RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE AND DE LA ROCHA MAKE PATTI SMITH PROUD

Rage Against The Machine vocalist Zach De La Rocha made an impassioned speech to induct Patti Smith into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame on Monday night (March 12) in New York City.

In his speech, De La Rocha ran through some history on the singer and also shared his thoughts on the impact Smith had on him.

“She seemed far more interested in creating transcendent poetic moments, than fashionable hits because she had already carved her legacy in something much deeper. The movement that she helped define explain why people like me, related more to Bad Brains than we did to The Eagles. Why we championed The Clash and hated Ronald Reagan and why we dropped our textbookd and picked up Sanya Sonchez, Alan Ginsburg, and Langston Hughes. Expanding rock’s boundaries Patti Smith the poet revealed truth regardless of the political and social consequences.”

Backstage, De La Rocha chose not to speak to the press, however we asked Smith her thoughts on Rage Against The Machine and De La Rocha.

“Well, I think they’re an important group, all of them. Articulate. Musically and politically articulate, and I was really proud to have Zach and he’s been a great supporter tonight. It’s sort of an emotional situation a night like this, and he’s been a real gentleman. His outspokenness politically is only matched by his chivalry as a human being.”

An edited version of De La Rocha’s speech and Patti Smith’s acceptance and performance will be aired during the two-hour version of the ceremony on March 17 on VH1.