People of the Sun is the second single by Rage Against the Machine for their 1996 album Evil Empire. The single album was released on August 22, 1996, written in 1992, the song is about the Zapatista revolution. Lead vocalist Zack de la Rocha wrote the song after a visit to Chiapas in southern Mexico. People of the Sun also has a music video. It was nominated for a Best Hard Rock Performance Grammy in 1998, but it lost to The Smashing Pumpkins‘ “The End Is the Beginning Is the End“.
The song has a wide variety of references, most notably the destruction of the Aztec Empire by the Spanish and the Zoot Suit Riots of Los Angeles in 1943. De La Rocha also refers to the last Aztecan Emperor Cuauhtémoc, who was tortured and eventually executed by the Spaniards.
The single artwork of the corn, sickle and ammunition belt is a 1927 photograph taken by Italian photographer Tina Modotti in Mexico. The final version of the song made its live debut on May 9, 1996, in Paris, France.
Tracklist:
- People of the Sun
- Zapata’s Blood (Live)
- Without a Face (Live)
Rage Against the Machine
Zack de la Rocha: vocals
Tom Morello: guitars
Tim Commerford (credited as “Tim Bob”): bass
Brad Wilk: drums
