Rage Against The Machine bassist Tim Commerford has opened up about his battle against prostate cancer, and discussing the band's current status after drummer Brad Wilk announced in January that they would "not be touring or playing live again".
In an expansive new interview with Rolling Stone, Commerford discusses his new group 7D7D, personal health battles, politics and what the hell is going on with RATM - admitting he's not entirely sure.
“I don’t get involved in that," he says. "I’m the bass player. I just wait for someone to tell me what to do. Brad said what he said, but he’s one step above me. He’s in the number three spot. I am the low man on the totem pole. That’s all I can tell you. I’m the bass player. The bass players always are the last people to find out about shit like that.”
In 2020, Rage Against The Machine announced their planned comeback, to have included their first world tour in 20 years.
Delayed due to the pandemic, the band finally returned to the stage in July 2022, but were forced to cancel planned European and UK shows - including headline performances at Reading and Leeds festivals - in August that year after vocalist Zack de la Rocha ruptured his achilles tendon. The band's remaining US dates, rescheduled for 2023, were also cancelled in October 2022. Discussing the decision to cancel the shows, Commerford admits there were other health issues at play, including his own prostate cancer diagnosis that saw him undergo treatment before the tour, and struggle psychologically when the band were on stage.
