On This Day in 1996

On this day in 1996, Rage Against The Machine topped the Billboard 200 for the first time with their sophomore album, Evil Empire. Following their critically acclaimed self-titled debut four years earlier, the album cemented the band as a driving force of the 90’s nu-metal and alternative rock genres.

The name Evil Empire came from the name given to the Soviet Union by Ronald Reagan in the 1980’s. Singer and songwriter Zack de la Rocha said given the United States' military activity in the latter half of the 20th century, the band felt that name could just as easily be applied to them.

The album features Grammy-nominated singles People of the Sun and Bulls on Parade. The track Tire Me, which had no music video or radio airplay, won the Grammy for Best Metal Performance.