Rage Against the Machine at Finsbury Park 2010
Well, after demolishing the X Factor’s chances of yet another predictable Christmas number one in 2009, Rage Against the Machine delivered their promise of a free gig to say thank you to the British public that said to Simon Cowell and co… “fuck you I won’t buy what you sell me!”.
It was an amazing atmosphere down in London as 40,000 fans got together in what has to be said, the celebration party to end all celebration parties (barring England winning the World Cup this year).
The weather was perfect, the support bands Gallows, Roots Manuva and Gogol Bordello set the scene for an electrifying finale of RATM to set Finsbury Park alight.
TBFM at Finsbury Park with the Back Up Ragers
Of course, Total Biker FM was at the gig and also had an extended Birthday party at TBFM Rage Camp with the fantastic Back Up Ragers, a group set up over the Christmas campaign to help gain the momentum which famously changed history.
We arrived in London Saturday afternoon, met with glorious sunshine for what promised would be a great start to the party. We met up with lots of Ragers camping at Lea Valley campsite, just 6 miles from Finsbury Park and the party began!
After making all the usual introductions, we decided beer was needed and lots of RATM music too! The party was in full swing when the heavens opened but as they say “the sun shines on the righteous” and soon enough, the sun reappeared!
We drank lots of beers well into the night before all heading to our tents for one last sleep before the big day. Everyone was up early Sunday morning after being woken at 5.30am by the sounds of the golfers ready to start their Sunday morning swinging.
After lots of food and more beer, it was time for the 23 of us to make our way on the London Transport to Finsbury Park to meet with the rest of the Back Up Ragers that had slept at Ingrids house.
We all met up in the early afternoon at the Black Stock pub which was crammed with Ragers ready to rock. After making further introductions to Ingrid and the gang, we were then met by Jon and Tracy Morter who wanted to come and meet up with us all to say thanks personally for all our help in the campaign. Of course, group photos were on the cards and after that, Jon and Tracy went off to their back stage positions for the gig.
We all finally decided to go along to the park after Rhona had exhausted her voice chasing Rage fans and making them admit to start listening to TBFM. So, nearly 50 of us were led by Ingrid and her famous Joe McElderry dart board. Once we past the 3 check points, and a few scary moments where a few of us thought we would not make it into the gig, we made our way to a check point for after the gig. Few more drinks and it was time to go and find ourselves a spot in the crowd for the support acts.
We missed the main part of Gallows time on stage but from what we could here, they rocked the crowd. Roots Manuva had a slightly different response, which I am guessing was more to do with their style of music and mood of the crowd? Then, the support band I was most looking forward to took over!
Gogol Bordello have got to be one of the most amazing bands Ive seen live. Their gypsy punk msuic was surreal. Although it seemed obvious many of the 40,000 people in front of them had not heard their songs before, it took merely a few minutes for the crowd to be jigging and clapping along to their musc. To finish off their set, the drummer (Oliver Charles) threw his drum intro the crowd and as he threw himself in to fetch it, was captured by the audience who helped him onto the drum which was then passed around the crowd, with him stood on it. Completely bonkers!!!
What happened next is hard to put into words. All the press have described the event in their own way but to be part of the next hour and a half was just something that will never leave my memory.
