# Bombtrack

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1993 single by Rage Against the Machine

"Bombtrack" Single by Rage Against the Machine from the album Rage Against the Machine Released August 23, 1993 (1993-08-23)[1] Recorded 1992 Studio Sound City (Van Nuys, California) Genre Rap metal alternative metal Length 4:02 Label Epic Songwriters Tim Commerford Zack de la Rocha Tom Morello Brad Wilk Producers Garth "GGGarth" Richardson Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine singles chronology "Bullet in the Head" (1993) "Bombtrack" (1993) "Freedom" (1994) Music video "Bombtrack" on YouTube

"**Bombtrack**" is a song by American [rock](/source/Rock_music) band [Rage Against the Machine](/source/Rage_Against_the_Machine). It is the band’s third single and the opening track on their [self-titled debut album](/source/Rage_Against_the_Machine_(album)).

Like most of Rage Against the Machine's songs, the song's lyrics discuss [social inequality](/source/Social_inequality), proclaiming that "[landlords](/source/Landlords) and power whores" were going to "burn".

The riffs were composed by Rage Against the Machine bassist [Tim Commerford](/source/Tim_Commerford). The song is one of three on the album in the key of F♯ along with "[Know Your Enemy](/source/Know_Your_Enemy_(Rage_Against_the_Machine_song))" and "Fistful of Steel". It is their highest-charting song in the Netherlands, at number eight.

## Cover

The single artwork features [Cuban](/source/Cubans) [photographer](/source/Photographer) [Alberto Korda](/source/Alberto_Korda)'s famous image of [Che Guevara](/source/Che_Guevara), *[Guerrillero Heroico](/source/Guerrillero_Heroico)*. A mirrored version of the iconic two-tone portrait by Irish artist [Jim Fitzpatrick](/source/Jim_Fitzpatrick_(artist)) (T-shirt version).

## Music video

A music video was released, depicting support for the Peruvian [Maoist](/source/Maoism) organization [Sendero Luminoso](/source/Shining_Path) and its leader [Abimael Guzman](/source/Abimael_Guzman).[2][3][4][5]

In the video, the group played inside a cage, mimicking Guzman being shown to journalists inside a cage after his capture by the Peruvian military. The initial sequence of the video feature the sentence "For 13 years the people of Peru have waged [revolutionary war](/source/People's_war) against their oppressive U.S.-backed government. Their movement is known as the *Sendero luminoso* or Shining Path."[6][7]

The group mentioned Shining Path again in the lyrics of "[Without a Face](/source/Without_a_Face)."[8]

The video clip did not appear on the group's first home video, citing Rage's first altered political opinion.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] In 2003, the video finally appeared as bonus material on their *[Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium](/source/Live_at_the_Grand_Olympic_Auditorium)* DVD.

## Track listing

**CD**

1. "Bombtrack"

1. "Bombtrack [Evening Session version]"

1. "Bombtrack [live version]"

- The 'Evening Session' version was recorded on [BBC Radio 1](/source/BBC_Radio_1) during [Mark Goodier](/source/Mark_Goodier)'s [Evening Session](/source/Evening_Session).

**7"**

1. "Bombtrack" – 4:03

1. "Bombtrack" (live) – 6:00

### Special Pinkpop edition

On May 23, 1994, a special edition of the "Bombtrack" CD single was released in the Netherlands for the [Pinkpop](/source/Pinkpop) [Music Festival](/source/Music_Festival)'s 25th birthday. This version contains an alternative track listing.

1. "Bombtrack"

1. "Freedom" (live)

1. "Settle for Nothing" (live)

1. "Bombtrack" [Evening Session version]

1. "Bullet in the Head" [remix]

1. "Take the Power Back" (live)

1. "Darkness of Greed"

1. "Bullet in the Head" (live)

1. "Bombtrack" (live)

Tracks three and eight recorded live at [Melkweg](/source/Melkweg) in [Amsterdam](/source/Amsterdam), February 7, 1993. Track six recorded live in [Vancouver, British Columbia](/source/Vancouver), Canada, April 11, 1993. Track nine recorded live in [Minneapolis](/source/Minneapolis), United States, April 5, 1993. Track five remix by [Sir Jinx](/source/Sir_Jinx).

The Evening Session version of "Bombtrack" is a completely reworked, slower "swing" version of the song with altered lyrics, which later appeared on *[Evil Empire](/source/Evil_Empire_(album))*'s "Without a Face".

## In popular culture

In 2017, [Stone Sour](/source/Stone_Sour) covered the song as part of [Metal Hammer](/source/Metal_Hammer)'s *Metal Hammer Goes '90s* compilation album, and appears on the deluxe edition of their 2017 album *[Hydrograd](/source/Hydrograd)*.[9][10]

Perhaps the song's most notable appearance outside of the music industry would be its appearance in [Oliver Stone](/source/Oliver_Stone)'s controversial film *[Natural Born Killers](/source/Natural_Born_Killers)*, when Mickey breaks out of his prison cell in search of Mallory.

## Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Bombtrack" Chart (1993–94) Peak position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[11] 13 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[12] 8 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[13] 11 UK Singles (OCC)[14] 37 Yearly charts Year-end chart performance for "Bombtrack" Chart (1994) Position Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 33

## Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales United Kingdom (BPI)[16] Silver 200,000‡ ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** "New Releases: Singles". *[Music Week](/source/Music_Week)*. August 21, 1993. p. 31.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Lista de Personas y Grupos Terroristas"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060213122701/http://www.guardiacivil.org/terrorismo/grupos/lista.jsp). February 13, 2006. Archived from [the original](http://www.guardiacivil.org/terrorismo/grupos/lista.jsp) on February 13, 2006. Retrieved April 22, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Antonio, Zoila (January 7, 2022). ["Disputed reality: 'Bombtrack' and Peru's internal armed conflict"](https://globalvoices.org/2022/01/07/disputed-reality-bombtrack-and-perus-internal-armed-conflict/). *Global Voices*. Retrieved January 6, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [""Bombtrack" de Rage Against The Machine: La distorsión de la realidad de Sendero Luminoso y sus consecuencias en el Perú"](https://cuarteldelmetal.com/noticias/2023/04/bombtrack-de-rage-against-the-machine-la-distorsion-de-la-realidad-de-sendero-luminoso-y-sus-consecuencias-en-el-peru/). *El Cuartel del Metal*. April 20, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Stenning, Paul (September 4, 2008). [*Rage Against The Machine - Stage Fighters*](https://books.google.com/books?id=PSa3DwAAQBAJ&dq=%22rage+against+the+machine%22+bombtrack+peru&pg=PA102). Bonnier Zaffre. pp. 102–103. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-78418-967-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-78418-967-9).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Walch, Louis (February 26, 2013). ["Jesús Cossio's "Barbarism": The Graphic Novel as Testimony"](https://wordswithoutborders.org/read/article/2013-02/jesus-cossios-barbarism-the-graphic-novel-as-testimony/). *Words Without Borders*. Retrieved January 6, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Rage Against the Machine: Rage Against the Machine"](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/rage-against-the-machine-rage-against-the-machine/). *Pitchfork*. Retrieved January 6, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** McIver, Joel (March 17, 2014). [*Know Your Enemy: The Story of Rage Against the Machine*](https://books.google.com/books?id=zIz4AgAAQBAJ&dq=%22rage+against+the+machine%22+bombtrack+peru&pg=PT126). Omnibus Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-78323-034-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-78323-034-1).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Neilstein, Vince (July 27, 2017). ["Listen to Stone Sour Cover Rage Against the Machine's "Bombtrack""](http://www.metalsucks.net/2017/07/27/stone-sour-cover-rage-against-the-machines-bombtrack/). *[MetalSucks](/source/MetalSucks)*. Retrieved July 30, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Shinn, Travis. ["Hear Stone Sour's Fiery Cover Of Rage Against The Machine's "Bombtrack""](http://www.revolvermag.com/artist-news/hear-stone-sours-fiery-cover-rage-against-machine%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%9Cbombtrack%E2%80%9D/23583). *[Revolver](/source/Revolver_(magazine))*. Retrieved July 30, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Dutch40_Rage_Against_the_Machine_11-0)** "[Nederlandse Top 40 – Rage Against the Machine](https://www.top40.nl/top40-artiesten/Rage-Against-the-Machine)" (in Dutch). [Dutch Top 40](/source/Dutch_Top_40). Retrieved April 27, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_Dutch100_Rage_Against_the_Machine_12-0)** "[Rage Against the Machine – Bombtrack](https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Rage+Against+the+Machine&titel=Bombtrack&cat=s)" (in Dutch). [Single Top 100](/source/Dutch_Single_Top_100). Retrieved April 27, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_New_Zealand_Rage_Against_the_Machine_13-0)** "[Rage Against the Machine – Bombtrack](https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Rage+Against+the+Machine&titel=Bombtrack&cat=s)". [Top 40 Singles](/source/Official_Aotearoa_Music_Charts).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sc_UKsinglesbyname_Rage_Against_the_Machine_14-0)** "[Search results for "Rage Against the Machine" | Official Chart](https://www.officialcharts.com/search/artists/Rage%20Against%20the%20Machine/?singles=0&albums=0&films=0&articles=0&songs=0)". [Official Charts Company](/source/Official_Charts_Company). Retrieved January 27, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Jaaroverzichten – Single 1994"](http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1994&cat=s) (in Dutch). [MegaCharts](/source/MegaCharts). Retrieved June 23, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-United_KingdomRage_Against_the_MachineBombtracksingleCertRef_16-0)** ["British single certifications – Rage Against the Machine – Bombtrack"](https://www.bpi.co.uk/page/certified-awards). [British Phonographic Industry](/source/British_Phonographic_Industry). Retrieved March 13, 2026. *Select*singles*in the Formats field.* *Type*Bombtrack Rage Against the Machine*in the "Search:" field.*

## External links

- [Bombtrack](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p23206) at [AllMusic](/source/AllMusic_(identifier))

v t e Rage Against the Machine Zack de la Rocha Tim Commerford Tom Morello Brad Wilk Studio albums Rage Against the Machine Evil Empire The Battle of Los Angeles Renegades Live albums Live & Rare Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium Demo albums Rage Against the Machine Video albums Rage Against the Machine The Battle of Mexico City Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium Live at Finsbury Park Singles "Killing in the Name" "Bullet in the Head" "Bombtrack" "Freedom" "Year of tha Boomerang" "Bulls on Parade" "People of the Sun" "Down Rodeo" "Vietnow" "The Ghost of Tom Joad" "No Shelter" "Guerrilla Radio" "Sleep Now in the Fire" "Testify" "Renegades of Funk" "How I Could Just Kill a Man" Other songs "I'm Housin" "Kick Out the Jams" "Know Your Enemy" "Maggie's Farm" "Microphone Fiend" "Street Fighting Man" "Without a Face" "Calm Like a Bomb" "Wake Up" Concert tours Reunion Tour Public Service Announcement Tour Related articles Discography Songs Political views and activism Audioslave Future User Prophets of Rage Inside Out Lock Up One Day as a Lion Street Sweeper Social Club The Nightwatchman Wakrat

Authority control databases MusicBrainz work MusicBrainz release group

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bombtrack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombtrack) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombtrack?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.