Rage Against the Machine Booted from 'SNL' 30 Years Ago

The band's iconic on-air clash with show staff and the Forbes family led to their abrupt exit from 30 Rock.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 10:35pm

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A bold, abstract composition of stark black silhouettes and geometric shapes in high-contrast red and white, conceptually representing the confrontational energy and revolutionary messages of the rock band Rage Against the Machine.Rage Against the Machine's infamous 1996 SNL performance highlighted the band's willingness to challenge authority and confront mainstream institutions.NYC Today

Thirty years ago, the politically-charged rock band Rage Against the Machine was kicked off Saturday Night Live after a scuffle broke out between the band's crew and SNL stage hands over the use of upside-down American flags. Things escalated when bassist Tim Commerford then attacked the family of guest host and presidential candidate Steve Forbes in the dressing room, leading to the band's removal from the show.

Why it matters

Rage Against the Machine's confrontational style and anti-establishment messaging have made them one of the most iconic and controversial bands of the modern era. This incident on SNL encapsulates their willingness to challenge authority and disrupt the status quo, even in high-profile TV appearances.

The details

During their April 13, 1996 performance on SNL, a fight broke out backstage between Rage Against the Machine's crew and the show's stage hands over the placement of upside-down American flags on the band's equipment. After the band was only able to perform one song, "Bulls on Parade", an SNL representative told them their second number, "Bullet in the Head", would be cut due to time constraints. In response, bassist Tim Commerford "attacked host/billionaire/presidential candidate Steve Forbes' family in the dressing room with a wadded up flag." This led to the band being "escorted out and put on the sidewalk" by the Secret Service.

  • On April 13, 1996, Rage Against the Machine appeared on Saturday Night Live.
  • The band was only able to perform one song, "Bulls on Parade", before being kicked off the show.

The players

Rage Against the Machine

A politically-charged rock band known for their fusion of metal, rap, punk, and funk, as well as their anti-capitalist and revolutionary messaging.

Tim Commerford

The bassist for Rage Against the Machine who attacked the family of guest host Steve Forbes in the dressing room, leading to the band's removal from SNL.

Steve Forbes

The editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine who was a guest host on SNL and had his family attacked by Commerford, leading to Rage Against the Machine being kicked off the show.

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What they’re saying

“Today's the 30th anniversary of RATM'S um, 'memorable' performance on SNL. There was a fight onstage between our crew and SNL stage hands moments before our performance, wrestling over some upside down American flags which adorned our amps.”

— Tom Morello, Guitarist, Rage Against the Machine

“Timmy [Commerford] doesn't like things like that. And he expresses himself. So, what he did was he took one of the American flags and he tore it up and he knotted it into a ball. You might call it a weapon. And he entered Steve Forbes' dressing room across the way to attack him.”

— Tom Morello, Guitarist, Rage Against the Machine

The takeaway

Rage Against the Machine's confrontational style and willingness to challenge authority, even in high-profile TV appearances, cemented their status as one of the most iconic and controversial bands of their era. This incident on SNL exemplifies their commitment to their anti-establishment message, even at the cost of being removed from the show.