Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello led a stacked tribute to the late Wayne Kramer this past Thursday, December 05th, at The Roxy in West Hollywood, CA. This was the second in a pair of sendoff/benefit shows Morello undertook to honor the late Kramer, who passed away in February of this year at the age of 75. Known for his work with protopunkers MC5, Kramer was also an outspoken social and political activist.
Having staged an acoustic tribute to Kramer on November 25th, this past Thursday’s show featured a more traditional electric performance that boasted guest appearances from his former Prophets Of Rage cohort, Chuck D (also of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame-inducted rap outfit Public Enemy.) RZA of Wu-Tang Clan fame also hit the stage, as did Steven Van Zandt (Bruce Springsteen‘s E Street Band), Ben Harper, Brad Brooks, and even Morello‘s own teenage son Roman, among others.
Among some of the highlights were Chuck D taking part in for a cover of Public Enemy‘s 1989 single “Fight The Power“, RZA sitting in on a cover of Wu-Tang Clan‘s 1993 cut “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta F’ Wit“. There were also medleys of Rage Against The Machine covers and more. All proceeds from the concert went to Kramer‘s Jail Guitar Doors USA — a nonprofit dedicated to funding music programs for incarcerated individuals and more.
The setlist ran as follows:
“Soldier In The Army Of Love” (feat. Roman Morello)
“One Last Dance” (feat. Roman Morello)
“Testify” / “Take The Power Back” / “Freedom” / “Snakecharmer” (Rage Against The Machine medley)
“Heavy Lifting”
“One Man Revolution”
“Secretariat”
“Cato Stedman & Neptune Frost”
“Let’s Get The Party Started”
“Hold The Line”
“Get Up Stand Up” (Bob Marley & The Wailers cover) (feat. Ben Harper & Abraham Marley)
“Bombtrack” / “Know Your Enemy” / “Bulls On Parade” / “Guerilla Radio” / “Sleep Now In The Fire” / “Bullet In The Head” / “Cochise” / “Like A Stone” (Rage Against The Machine/Audioslave medley)
“Kick Out the Jams” (MC5 cover) (feat. Steven Van Zandt)
“The Ghost Of Tom Joad” (Bruce Springsteen cover)
“Fight The Power” (Public Enemy cover) (feat. Chuck D)
“Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit” (Wu-Tang-Clan cover) (feat. RZA)
“Killing In The Name” (Rage Against The Machine cover) (feat. Roman Morello)
“Power To The People” (John Lennon cover)
See below for some fan-filmed footage from the show:
