Live at the Forum 2000

Lore & Background

The visual spectacle of this tour period was defined by Tom Morello's guitar as a weapon, weaving through the air with slide whistles and feedback that mimicked sirens. The rhythm section of Commerford and Wilk provided a relentless, driving force that made the music feel like an unstoppable march. De la Rocha's vocal delivery cut through the noise with poetic precision, turning the venue into a town hall for the disenfranchised.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the venue was thick enough to taste, smelling of stale beer and anticipation. As the first distorted chord hit, it felt less like an introduction and more like a declaration of war. The crowd surged forward, a sea of raised fists bobbing in time with the bass, eyes locked on the stage where the band stood as four avatars of resistance. In that moment, the boundary between the performers and the audience dissolved; they were all part of one massive, breathing organism demanding change.

Reader's Guide

This legendary run took place during the intense world tour supporting their second album, moving through major arenas and historic theaters across North America and Europe. The setlists evolved to include deep cuts from 'The Battle of Los Angeles' alongside anthems like 'Killing in the Name' and 'Bulls on Parade,' often rearranged for maximum impact. Political protests were not just background noise; they were woven into the fabric of the shows. Between songs, the band would frequently address current events, turning concert breaks into impromptu rallies against global injustice. The venues themselves, ranging from cramped clubs to massive stadiums, became temporary sanctuaries for dissent. Legendary moments included extended instrumental jams where Morello's sonic textures took center stage, and crowd-surfing that turned the aisles into rivers of movement. The energy was so volatile that security often struggled to contain the sheer force of the audience's reaction, making every night a unique event.

Did You Know?

• The band famously refused to play at venues owned by corporations they opposed, sometimes canceling shows on principle.
• Tom Morello developed many of his signature guitar effects specifically for the live settings of this era.
• This tour period saw the band actively supporting various labor unions and political causes directly from the stage.
• The raw audio quality of these performances was often preferred by fans over studio recordings due to its unfiltered aggression.