pixiedreamclub:

April 13th, 1996: The Day Rage Against The Machine Got Banned From Saturday Night Live

“ We’re standing on-stage thirty seconds before we’re to begin performing “Bulls On Parade.” Steve Forbes is waiting to introduce us: 25 seconds, 20 seconds…. Our roadies unfurl the upside-down flags. There’s a panic among the SNL stagehands who rush to the stage to get the flags down. They’re yelling, “Take the flags down!” The countdown is 15, 14, 13…. A melee ensues on-stage where our crew is grappling with their crew over the duct tape on the flags. They’re successful in removing the flags as the time ticks down to five, four, three, two seconds. Steve Forbes introduces us. We play “Bulls On Parade.“ 

As soon as we’re offstage, the show’s producer, Marcie Klein, Calvin Klein’s daughter, informs our tour manager that we have to leave the building. There will be no second song, no cozy wave “goodnight” at the end, no hugging Steve Forbes. It’s just, “Get out of the building right now.” Tim Bob is so incensed that he takes one of the torn-down U.S. flags, shreds it up, charges into Steve Forbes’ dressing room and hurls it at his entourage. The backstage area floods with Secret Service people because Steve Forbes, in addition to being a great comedic actor, is also a billionaire and ex-Presidential candidate. Some of us are escorted from the building and others manage to hide out long enough to meet up with our friends afterwards.”

- Tom Morello