative music evolve throughout life. I share how I initially misunderstood their message, thinking they might be far-right based on their visual aesthetic, until their "Freedom" video opened my eyes. Their rhythm section—Brad Wilk's powerful drums and Tim Commerford's innovative bass lines—became the heartbeat of my musical development, influencing my own attempts at playing both instruments.
The musical tattoos running down my arm tell this story visually—each band representing chapters of my life and versions of myself. From Queen and Def Leppard to Alice in Chains and Rage, these permanent reminders showcase how music becomes intertwined with our identities. When I recently revisited Rage's catalog after years away, I was stunned to find myself rapping along to every word while my children stared in bewilderment, witnessing a dimension of their father they rarely see.
This episode examines the bittersweet experience of loving music whose politics you may have outgrown, finding the core elements that still resonate, and appreciating the educational impact bands like Rage had on expanding vocabularies and worldviews. What bands formed your musical DNA? How do you reconcile changing perspectives with the music that made you who you are? Join the conversation and share your own musical journey.

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