Rage Against the Machine breaks up a third time, cancels postponed reunion tour

Rage Against the Machine has broken up for a third time amid fans' hope for a reunion tour.

The band’s drummer Brad Wilk announced the nu-metal group's split on Instagram Wednesday. "I know a lot of people are waiting for us to announce new tour dates for all the canceled RATM shows. I don’t want to string people or myself along any further," he wrote.

"So while there has been some communication that this may be happening in the future… I want to let you know that RATM (Tim, Zack, Tom and I) will not be touring or playing live again," Wilk concluded. "I’m sorry for those of you who have been waiting for this to happen. I really wish it was…"

Rage Against the Machine members Wilk, Tim Commerford, Zack de la Rocha and Tom Morello announced a worldwide tour that was set to take place in 2020. The tour was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The group eventually reunited and played a handful of shows in July and August 2022, but canceled the remaining shows after de la Rocha tore his Achilles tendon.

Rage Against the Machine postpones reunion tour to summer 2022

In March 2022, Morello dodged questions about the future of the band.

"Rage Against the Machine is like the ring in 'Lord of the Rings.' It drives men mad. It drives journalists mad. It drives record-industry people mad. They want it. They want the thing, and they’re driven mad," he told Rolling Stone. "If there are Rage shows, if there are not Rage shows, you’ll hear from the band. I do not know. When there is news, it will come from a collective statement from the band."

Rage Against the Machine first broke up in 2000 after de la Rocha left the band. The remaining members went on to form Audioslave with Chris Cornell. Rage Against the Machine eventually reunited in 2007 and went on an indefinite hiatus in 2011.

In November, the group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame but only guitarist Morello attended the ceremony.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rage Against the Machine cancels tour reunion, breaks up again