Prophets Of Rage Promise Intense Show At Mohegan

When Public Enemy released “It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back,” a generation ago, the fear was palpable when the iconic hip-hop act came to town. Some markets canceled shows and the act, led by visionary rappers Chuck D and Flavor Flav, made news courtesy of its dense provocative cuts, such as “Welcome to the Terrordome” and “911 is a Joke.” “Prophets of Rage” is one of the incendiary songs from “It Takes a Nation of Millions” and it’s also the name of a new supergroup, which features Chuck D.

“It’s an honor to be part of something like this,” rapper B-Real said while calling from Los Angeles. “This tour is going to be really intense.”

Expectations are high considering the lineup, which also includes guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk, who are three quarters of Rage Against the Machine. The group performs Sunday, Aug. at 28 Mohegan Sun Arena (a scheduled Aug. 23 show at Xfinity in Hartford was cancelled).

“The Party’s Over,” a five-song EP, which drops Friday, Aug. 26, features a couple of covers, such as Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name,” Public Enemy’s “Shut Em Down” and the aforementioned “Prophets of Rage,” with a new lyric by B-Real.

“The songs still hold up,” B-Real aka Louis Freese said. “It doesn’t hurt to add something to them but those old songs still hit you hard.”

Prophets of Rage will render a set of Public Enemy, Rage Against the Machine and Cypress Hill material at the Mohegan Sun Arena. “We have plenty to draw from,” Freese said. “We certainly have the songs.”

The tracks the band plans to draw from have a passion and urgency that is missing from much of contemporary music.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Freese said. “There is such a complacency today.”

Perhaps that has something to do with the ubiquity of devices, which seem to sate most. “I think that is a big part of the problem,” Freese said. “Everyone calms down when they have electronics in their hand. We have a Presidential election. You look at what is happening with the climate. We should be mad. There’s some serious stuff we need to deal with. There is so much to be concerned about. It should be expressed in music. It’s time to rage.”

So it’s apt that the band has dubbed its jaunt the “Make America Rage Again” tour.

“I think that (phrase) fits perfectly,” Freese said.

Expect Prophets of Rage, which is on a two-month roadtrip, to hit the studio for some original material at some point post-tour. “That’s what we’re talking about doing,” Freese said. “We really have something special here. I would love to see where this leads in terms of an album of new material. We’re taking it step by step but I believe that’s where we’re headed.”

Creating Protest Music

Freese is thrilled to share a microphone with Chuck D. “He’s one of my heroes,” Freese said. “He’s the reason I started doing this. Public Enemy had such a huge impact on my life when I was growing up (in Los Angeles). That group really changed everything for me and a lot of people, who care about this style of music.. Public Enemy are my heroes. Just look back at what they did and you’ll be blown away. And then you have the guys from Rage Against the Machine. They did things their way and have been just amazing too.”

One of the common denominators Public Enemy, Rage Against the Machine and Cypress Hill possess is that each will bang away at the status quo.

“I think that’s our responsibility,” Freese said. “That’s been natural for each of our groups. I can’t believe more young bands don’t do that. You can’t just accept what they force feed us. It goes back to Public Enemy. What they did back then is inspiring. What they’re doing now is inspiring.”

Public Enemy and Cypress Hill still exist. “That’s a cool thing,” Freese said. “We can still do Prophets of Rage and still focus on what got us here. We’re all happy to be tied with the groups we’re with. It wasn’t that long ago that I was out with Cypress Hill and we had an unbelievable time on the road a few months ago. There’s a future for Cypress Hill. And we can all go back with Prophets of Rage. I think the potential we have in this group is amazing. Who knows what we can do? We’re having a blast with the covers but it will be interesting to see what new material we can come up with. Who knows how we’ll feel when the tour ends (in October)? But I have a feeling that we’re going to be inspired. When I’m around these guys I just can’t help but get really excited. They’re the best at what they do but it’s more than the music. I think we also share the same kind of spirit and that’s a huge thing”

PROPHETS OF RAGE appears Sunday, Aug. 28 at the Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville. Tickets are $18, $49 and $69. Show time is 7 p.m. For more information, 860-862-8499, mohegansun.com