Rage Againtst the Machine's Tim Commerford Reveals Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Rage Againtst the Machine’s Tim Commerford Reveals Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

2022-12-15

Rage Against the Machine album cover - Story by Cat Badra

Rage Against the Machine album cover – Story by Anne Erickson

Tim Commerford says he was diagnosed with prostate cancer before Rage Against the Machine’s summer tour

Rage Against the Machine bass player Tim Commerford has revealed that he’s been dealing with some serious health issues this year. In a new interview with Spin, Commerford says he’s been battling prostate cancer. He got served with the diagnosis and had treatment for the cancer before Rage’s summer tour.

“I’ve been dealing with some pretty serious s***,” he told Spin. “Right before I was about to go on tour with Rage, I had my prostate removed, and I have prostate cancer.”

He continued, “I’ve been someone that’s taken a lot of pride in being in shape and taking care of myself. But it’s something where either you’re either lucky or not.”

Commerford said that he found out about his diagnosis after getting life insurance and finding out that his PSA numbers were up. “I couldn’t get it. They wouldn’t insure me,” he said. “At first, the number was very low — like one-point-something. I watched it over the course of a year and a half, and it kept elevating further. Eventually, they did a biopsy and found out I had cancer, so they took my prostate out.”

He wishes he had paid more attention to his health early on, when he was getting those small warning signs, such as the elevated PSA numbers. “I had been thinking, well, because they’re watching it and let it get to this point, maybe it’s not that big of a deal,” he explained. “I blame myself. I should have said, ‘my numbers are elevated and what does that really mean?’ I should have taken it more seriously. I should have looked into alternate therapy instead of getting sucked into the most disgusting, capitalistic machine on the face of the planet: the medical establishment.”

“I’m just trying to grab ahold of the reins,” he continued. “It’s gonna be a long journey, I hope. My dad died in his early 70s from cancer and my mom died from cancer in her 40s. Split the difference to 65 and I’ve got 10 years. I’m trying to get to the 100-song mark — I have some goals now. Songwriting has become a catharsis for me.”

Thankfully, it appears that Commerford is winning this battle. He says that he recently six-month test, and it came back at zero. “I was like, ‘F*** yeah!’ That’s the best I can feel for the rest of my life,” he said. “Every day I get closer to that test is like, ‘F*** man, is this going to be the time when the number is going to go up and I’m going to the next thing, whatever that is?’ I already went through some pain and shit. And I’m continuing to go through like, some crazy s***.”

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Cat Badra

Meet the expert - Cat Badra is a music writer for Audio Ink Radio and a range of other music, sports and lifestyle publications. She's a graduate of Michigan State University with a master's degree in theater and speech. Contact her at cat@audioinkradio.com.