Radio Station Plays Rage Against the Machine “Killing in the Name” on Loop After Layoffs, Format Change

“Killing in the Name” is one of the most consistently relevant protest songs of the past few decades. Originally released by Rage Against the Machine in 1992 as a visceral response to police brutality and social injustice, the track pops up every now and then — and its latest resurgence came this week by a Vancouver radio station after two DJs were laid off as part of a planned format change.

104.9 KISS-FM put the song on repeat for more than 10 hours on Wednesday, with radio station personnel apparently taking a break to field some listener requests … for the same song. Via Rolling Stone:

Several Twitter users noted that disc jockeys had occasionally paused the loop to take call-in requests for the same song. (The same thing happened when Rolling Stone tuned in.) An NBC News reporter said a disc jockey went on air to say, “You’re probably wondering what’s going on.”

Today was our last show on KiSS RADiO. Thank you for everything ♥ pic.twitter.com/rRZHySgkMU

— Kevin Lim (@KevinLimOnAir) June 28, 2022

Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello was made aware of what was happening, and retweeted this post to his nearly one million followers:

@RATM @tmorello a pop radio station in Vancouver 🇨🇦laid off all of their staff yesterday. Whoever is on the controls this morning has been playing Killing In The Name Of on repeat since 6am (it's now 9:30). @KevinLimOnAir @Sonia_Sidhu It's beautiful. pic.twitter.com/kXi9BLKWb0

— CDJ (@RR7349) June 29, 2022

As of Thursday morning, 104.9 KISS-FM has made the format change to SONiC – The New Alternative, and has ceased streaming on its website, which directs visitors to other sister stations.

The repeat playing of “Killing in the Name” as a reaction to changeover and a format switch may be over, but it sounds like it was pretty epic. And, as always, the incendiary track endures, as it has for more than 30 years.

By the way, Rage Against the Machine is finally ready to head out on that reunion tour that was delayed significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Catch a gig:

pic.twitter.com/t11xFAY1MO

— Rage Against The Machine (@RATMofficial) February 15, 2022

Here are the newly announced rescheduled shows, which will now take place in 2023:

Feb. 22 – Las Cruces, NM – Pan American Center
Feb. 24 – El Paso, TX – Don Haskins Center
Feb. 26 – Glendale, AZ – Gila River Arena
Feb. 28 – Glendale, AZ – Gila River Arena
Mar. 03 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
Mar. 05 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Arena
Mar. 07 – Portland, OR – Moda Center
Mar. 09 – Tacoma, WA – Tacoma Dome
Mar. 11 – Vancouver, BC – Pacific Coliseum
Mar. 13 – Calgary, AB – Scotiabank Saddledome
Mar. 15 – Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place
Mar. 17 – Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre
Mar. 19 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
Mar. 20 – Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
Mar. 22 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford Premiere Center
Mar. 28 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
Mar. 30 – St. Louis, MO – Enterprise Center
Apr. 01 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
Apr. 02 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena

And the summer 2022 run:

July 9 East Troy, WI – Alpine Valley Music Theater
July 11 Chicago, IL – United Center
July 12 Chicago, IL- United Center
July 15 Ottawa, ON – Ottawa Bluesfest
July 16 Quebec City, QC – Festival D’Ete De Quebec*
July 19 Hamilton, ON – Firstontario Centre
July 21 Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
July 23 Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
July 25 Buffalo, NY – Keybank Center
July 27 Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
July 29 Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
July 31 Raleigh, NC – PNC Arena
August 2 Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
August 3 Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
August 8 New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
August 9 New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
August 11 New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
August 12 New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
August 14 New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
*Run the Jewels not playing