2022 concert tour by Rage Against the Machine
Public Service Announcement Tour|
 Promotional poster for the tour |
| Location | North America |
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| Start date | July 9, 2022 |
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| End date | August 14, 2022 |
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| Legs | 1 (2 cancelled) |
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| No. of shows | 19 (38 cancelled) |
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- Reunion Tour
(2007–2011)
- Public Service Announcement Tour
(2022)
- N/A
|
The Public Service Announcement Tour was a reunion tour by American rock band Rage Against the Machine, which began on July 9, 2022, at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin, and concluded early on August 14, 2022, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This tour marked the band's first live appearances in eleven years, and their first full-length tour in 22 years, after they completed the accompanying tour for its third album The Battle of Los Angeles.
The tour was originally scheduled to start in North America in March 2020, followed by a series of European festival appearances, but it was pushed back to the summer of 2021, then to 2022 and again to 2023, due to the COVID-19 pandemic before many of the dates were cancelled.[1][2] It was announced by drummer Brad Wilk in January 2024 that there would be no more live activities under the Rage Against the Machine name, making the Public Service Announcement their final tour.[3][4]
Background
On November 1, 2019, it was reported that Rage Against the Machine were reuniting for their first shows in nine years in the spring of 2020, including two appearances at that year's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.[5][6][7]
On February 10, 2020, the band announced the dates and venues for their 2020 world tour.[8] The tour was going to begin with a North American leg in March, but it was repeatedly postponed, first to July and then to June 2021, due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]
On May 1, 2020, Rage Against the Machine announced on its official website that, due to circumstances influenced by the ongoing pandemic, all the tour dates that were scheduled to take place that year had been postponed to 2021:
Rage Against The Machine will commence our tour at such a time when we are confident it will be safe for our fans. The rerouted dates (heath and safety permitting) are below and YOUR TICKETS WILL BE HONORED for the postponed shows. During this difficult time we also respect the fans who want their ticket money back. We've requested and confirmed that, as of this weekend, ANYONE who wants a refund can begin the process at your point of purchase. We sincerely hope that each one of you and your families and friends stay safe and well and that music is bringing you solace and inspiration. We look forward to seeing you.[9]
Initially, however, the band was still scheduled to perform at 2020's Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which had been pushed back from April to October before it was officially canceled for similar reasons as the tour postponement.[1][10]
On April 8, 2021, it was announced that the "Public Service Announcement" Tour had once again been rescheduled to the spring and summer of 2022.[2]
On July 11, during the tour's second show in Chicago, De la Rocha injured his leg during the fourth song of the evening. He performed the rest of the show sitting on a speaker, and remained seated for all subsequent North American performances, being assisted on and off stage. On August 11, it was announced that the European leg of the tour had been cancelled, as De la Rocha had been advised to rest as to allow for proper healing. Then almost two months later on October 4, via a statement on the band's official Instagram account, De La Rocha announced they had made the difficult decision to cancel all remaining stops on the tour, including the 2023 North American leg, due to the severity of his injury.[11]
On January 3, 2024, drummer Brad Wilk announced that there would be no more live activities (including a tour) as Rage Against the Machine, making the Public Service Announcement tour their last live outing.[3][4]
