"Thomas Baptist Morello, a renowned American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and political activist, is best known for his work with bands like Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. His musical journey spans collaborations with Prophets of Rage, Bruce Springsteen, and his solo project, the Nightwatchman. Morello's activism is evident in co-founding Street Sweeper Social Club and Axis of Justice, a platform for social justice advocacy."
The Mau Mau Uprising, a significant rebellion against British colonial rule in Kenya, commenced in 1952, with Tom Morello's father, Ngethe Njoroge, actively participating in the movement.
The Mau Mau Uprising, a rebellion against British colonial rule in Kenya, in which Tom Morello's father participated, came to an end in 1960.
Tom Morello's parents, Ngethe Njoroge and Mary Morello, first crossed paths and met in August 1963 while participating in a pro-democracy demonstration held in Nairobi, Kenya.
On May 30, 1964, Thomas Baptist Morello, better known as Tom Morello, was born in Harlem, New York.
Tom Morello participated in the 50th anniversary commemoration of the 1973 Chilean coup d'état. He expressed his belief that the United States played a role in the coup, stating that they "share responsibility" for it.
During the 1980 mock elections at Libertyville High School, Tom Morello, known for his political activism, campaigned for a fictional anarchist candidate named Hubie Maxwell. Despite being a fictitious contender, Hubie Maxwell secured a notable fourth place in the election.
In June 1982, Tom Morello graduated from high school with honors. Later that year, he enrolled at the prestigious Harvard University to pursue political science.
Around 1982, Tom Morello took a serious interest in playing the guitar and formed a band called the Electric Sheep. The band featured Adam Jones, future guitarist for the band Tool, playing bass.
Tom Morello's band, "Bored of Education," won the Ivy League Battle of the Bands in 1986. Notably, Carolyn Bertozzi, who would later win the 2022 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, played keyboards in the band. This same year, Morello graduated from Harvard with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social studies.
Tom Morello began working in the office of United States Senator Alan Cranston, a Democrat representing California, in 1987.
Since the late 1980s, Tom Morello has consistently used heavily modified guitars with unique slogans, drawing inspiration from Woody Guthrie's "This Machine Kills Fascists" guitar. Additionally, he has used the same Marshall JCM800 amplifier and settings since 1988.
In 1988, Public Enemy released the album "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back," which featured a song that would later inspire the name of Tom Morello's band, Prophets of Rage.
In 1988, Tom Morello concluded his time working in the office of United States Senator Alan Cranston, a Democrat representing California.
In 1989, Lock Up, the band Tom Morello was part of before forming Rage Against the Machine, released their debut album, "Something Bitchin' This Way Comes," under the Geffen Records label.
In 1991, after the disbandment of Lock Up, Tom Morello sought to create a new band. Impressed by Zack de la Rocha's freestyle rapping, Morello invited him to join the band. They recruited drummer Brad Wilk, who had previously auditioned for Lock Up, and de la Rocha brought in his childhood friend, Tim Commerford, to play bass, thus solidifying the lineup for Rage Against the Machine.
Rage Against the Machine, after establishing a strong presence in the Los Angeles club scene, secured a record deal with Epic Records in 1992. That same year, they released their self-titled debut album, marking their entry into the music industry.
Tom Morello collaborated with the hip-hop group Run-DMC in 1992 on their song "Big Willie."
A 1993 Melody Maker live review of a Rage Against the Machine performance praised Tom Morello's unique guitar style, describing his ability to create a wide range of sounds, from "falling bombs" and "police sirens" to "scratching."
In 1993, Tom Morello and his bandmates from Rage Against the Machine protested the Parents Music Resource Center's (PMRC) use of "Parental Advisory" stickers on explicit albums. At Lollapalooza 1993, they appeared on stage naked, with duct tape covering their mouths and "PMRC" painted on their bodies. Instead of performing, they let their instruments feedback for 14 minutes.
Run-DMC's album "Down with the King," featuring the Tom Morello collaboration "Big Willie," was released in 1993.
In 1994, Tom Morello and Brad Wilk (Rage Against the Machine), Maynard James Keenan (Tool), and Billy Gould (Faith No More) formed the group Shandi's Addiction. They recorded the song "Calling Dr. Love" for the Kiss tribute album "Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved."
Bruce Springsteen initially recorded "High Hopes" in 1995, but it wasn't until Morello's suggestion in 2013 that he performed it live.
Rage Against the Machine, having achieved mainstream recognition, released their second studio album, "Evil Empire," in 1996.
Tom Morello was involved in multiple musical projects in 1999. He played lead guitar and produced three tracks for Primus' studio album "Antipop." Additionally, he contributed guitar work to "The Faculty" soundtrack, notably playing with Class of '99 on their cover of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall (pt. 2)".
In a notable event during the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles in August 2000, Rage Against the Machine held a performance outside the Staples Center for a crowd of thousands while the convention proceeded inside. The situation escalated when some attendees began throwing rocks, prompting the Los Angeles Police Department to cut off the power, order the crowd to disperse, and resort to firing rubber bullets and pepper spray to control the situation.
On September 13, 2000, Rage Against the Machine took the stage for the last time at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, marking the end of an era for the band.
Amidst growing internal disagreements and tensions, Rage Against the Machine officially disbanded in October 2000, bringing their time together as a band to a close.
Rage Against the Machine released their fourth studio album, "Renegades," in 2000.
Morello's song "No One Left," drawing parallels between the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks and a potential U.S. attack on Iraq, was featured on the album "Songs and Artists that Inspired Fahrenheit 9/11."
Audioslave released their self-titled debut album on November 19, 2002, achieving critical and commercial success with a triple-platinum certification.
In November 2003, Morello, as The Nightwatchman, joined the Tell Us the Truth Tour with artists such as Billy Bragg and Steve Earle, aiming to raise awareness about media failures and promote social and political causes.
In 2003, Rage Against the Machine released "Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium," their final album. It featured a curated recording of their last two shows at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, on September 12 and 13, 2000. This release also included an expanded DVD version of their final performance, along with a previously unreleased music video for their song "Bombtrack."
Tom Morello took on the role of executive producer for Anti-Flag's 2003 studio album, "The Terror State."
On May 24, 2005, Audioslave released their second album, "Out of Exile," which debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and achieved platinum status.
Tom Morello was awarded the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award on April 6, 2006, in recognition of his advocacy for workers' rights and his work with the organization Axis of Justice (AOJ).
Tom Morello produced two tracks for the group Outernational in April 2006. Their website indicated his involvement in their debut album's production.
July 2006 marked a period of diverse activities for Tom Morello. It was reported that he would be collaborating with Boots Riley, frontman of The Coup, on a project called Street Sweepers. Additionally, he made an appearance in the video game "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock" as a "guitar boss." Players could challenge him in a one-on-one battle with an original composition he created for the game. Defeating him unlocked him as a playable character.
On September 28, 2006, Tom Morello was among 400 individuals arrested at a protest in Los Angeles. The demonstration, considered one of the largest acts of civil disobedience in the city's history, aimed to support the rights of immigrant hotel workers.
Audioslave released their third album, "Revelations," in the fall of 2006.
Audioslave disbanded on February 15, 2007, due to "irresolvable personality conflicts" leading to Cornell's departure, after which the band reunited with Zack de la Rocha as Rage Against the Machine.
Morello, under his solo moniker The Nightwatchman, released his debut album "One Man Revolution" on April 24, 2007.
On April 29, 2007, Rage Against the Machine surprised fans with a reunion performance at the Coachella Music Festival. Playing against a backdrop featuring the EZLN (Zapatista Army of National Liberation), the band drew one of the largest crowds of the festival.
The Nightwatchman joined the Dave Matthews Band for their European tour in May 2007, opening for them and occasionally joining them on stage as a guest performer.
On May 30, 2007, Morello, as The Nightwatchman, celebrated his birthday with a performance at Wembley Arena in London, concluding his tour with the Dave Matthews Band.
Morello began a residency at the Hotel Café in Los Angeles in November 2007, featuring collaborations with various musicians, including Serj Tankian and Perry Farrell.
Tom Morello lent his guitar skills to the soundtrack of the video game "Mortal Kombat: Armageddon" in 2007, playing for the Armory stage's battle music.
Following Audioslave's disbandment in 2007, Morello and Boots Riley of The Coup formed the duo Street Sweeper Social Club.
In January 2008, Rage Against the Machine played their first international shows since their reunion, performing as part of the Big Day Out Festival in Australia and New Zealand, marking a return to the global stage.
Morello made two guest appearances with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band at the Honda Center in Anaheim in April 2008, performing an extended electric version of "The Ghost of Tom Joad."
Rage Against the Machine continued their resurgence in August 2008 by headlining nights at the renowned Reading and Leeds festivals in the United Kingdom, solidifying their place as a major musical force.
On August 27, 2008, Tom Morello, performing as The Nightwatchman, participated in the "Open the Debates" rally in Denver, Colorado. The rally opposed the Commission on Presidential Debates' exclusion of third-party candidates from televised debates. Morello performed "This Land is Your Land" and endorsed Ralph Nader, an independent presidential candidate.
On October 10, 2008, Morello, as The Nightwatchman, appeared on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" to promote his album "The Fabled City."
In 2008, Rage Against the Machine strategically scheduled shows to coincide with major political events in the United States. They performed in Denver, Colorado, during the Democratic National Convention and in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the Republican National Convention, using their platform to engage with the political climate of the time.
In October 2009, Tom Morello joined a group of musicians in suing the U.S. government. Their lawsuit aimed to force the declassification of documents related to the use of music in interrogations at Guantanamo Bay detention camp. Morello condemned the practice, stating that the use of music in such a context was a form of torture.
Morello performed at the 25th Anniversary Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concert at Madison Square Garden on October 29, 2009, playing alongside Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
Cypress Hill released their single "Rise Up" on February 23, 2010, featuring Tom Morello on guitar. The song was included in their album of the same name.
On November 2, 2010, Travis Barker and Tom Morello, along with RZA and Raekwon of Wu-Tang Clan, released a collaborative song titled "Carry It." The track was later featured on Travis Barker's debut solo album, "Give the Drummer Some."
In a 2010 BBC poll, Tom Morello was voted the fifth greatest guitarist of the past 30 years.
On February 21, 2011, Tom Morello organized and performed at an acoustic concert in Madison, Wisconsin, supporting protests over collective bargaining rights. The concert included performances by Wayne Kramer of MC5 and the Boston punk band Street Dogs.
In July 2011, Rage Against the Machine took the stage at L.A. Rising, a concert they organized in Los Angeles. The band headlined the event and shared the stage with other prominent artists, including Muse and Rise Against, creating a powerful musical experience for attendees.
A release party for Tom Morello's comic book series "Orchid," sponsored by Dark Horse Comics, was held at Jetpack Comics in Rochester, New Hampshire, on October 12, 2011.
Tom Morello, a lifelong comic book enthusiast, debuted his 12-issue comic book series "Orchid" with Dark Horse Comics in October 2011. The post-apocalyptic story follows the titular character, a teenage prostitute who discovers her true potential. Each issue was accompanied by an exclusive new song by Morello. The illustrations were done by Canadian artist Scott Hepburn.
On December 17, 2011, The Nightwatchman performed a live set and was interviewed on DirecTV's "Guitar Center Sessions."
On December 4, 2012, Morello joined Springsteen and the E Street Band for five songs during a concert in Anaheim.
In 2012, Paul Ryan, then Republican nominee for vice president, mentioned his appreciation for Rage Against the Machine's music. Tom Morello responded with an op-ed in Rolling Stone, criticizing Ryan's political views and stating that Ryan embodied the very "machine" the band's music railed against.
The "Orchid" comic book series, written by Tom Morello, was collected into three trade paperback volumes, with releases starting in 2012.
The Nightwatchman contributed a version of "Blind Willie McTell" to "Chimes Of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International," released in 2012.
On January 17, 2013, it was announced that Morello would temporarily replace Steve Van Zandt on the E Street Band's Australian tour in March 2013.
Morello joined Springsteen and the E Street Band for their Wrecking Ball Tour in Australia in March 2013, filling in for Steve Van Zandt and recording new music with the band.
Morello inspired Springsteen to perform "High Hopes" live for the first time in March 2013, leading to its re-recording and becoming the title track of Springsteen's 2014 album.
Tom Morello was featured in the song "Opinion" from Device's self-titled debut album, released in April 2013.
In June 2013, Tom Morello joined several celebrities in a video demonstrating their support for Chelsea Manning, a former U.S. Army soldier convicted of leaking classified information.
The final trade paperback volume collecting Tom Morello's "Orchid" comic book series was released in 2013, concluding the series' release in this format.
Bruce Springsteen released his 18th studio album, "High Hopes," in January 2014, featuring Morello on eight tracks, including a duet on "The Ghost of Tom Joad."
Springsteen's "High Hopes" Tour, featuring Morello, came to an end in May 2014.
Linkin Park released their album "The Hunting Party" on June 17, 2014, which included the song "Drawbar" featuring Tom Morello on guitar.
On September 26, 2014, Tom Morello performed at a benefit concert in Seattle for the organization "15 Now." The group, initiated by Socialist Alternative and Kshama Sawant, advocated for a $15/hour minimum wage.
Tom Morello contributed a guitar solo to the song "Without End" on Anti-Flag's studio album "American Spring," released on May 26, 2015.
Tom Morello made a guest appearance alongside Knife Party and Pendulum at Ultra Music Festival Miami in March 2016. They performed "Battle Sirens" from his then-upcoming album "The Atlas Underground" and a mashup of "Tarantula" and "Bonfire."
Morello made a surprise appearance during Springsteen's concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on August 25, 2016, joining the band on several songs.
Bruce Springsteen embarked on "The River Tour 2016" with a smaller E Street Band lineup, without Morello.
In 2016, Tom Morello joined the supergroup Prophets of Rage.
Prophets of Rage, a supergroup composed of members from Rage Against the Machine, Public Enemy, and Cypress Hill, was formed in 2016 with a mission to address political and social issues.
Prophets of Rage, the band, emerged in 2016, taking their name from a Public Enemy song. They debuted with a protest performance at the Republican National Convention and released their first single, "Prophets of Rage," that same year. They also released an EP titled "The Party's Over".
Tom Morello provided a written introduction for the 2016 edition of "The Big Red Songbook," a collection of protest music.
Audioslave reunited for a single performance in January 2017, sparking talks of a potential reunion tour.
Chris Cornell, former frontman of Audioslave, passed away on May 18, 2017, ending the possibility of a reunion tour.
Prophets of Rage released their self-titled debut LP in 2017.
On October 12, 2018, Tom Morello released his solo album, "The Atlas Underground." The album features collaborations with various artists, including Marcus Mumford, Portugal. The Man, Bassnectar, RZA and GZA from Wu-Tang Clan, Vic Mensa, K.Flay, Big Boi, Gary Clark Jr., Pretty Lights, Killer Mike, Tim McIlrath, Steve Aoki, and Whethan. The album's release was preceded by the singles "We Don't Need You" featuring Vic Mensa and "Battle Sirens" featuring Knife Party.
Prophets of Rage continued touring throughout 2018, extending their "Make America Rage Again" tour that began in the summer of 2016.
On February 2, 2019, Morello made a guest appearance alongside Zac Brown during the Foo Fighters' pre-Super Bowl 53 concert in Atlanta, performing a cover of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs."
Tom Morello participated as a presenter at the 91st Academy Awards on February 24, 2019.
On November 1, 2019, Rage Against the Machine announced their reunion for the first time in nine years, with plans to perform at Coachella and tour in spring 2020.
Tom Morello's time with the supergroup Prophets of Rage came to an end in 2019.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rage Against the Machine's planned summer 2020 tour was postponed.
With the announcement of Rage Against the Machine's reunion in 2020, Prophets of Rage decided to disband.
On January 4, 2021, Tom Morello collaborated with DJ Free Leonard to release the single "Traditional Way of Life." The song features poetry by Leonard Peltier, recorded during his incarceration, and served as a call to President Trump for his release.
The Pretty Reckless released their album "Death by Rock and Roll" in February 2021, featuring Tom Morello on the song "And So It Went."
Tom Morello expanded his presence on SiriusXM by joining an additional weekly show on March 2, 2021.
Tom Morello launched his own original podcast on March 3, 2021.
Tom Morello participated in the "Live for Gaza" online event in April 2021, which featured performances by Osprey V (Gaza's first rock band) and other Gaza-based artists, including Wafaa Alnjeili and Badeel Band.
Tom Morello collaborated with Pussy Riot to release the song and music video "Weather Strike" in April 2021.
In May 2021, Tom Morello, along with over 600 musicians, including members of Rage Against the Machine, signed an open letter advocating for a boycott of performances in Israel. The boycott aimed to pressure Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories.
Tom Morello, on September 21, 2021, released a new song titled "Let's Get The Party Started," featuring members of Bring Me the Horizon.
On October 15, 2021, Tom Morello released his second solo album, "The Atlas Underground Fire." This followed the release of his single "Let's Get The Party Started."
Tom Morello added "regular newsletter writer for The New York Times" to his list of endeavors in 2021.
In July 2022, after postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rage Against the Machine kicked off their rescheduled tour.
Carolyn Bertozzi, who played keyboards in Tom Morello's band "Bored of Education" while at Harvard, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2022.
Måneskin released their single and music video for "Gossip" on January 13, 2023, featuring Tom Morello.
Babymetal released their single and music video for "Metali" on August 18, 2023, featuring Tom Morello.
In 2023, Neural DSP launched an official audio plug-in that emulates Tom Morello's distinct guitar gear and setup.
In 2023, Tom Morello, as a member of Rage Against the Machine, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2024, drummer Brad Wilk announced that Rage Against the Machine would no longer be touring or performing live.