Tom Morello
Tom Morello (born May 30 1964) is the lead guitarist of the band Audioslave and formerly of Rage Against The Machine.
He was born in Harlem, New York and grew up in Libertyville, Illinois. His mother, Mary Morello, is a founder of Parents For Rock And Rap, an anti-censorship group. His father was a Mau Mau guerilla, a Kenyan revolutionary who later was the first Kenyan delegate to the United Nations. Morello's uncle, Jomo Kenyatta, was the first elected president in Kenya.
In 1986 Morello graduated with honours from Harvard University with a degree in political science. He moved to L.A. with the intention of joining or starting a band. He joined a band called Electric Sheep with soon-to-be-guitarist for Tool Adam Jones. While in Los Angeles, California, Morello's roommate was Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan.
In 1988 he joined Lock Up, who released one album through Geffen Records before splitting up. Afterward, Morello called Brad Wilk who had auditioned for Lock Up interested in forming a band. First meeting Zack de la Rocha at an LA club, where Zack was rapping, it was not long before Tim Commerford was called and Rage Against The Machine was created.
In 2000, Zack de la Rocha left Rage Against the Machine. The remaining three members formed the band Audioslave with former Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell. Audioslave is a popular band and has played at various music festivals, including Lollapalooza.
Tom Morello and Serj Tankian of System of a Down are the co-founders of Axis of Justice, which helps people, teens especially, find ways to be activists in their communities.
He is famed for his guitar style, which consists of punk/funk hybrid riffs and hip hop inspired sounds. His guitar playing is also characterized by heavy use of guitar effects, such as delay, modulation, harmonizers, etc., in quite original combinations. Morello's innovative use of effects make him unique from many other guitarists.
He is also less known for his folk music, where he goes by the alias "The Nightwatchman." To quote Tom:
- "The Nightwatchman is my political folk alter ego. I've been writing these songs and playing them at open mic nights with friends for some time. This is the first time I've toured with it. When I play open mic nights, it's announced as the Nightwatchman. There will be kids there who are fans of my electric guitar playing, and you see them there scratching their heads.
- But it's something that I enjoy doing. I look at it more as an extension of my politics. Then again, some of the songs are not explicitly political. It really helped me grow as an artist and songwriter. Once you prick the vein you never know what is going to come out. You could aim for all union songs and you find yourself in other territory."
