Rage Against The Machine to play Big Day Out

Rage Against The Machine singer Zack de la Rocha and bassist Tim Commerford (R) on stage in the US in July. Photo / Reuters

Reformed 1990s rock band Rage Against the Machine have been confirmed as one of the main acts at next year's Big Day Out.

The politically-charged quartet were one of the most popular hard rock bands to come out of the United States and announced this week that they would play January shows at the Sydney Entertainment Centre and Melbourne's Festival Hall. Both shows sold out within minutes of tickets going on sale.

The Auckland concert will be their first outside the United States since reforming.

The Big Day Out starts in Auckland on January 18 and then tours five cities in Australia.

Organisers will next Tuesday announce another string of bands to play at the festival.

- NZPA