Rage Against the Machine

  Lead singer Zack De La Roca and guitarist Tom Morello were both born in activist families which makes sense why there songs are so political. There's also drummer, Brad Wilk and bassist, Tim Commerford, they all formed Rage Against the Machine in 1991, and soon after released a self-produced 12 song cassette tape and that won them a deal with Epic, but they didn't sign until they were assured full creative control.
  There self titled album got them a spot in Lollapalooza and their video of "Freedom" on MTV. The band hoped to raise awareness for Leonard Peltier, who was an imprisoned American-Indian activist. The album grew in popularity when more people starting hearing the song, "Killing in the Name", which addresses racism and police corruption. I think it became popular because of the adrenaline it produces and the lyrics, "fuck you, I won't do what you tell me" and in 1999, their album Evil Empire made it to #1 on the charts, and that proves there music was getting out and reaching people.
  In 2000, Tim was arrested after a protesters started a riot against the police after one of Rage Against the Machines set, and he was charged with assault and resisting arrest, but both charges were later dropped after he pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.
  In October, shortly after there album, Renegade, Zack announced his departure of the band, mentioning a communication break down. Then Chris Cornell, from Soundgarden, joined the rest of the guys to create Audioslave, and they broke up in 2007. Later that year, in April, Rage Against the Machine got back together to headline Coachella and that turned out to be a reunion tour, that ended in Asia. (Wenner, Jann S. "Rage Against the Machine". Rollingstone.com, 2014)