Brad Wilk is an American drummer, songwriter, activist, and actor. He is best known as the drummer for the rock band Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, and Prophets of Rage. Wilk was born in Portland, Oregon in 1968. He grew up in Chicago, Illinois and began playing drums at the age of eight.
Wilk's early career saw him playing in local bands such as Lock Up and Black Sabbath tribute band, Earth. Eventually he moved to Los Angeles and began playing for various bands such as Electric Love Hogs, Jerry Cantrell, and the Neurotic Outsiders. He then joined Rage Against the Machine in 1991. The band released four studio albums before disbanding in 2000.
In 2001, Wilk joined Audioslave with members of Soundgarden and released three albums before splitting in 2007. After a brief hiatus, Wilk reunited with Rage Against the Machine in 2007 for a series of concerts. He then joined Prophets of Rage, a supergroup with members of Public Enemy and Cypress Hill. The band released an album in 2017.
In addition to his music career, Wilk has also appeared in a few films and television shows. He had a small part in the 2003 film 'The Italian Job' and had a recurring role in the television show 'Bones'. Wilk has also been an active participant in the Occupy Movement, supporting the protests against Wall Street.
Wilk continues to be an active musician, appearing in various projects such as the Sun Red Sun and the Last Internationale. He is also a passionate animal rights activist, supporting causes such as PETA and Farm Sanctuary. Wilk is an example of an artist who is not only passionate about his music, but also uses his platform to support important causes.
