Unfortunately, due to frontman Zack De La Rocha‘s torn Achilles tendon, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE have been forced to cancel the 2023 leg of their North American tour.
De La Rocha‘s injury happened during RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE‘s July 11 concert in Chicago. The incident occurred during the fourth song of the second show on the group’s long-delayed “Public Service Announcement” reunion tour. For the remainder of the trek, Zack performed while seated and the shows went off without a hitch, even though stagehands had to carry the vocalist on and off the stage every night.
Zack issued the following statement via social media: “It’s been almost three months since Chicago, and I still 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 f*cked up moment. Unfortunately it is a moment that requires a lot of work and healing.
“I have a severe tear 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.”
