I was raised in a Latino household, learned English at the late age of 4-5 when I entered preschool, and never listened to a piece of American music until I was 13. Being cut off from a major part of the culture that surrounded me resulted in many negatives. I was incredibly dependent on my parents, blocked all opinions and values outside of the ones I grew up with, and remained unexposed to the problems that troubled the world. It was cultural isolation to put it kindly, but beyond that it was a lack of self-development and growth. Entering high school, a friend of mine exposed me to all types of music and I became engrossed in finding what I loved and was passionate about. For the first year I transitioned from mainstream music, to pop, to metal, and finally found a passion in rock and punk rock music.
It took another few months to fall in love with a band named Rise Against. It was always on my iPod Touch, I just never paid enough attention to what was being said and I never explored beyond what my buddies recommended. After listening to every song on my iPod for the thousandth time, it was almost mandatory to learn the lyrics behind them. What I found in Rise Against was something almost nonexistent in other genres and artists. They spoke about ideas and themes beyond the typical ones of love, money, sex, and happiness. They wrote cryptically of politics, disparity, the environment, veganism, and other social issues. The lyrics could be interpreted in countless ways, and the sound was raw and powerful. There was no auto-tune to cover the raw frustration, anger and passion in their voices. Who were these people?
In due time, I grew more familiar with all the members of Rise Against, as well as their philosophies and beliefs. While I respected every member and they all helped create the band I love, I found a hero and role model among them when I needed it the most. His name is Tim McIlrath, the lead singer and rhythm guitarist. Tim grew up in a very political household and takes the lead role in creating the lyrics; they are essentially his thoughts, ideas and words. I know some people may not appreciate that at first, but very few artists these days take the time to create music from the heart, speaking about the things they care about and believe in.
What Tim did for me was something very few people have been capable of. He gave me hope, anger, and a passion. He made me want to change the world, he made me want to speak out, and he made me want to become better. He was the only person I saw unafraid to yell what was wrong with the world with passion and intent to change it. Living a straight edge lifestyle structured a vegan diet and free of drugs and alcohol, he along with his band mates were proof that rebels weren’t animals. He leads a band that takes the time to go to soup kitchens to feed the poor and homeless, to sing on the streets for charity money to give to animal shelters, and speaks openly about the changes we need. Rise Against is proof that there is controlled chaos in rebellion, that it is a movement made of intelligent people that can think for themselves and live a life untainted by the fallacies fed to us by the media, corrupt politicians, and traditional mindsets. He is the change he wants to the see in the world and he makes that crystal clear in every word he speaks, every action he takes, and every lyric he sings.
From the hidden message in their song “Savior,” to the cry to people who readily accept lies and follow weak leaders in “Drones,” and the discussions of impending tragedies due only from our ignorance in “People Live Here,” Tim is consistent in the message he delivers, and has been since the conception of the Rise Against and even before that. He has tackled every topic from immigration, LGBT rights, evils of the Bush administration, war, and so much more years before they even entered the spotlight. Tim McIlrath is the harbinger of bad news, the one who is unafraid to speak openly of what has happened, is happening, and will happen. Yet he is also one of the few who uses every resource he has, most importantly his friends and members along with his raw voice, to create unity and hope when it’s needed the most.
Let this be my thank you message to you Tim, and all of Rise Against. You were the one who told me the truth when no one else would. You fortified me with knowledge and rage, and molded me to be an individualistic thinker who could analyze controversial ideas and issues. You were the first step to me becoming vegetarian, and inspire me to one day become vegan. You helped me become the progressive I am today, who will not stop until people hear what I have to say and perhaps one day can make a difference in someone else’s life, the way you have in mine. Thank you, Tim, for being the first person I ever considered to be a hero, and Rise Against for being the beacon of hope we all need.
Rise Against is a Chicago-native punk rock band that formed in 1999. Their music tackles countless controversial topics and issues that threaten the democracy and wellbeing of this country, society, and the world. To learn more about the band, their music, and their activism, you can visit http://www.riseagainst.com/ .
In light of the Orlando shooting that took place this weekend, I wanted to spotlight one powerful song this band wrote years ago about the struggles and hardships of the LGBT community in a record called Endgame. The song is called “Make It Stop (September’s Children).” You can watch the official music video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP4clbHc4Xg .
