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Tom Morello

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Tom Morello · Thomas Baptist Morello was born in 1964 in Harlem, New York, and grew up in Libertyville, Illinois. His father was Kenyan and his mother an American teacher. Already at secondary school he became interested in music and politics, called himself the only anarchist at a conservative school and graduated from Harvard in 1986. He then moved to Los Angeles, played in the band Lock Up and in 1991 formed Rage Against the Machine with the rapper Zack de la Rocha. They signed with Epic in 1992 and made the self-titled debut, followed by Evil Empire, The Battle of Los Angeles and Renegades.

Music and breakthrough

After Rage broke up in 2000 he founded Audioslave with the remaining members and the singer Chris Cornell, which made three albums. He also writes folk under the name The Nightwatchman, and made work with Street Sweeper Social Club and Prophets of Rage. He also plays regularly with Bruce Springsteen. His solo albums include The Atlas Underground in 2018. He co-founded Axis of Justice.

Influence

Morello is known for his guitar playing, in which feedback, unusual picking, tapping and many effects define the sound. He names influences such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Randy Rhoads, Eddie Van Halen and Run-D.M.C. He combines metal and hip-hop with an outspoken left-wing political conviction. Rolling Stone ranked him eighteenth among the greatest guitarists, and with Rage he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine and notice the heavy riff and the guitar solo, in which Morello uses effects to make an almost DJ-like sound. Can you hear how the guitar sounds like a turntable?

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists