169: Brad Wilk (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, Prophets of Rage)

The Trap Set with Joe Wong

Joe Wong

Joewong, Drums, Comedy, Performing Arts, Arts, Drummers

4.8 • 709 Ratings

🗓️ 30 May 2018

⏱️ 77 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Rage Against the Machine is an exceptionally rare band that managed to combine a radical, populist message with massive popular success. At the core of the band is Brad Wilk's drumming, which combines an explosive groove and hypnotic use of space. Brad visits The Trap Set to discuss: his formative love of Van Halen; Studying with David Garibaldi; the creative dynamic of RATM, Audioslave, and Prophets of Rage; playing flute; his family's roots in the jewelry business; parenting; a nine month love affair with cocaine; and his growing interest in meditation. Finally, he answers listeners' questions.

Transcript

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0:00.0	I remember like after doing the first rage tour, I'm like, okay, what's the antithesis of the drums?
0:07.2	The flute. I'm going to play the flute.
0:24.1	This is Joe Wong. Welcome to the Trapset, where each week we explore the lives of drummers.
0:28.4	I want to play something for you. Come We're coming back in with another bomb track
0:50.3	Then you know what's all of that huh So check this out You're hearing Know Your Enemy by Rage Against the Machine, featuring my guest, Brad Wilk on drums.
1:23.6	Formed in Los Angeles in 1991, rage is one of very few bands to have combined a radical populist message with massive popular success.
1:33.3	At the core of the band is Wilkes Drumming, which merges an explosive groove with a hypnotic use of space.
1:40.3	His percussive prowess welds audiences together, creating a tribal, deeply emotional experience.
1:47.9	Rage went on hiatus in 2000, and Wilk and two of his bandmates formed another massively popular band,
1:54.7	audio slave, with none other than Sound Garden vocalist Chris Cornell as frontman.
2:00.5	Brad's playing, while still
2:02.2	instantly identifiable, took on new dimensions of nuance.
2:06.6	In 2013, Brad took over the drum chair once occupied by Bill Ward and played on the final
2:23.0	Black Sabbath album, 13. Since 2016, Wilk has also been a member of Prophets of Rage, which
2:31.1	features hip-hop legends Chuck D., DJ Lord, and Be Real.
2:35.9	I spoke to him at Trapset headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.
2:40.9	And now my conversation with Brad Wilk.
2:49.5	I grew up in quite a few places.
2:52.0	I was born in Portland, Oregon.
2:54.2	Then when I was a year old, I moved to Spokane, Washington.
2:58.3	By the time I was two and a half, I was on my third move down to Los Angeles, and I lived
3:03.8	in the San Fernando Valley in Northridge until I was eight years old.
	...

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