August 25, 2008 10:00

Rage Against The Machine planning stunt for Republican Convention

Zack de la Rocha organisers festival slots around political meetings

Photo Gallery: Rage Against The Machine

Rage Against The Machine's Zack de la Rocha organised his Reading And Leeds Festivals appearances around this week's Republican Convention - as he is planning to hijack the event.

The political meeting, which takes place this week (August 25-28) in Minneapolis will see John McCain officially named as the Republican Party's presidential candidate.

However de la Rocha is planning a stunt for the political event so asked to play the Reading And Leeds Festival on Friday (August 22) and Saturday (23) respectively so he can get back in time.

"He wanted to play Friday and Saturday, because there's a Democratic Convention [in Denver] and he wanted to be at that," explained Reading And Leeds Festivals boss Melvin Benn. "And there's a Republican one on Wednesday (August 27) and he wanted to go and picket that, and there's a stunt they're going to pull off that will no doubt hit CNN during the course of the week."

Benn added he had really enjoyed Rage Against The Machine's return to his festival - they headlined in 1996 and also performed in 2000.

"If there's a year for Rage to come back, it's the year of the American presidential elections," he explained. "You've got to take your hat off to Zack, not only has he created one of the greatest live bands ever, but he's maintained a humbleness. He's in touch with normal people. He doesn't close the dressing room off. It's relaxed."

In the meantime you can relive the action from the weekend Reading And Leeds Festivals 2008. We have news, blogs, pictures and video interviews from both Reading And Leeds Festivals sites online now.