Brad Wilk

Brad Wilk (born September 5, 1968, in Portland, Oregon) is an American drummer and activist. He is best known as a co-founder and drummer of Rage Against the Machine, and as a member of Audioslave and Prophets of Rage. As a session musician, he recorded the drums on Black Sabbath's final studio album 13 (2013). He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1997 and has since been active in supporting diabetes awareness.

Early life and education

Wilk was born on September 5, 1968, in Portland, Oregon. He grew up in Chicago, Illinois, before his family settled in Southern California. He began playing drums at age 13 and acquired his first kit the following year. Among the drummers he has cited as influences are John Bonham, Keith Moon, Neil Peart, and Elvin Jones.

Wilk attended William Howard Taft High School in the Woodland Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, graduating in 1986. Although the school was situated in an upper-middle-class area, it drew students from lower-income and more racially diverse neighborhoods across Los Angeles through the LAUSD busing program — fellow students included rapper and actor Ice Cube.^[1]

Early career

Before Rage Against the Machine, Wilk auditioned for Lock Up, the Los Angeles metal band led by guitarist Tom Morello. He was not selected, but the audition brought him into Morello's orbit. Lock Up released one album, Something Bitchin' This Way Comes (1989), through Geffen Records before disbanding when the record failed commercially. In 1990, Wilk joined the hard rock band Greta, which he left after approximately a year.

When Lock Up dissolved, Morello sought to start a new band and contacted Wilk. Shortly after, the two encountered vocalist Zack de la Rocha freestyling at an LA club; de la Rocha brought in his childhood friend, bassist Tim Commerford, completing the lineup.^[1] The four co-founded Rage Against the Machine in August 1991.

Rage Against the Machine

More details: Rage Against the Machine

Rage Against the Machine signed with Epic Records and released their self-titled debut album in November 1992. The band released four studio albums between 1992 and 2000 and sold over 16 million records worldwide.^[1] A defining rule of the band's identity was the prohibition on samples, keyboards, or synthesizers — all sounds were produced by guitar, bass, drums, and voice.^[2]

Wilk has described the band's political dimension as central to his role as a drummer: "The music wouldn't exist without the politics. When we're playing a show, if something clicks for any one kid in the audience — starting that change, that process of thinking for themselves — that's the most potent time Rage Against the Machine can have as a band."

The band disbanded in October 2000, reunited for tours in 2007–2011 and again from 2022, before Wilk announced on January 3, 2024, via social media that the band would not tour or perform again — the group's third dissolution.^[3]

Wilk was among the members who did not attend the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on November 3, 2023, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Tom Morello was the only band member present.^[4]

Audioslave (2001–2007)

Following Rage Against the Machine's 2000 breakup, Wilk, Morello, and Commerford chose to continue playing together. Producer Rick Rubin suggested they collaborate with Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell, and after an initial jam session the four formed Audioslave.^[5] The band originally operated under the name Civilian before settling on Audioslave.

The group's self-titled debut album was released in November 2002 and reached number seven on the Billboard 200, eventually being certified triple platinum in the United States.^[5] Their second album, Out of Exile (2005), debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.^[6] Audioslave released three albums in total before dissolving in 2007. Cornell died in May 2017.^[7]

Prophets of Rage (2016–2019)

In 2016, Wilk reunited with Morello and Commerford to form the supergroup Prophets of Rage, joined by Public Enemy's Chuck D and DJ Lord and Cypress Hill's B-Real.^[8] The group released a debut EP, The Party's Over, on August 26, 2016, and a self-titled full-length album in 2017.^[9] Prophets of Rage disbanded in 2019 when Rage Against the Machine announced their second reunion.^[7]

Session and side work

In 2013, Wilk recorded the drums on Black Sabbath's album 13, the band's final studio record, released on June 11, 2013. He stepped in after original drummer Bill Ward declined to participate in the reunion due to a contractual dispute, with the pairing arranged by producer Rick Rubin. Wilk described the experience as a lifelong dream fulfilled: "I was a 14-year-old kid sitting in his room with a record player trying to learn Bill Ward parts, and Black Sabbath is one of my favorite groups of all time. So to actually be asked to play drums with them was an incredible experience." He also expressed that he wished Ward had been able to participate: "Even though it was just the most amazing experience for me, I wish that it could have been Bill Ward instead of me."^[10] Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler described Wilk's playing on the record as "more like a Bill kind of thing, like an old-school drummer — more jazzier and that kind of thing, which suited the album."^[10] Producer Rubin explained the choice: "Brad is a muscular drummer with great feel and understands the groovy nature of their music... When they played together the first time, it was obvious he would do a great job in the seat Bill left vacated."^[10]

Other collaborative work includes contributing drums to Cypress Hill's album Skull and Bones, recording with Maynard James Keenan and Billy Gould under the name Shandi's Addiction for the 1994 Kiss tribute album Kiss My Ass, and touring with the Smashing Pumpkins from late 2014 through mid-2015. In August 2015, Wilk sat in with the 8G Band on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Personal life

Wilk was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1997. He has been active in raising funds for diabetes awareness, including through the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). He has also developed a line of sugar-free drinks intended for people with diabetes.

Wilk married actress Selene H. Vigil in 2005; they divorced in 2013 and have two children together.