LAST ADD KROQ: Have Rage Against the...

LAST ADD KROQ: Have Rage Against the Machine and KROQ patched things up?

The fiery, politically radical L.A. band and the alternative-rock station have been at an impasse since August, when singer Zack de la Rocha lambasted KROQ from the “Lollapalooza” concert stage for editing the profanity from the Rage songs it was airing. KROQ responded by dropping the band’s music from its play list.

So why is Rage appearing on the second night of the station’s annual “Acoustic Christmas” concert, next Sunday at the Universal Amphitheatre?

“The reason the band agreed to play is because they have respect for many of the other bands on the show, and because it’s a benefit,” says Rage’s manager Warren Entner. “There has been no real contact between the band and KROQ in terms of what you would call a reconciliation.”

But KROQ, taking the appearance as “a show of good faith,” has returned Rage to its airwaves, playing the radio-friendly song “Freedom.”

“We were at odds, but we feel that it’s in the best interest of the station to put it behind us and move forward,” says program director Kevin Weatherly. “They’re an important group, and we want to support artists that have a vision and have something to say. . . . We want to play music that’s cutting-edge, and Rage certainly represents cutting-edge music.”