Reading & Leeds boss says “it’s not an agenda item at the moment” to get Rage Against The Machine back

Despite reuniting before COVID, unfortunately Rage Against The Machine still haven’t made it back to the UK in many, many years. And there’s no plans right now to bring them to Reading & Leeds to make up for their 2022 cancelled slot, either.

In a new interview post-Reading & Leeds 2023, Festival Republic’s Melvin Benn has teased what’s to come from next year’s line-up – and he says that it’s “not an agenda item at the moment” to get Rage in, simply because of how they operate with their touring.

“It’s not an agenda item at the moment, let’s put it that way,” he tells NME. “Rage are a U.S.-based act and would very rarely do one-off shows, so it would need to fit in to a lot more scheduling.”

When asked how Reading & Leeds 2024 is looking already, Melvin reveals that one headliner has been confirmed, and the festival has “had them confirmed for a little while actually. They’ve headlined in the past so we know their strength with it and we’re pleased with that.”

He also adds: “There are some changes that I’m looking to make – probably some slight stage changes. We don’t stand still at Reading & Leeds and like to reflect what’s going on, so there will be a couple of changes. There are always changes in the artists, but there will be to the stages as well.”

In March this year, Tom Morello said that Rage hadn’t discussed rescheduling any shows at that point, and were “in a time of healing”.

“If there are Rage shows, if there are not Rage shows, you’ll hear from the band,” he stated. “I do not know. When there is news, it will come from a collective statement from the band. There is no news.”

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