Zack de la Rocha is a household name in the world of alternative music. Rocha is well-known for his socially and politically conscious lyrics. He is widely admired for his passionate political activism. Rocha is also known for his aggressive dancing, frantic rap style delivery, wild stage antics, and fiery speeches that reflect his political views during numerous concerts. He first gained prominence as the frontman for the band ‘Rage Against the Machine.’ Each of the band’s albums has been well received by the public, as evidenced by the band’s global sales of 16 million copies. As an outspoken advocate for peace and nonviolence, he has been a dedicated human rights and civil rights activist, using music to speak out against a variety of global political and social issues, including the Iraq War. Apart from his work with the band, Rocha founded the musical project ‘One Day as a Lion’. Continue reading this biography to learn more fascinating and intriguing facts about his childhood, personal life, and accomplishments in the fields of music and political activism.
Childhood and Adolescence
Zacaras Manuel Zack de la Rocha was born in Long Beach, California, to Roberto ‘Beto’ de la Rocha and Olivia de la Rocha, both of whom are painters, muralists, and graphic artists. His father was instrumental in forming his cultural outlook.
His parents divorced when he was barely a year old. As a result, he began living with his mother in Irvine, where she was pursuing a Ph.D.
He began his musical career as a member of the rock band ‘Juvenile Expression’ and later joined the band ‘Hardstance’, which was renamed ‘Inside Out’. The band amassed a sizable underground following throughout the country.
In 1990, as a member of the band ‘Inside Out,’ he provided vocals and played bass on the band’s self-titled debut album, ‘No Spiritual Surrender.’ This was the band’s debut and final album, as they disbanded shortly afterwards.
Career of Zack
He began performing hip hop and freestyle at local pubs in 1991. It was during this time period that guitarist Tom Morello noticed him. They formed the band ‘Rage Against the Machine’ in collaboration. Tim Commerford was recruited to play bass in place of Brad Wilk.
He provided vocals for the band ‘Rage Against the Machine’s’ self-titled debut album in 1992. The album was lauded for its profound and emotionally charged message. Additionally, it became one of the few political albums to receive widespread radio and television airplay.
In 1996, he provided vocals for the band’s second album, ‘Evil Empire.’ ‘People of the Sun’, ‘Bulls on Parade’, and ‘Vietnow’ were included on the album. While the album achieved a massive sell-out and was a smash hit, it failed to elicit significant political action.
The band released their first live compilation album, ‘Live & Rare’, in 1998. The album featured a number of live and previously unreleased tracks. It was, however, only released in Japan.
The band’s third studio album, titled ‘The Battle of Los Angeles,’ was released in 1999. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of ‘Best Rock Album.’
Rocha left the band in October 2000 due to creative differences with his bandmates. He then embarked on a solo career journey. Meanwhile, the band released an album, ‘Renegades,’ in December 2000, on which he was credited as a vocalist due to the album’s inclusion of his vocals.
Following the disbandment of ‘Rage Against the Machine,’ he began work on a long-promised solo album. However, the album was never completed, and he immediately began working on his next project with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, but it met the same fate as the previous one.
In 2000, he appeared in the song ‘Centre of the Storm’ from the British drum and bass act group’s album ‘In The Mode’. He also appeared in the following year’s song ‘Release’ by the hip-hop group ‘Blackalicious’.
In 2003, he collaborated with DJ Shadow on the song ‘March of Death’ to protest the Iraq War. The song was made available for download for free online.
He began performing on stage with Son Jarocho’s Son de Madera band in 2005. Later that year, he performed with the band at a benefit concert for the South Central Farmers.
He reunited with the band ‘Rage Against the Machine’ in mid-January 2007 at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. By April, the group had staged a performance for a Chicago rally for fair food distribution.
He co-founded the band ‘One Day as a Lion’ with drummer Jon Theodore in 2008. In July of the same year, they released their self-titled debut album. Joey Karam joined them on keyboards exclusively for their live performances. The band has developed a distinct style that incorporates rock drumming, electro keyboards, and hip-hop vocals.
Significant Works of Zack
‘The Battle of Los Angeles,’ the band ‘Rage Against the Machine’s third album, was released in 1999 and received widespread acclaim. The album was ranked 426 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time in 2003, and 369 on Rock Hard magazine’s list of the 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time in 2005.
Personal History and Legacies
He became a vegetarian during his adolescent years. He believes that animals should not be tortured or slaughtered.
Estimated Net Worth
De La Rocha is estimated to have a net worth of $30 million. This includes his property, funds, and earnings. He earns the majority of his money through his career as a television personality. De La Rocha has amassed a substantial fortune through his various sources of income but prefers to live a modest lifestyle.
Trivia
He is the frontman for the band ‘Rage Against the Machine’ and co-founded the band ‘One Day as a Lion’.