Name: Rage Against the machine
Where and when: Main stage, 10pm, Friday, Reading
Dress code: Orange jumpsuits
Who's watching: Not all 80,000, but not far off
In a nutshell: With anticipation running high over the return of Rage Against the Machine to Reading's main stage for the first time in eight years, the band appear onstage in Guantanamo Bay-style orange overalls and hoods, and stand stock still for long enough to inspire a decent degree of awe, before launching into the track Bombtrack. Naturally, this isn't the only political statement of the performance, but it is the most impressive. A rant against the tyranny of Tony Blair and George Bush feels a little stale considering the former hasn't been prime minister for over a year and the latter is a popular hate figure in much the same way as Che Guevara T-shirts have become the go-to wardrobe option for many students. There's no denying that Zack De La Rocha's voice is as forceful as it ever was, despite the unnaturally low volume imposed on the main stage meaning his between-song rants are hard to decipher at times. Weaving between tracks that include Guerrilla Radio and the Led Zeppelin-inspired Wake Up, the set falls flat when frenetic guitars and high speed gives way to the band's preference for what can only be described as funky metal jams. As for the anticipation, for all De La Rocha's frenetic zeal in Know Your Enemy, it begins to feel like the bulk of the crowd are realising they only really know the one that goes "Fuck you, I won't do what you tell me". At least the band have the good sense to wait until an extended encore, beginning with Freedom, before the crowd get to raise their middle fingers to Killing in the Name (or the one with "Fuck you" in it).
High point: It ought to be Killing in the Name, but instead it's the arresting sight of the band cuffed and hooded at the beginning of the performance that packs the biggest punch.
Low point: No Rage Against the Machine performance is complete without impassioned rants, but you wonder what anyone can gain from hearing a band demonstrate that they do not care for the administration of George W Bush. Perhaps a few choice words over Russia's recent invasion of Georgia would have served as a more enlightening subject for the audience.
How hard did they rock?: Hard, in patches, particularly guitarist Tom Morello (who bears an uncanny resemblance to Manu Chao in his camo-wear and cap). But the aforementioned funky metal jams lose them valuable rock points.
