Rage Against the Machine Locked Down by Secret Service After Controversial SNL Performance

In a striking new revelation, Ladies & Gentlemen … 50 Years of SNL Music, a documentary celebrating five decades of musical performances on Saturday Night Live, recounts the infamous 1996 incident involving Rage Against the Machine (RATM). According to guitarist Tom Morello, the band’s performance of “Bulls on Parade” led to an intense backstage standoff, the cancellation of their second song, and an unexpected lockdown by the Secret Service.
The Setup: A Clash of Ideologies
On April 13, 1996, Rage Against the Machine took the SNL stage as the musical guest on an episode hosted by billionaire Steve Forbes, a recent Republican presidential candidate. The band, known for its politically charged lyrics and anti-establishment stance, saw an opportunity to make a statement.
During rehearsals, RATM’s crew hung upside-down American flags on their amplifiers—a recognized distress signal in the U.S. Navy. However, the SNL production team quickly intervened, insisting that the flags be removed due to concerns over advertiser backlash and the sensitive nature of Forbes hosting the show.
Despite the warning, the band refused to back down completely. “You invited Rage Against the Machine, the ‘f**k you, I won’t do what you tell me’ band,” Morello recalls in the documentary.
A Heated Onstage Moment
As the live broadcast approached, RATM’s roadies attempted to put the flags back on the amplifiers just moments before the performance. The SNL stage crew responded swiftly, engaging in a brief struggle to remove them. With only seconds left before the show went live, the flags were successfully pulled down.
Nevertheless, the band delivered a searing performance of “Bulls on Parade.” Afterward, tension remained high as they returned to their dressing room. Shortly after, an SNL representative informed them that their second song, “Bullet in the Head,” had been cut from the show.
The Secret Service Intervention
Bass player Tim Commerford, known for his rebellious nature, reacted by taking one of the removed American flags, tearing it up, and knotting it into a makeshift projectile. In a moment of frustration, he entered Steve Forbes’ dressing room, which was occupied by his family members. Commerford hurled the flag at the group, though the improvised missile harmlessly unraveled before making any impact.
Unbeknownst to the band, the repercussions of this act were immediate. Given Forbes’ recent status as a presidential candidate, the hallway outside his dressing room was quickly swarmed by Secret Service agents. RATM’s dressing room was locked down, and security forces took control of the situation. The band was then escorted out of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, barred from participating in the traditional farewell segment at the end of the SNL episode.
Aftermath and Legacy
Despite the chaos, Morello managed to attend the post-show afterparty. However, Rage Against the Machine was never invited back to perform on Saturday Night Live again.
Decades later, this moment remains a defining example of the band’s uncompromising political stance and the friction it created within mainstream media. The Ladies & Gentlemen … 50 Years of SNL Music documentary, co-directed by Questlove and Oz Rodriguez, offers further insight into this and other legendary musical moments on the show.
The film features interviews with a host of iconic musicians, including Dave Grohl, Mick Jagger, Olivia Rodrigo, Paul Simon, Justin Timberlake, and Jack White. It will premiere on NBC on January 27th and become available for streaming on Peacock starting January 28th.
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