Rage Against The Machine surprised a lot of people when they reformed for Coachella 2007. The band was reported to have been payed over $1 million for reforming and playing. After that reunion was successful, (Coachella drew around 100,000 the day Rage played) the band have been consistently playing only high-profile and high-paying festivals. They have not mounted a proper tour of their own or played any headlining shows.

The band has a whole slew of European festivals coming up, including the huge Reading and Leeds festivals in the UK and Lollapalooza in Chicago. Lately, there have been rumors of the band possibly going into the studio to write and record a new album. So far, most of that speculation has been internet rumors on message boards and blogs (like this one), but from the looks of things I’d most likely say they are untrue. Here’s why I don’t think we’ll hear new Tom Morello Whammy pedal guitar parts anytime soon…

The fact that the band hasn’t mounted their own tour and has chosen to only play festivals shows that they’re more into the idea of the money they can make, more than creating new music and/or making a statement. I don’t even know if any of the bands fans still buy into all of their political stuff, but it seems fairly obvious to me the band really doesn’t care about this all that much anymore (besides maybe Tom Morello).

Just from what I’ve seen and heard it doesn’t seem like fans will be getting a new Rage album anytime soon. The band’s tour dates are as follows…

• 30 May - ELECTRIC WEEKEND - Getafe (Madrid)
• 1 June - PINKPOP 2008
• 2 June - Antwerp, Belgium
• 4 June - Paris, France
• 6 June - Rock Am Ring Festival
• 7 June - Rock Im Park Festival
• 10 June - ZITADELLE
• 12 June - Sweden - Hultsfred Festival
• 14 June - Italy - Modena Stadium
• 15 June - Nickelsdorf/Burgenland - NOVA ROCK
• 10 July - Optimus Alive!08 - Oeiras - Lisbon
• 12 July - Scottland - T in the Park
• 13 July - Ireland - OXEGEN
• 1-3 August - Lollapalooza 2008 - Chicago, IL
• 20 August - France - Rock en Seine
• 22 August - England - Reading Festival
• 23 August - England - Leeds Festival

So I haven’t posted in a few days. Some interesting news has been reported in the past couple days, namely this years annual Lollapalooza lineup. In case you haven’t heard, a few years ago Lollapalooza changed from a touring festival to an annual one held in Chicago’s Grant Park. It takes place from August 1-3 this year.

The lineup this year looks pretty good to me, and features a lot of alternative, guitar bands.  Here are a sampling of the bands playing this year that I’d like to see…

Radiohead, Rage Against The Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Wilco, The Raconteurs, Gnarls Barkley, Broken Social Scene, Cat Power, Explosions In The Sky, Battles, The Black Keys and a rare festival appearance from Witchcraft.

Just based on those bands alone I’d be up for going. The early bird tickets have sold out, but at $195, the current ticket prices are dramatically less then Coachella at almost $300. Lollapalooza ticket prices also have no service charges. Although the lineup looks good, I have to see if a trip to Chicago at the beginning of August will work out for me.