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Hello all, we are now in March, 2012... 'RizMum' blog sure is getting slower now, but as promised I will try my best to keep on going... and its been awhile now since my last post (T_T) and to update this took me almost a year, anyhow, this will be my final year so you guys know how it is when the big "E" comes. So guys, see you in my next post and keep on SHREDDING!!!! And as always please feel free to drop a suggestion/ideas via e-mail, Thanks

Wednesday 7 April 2010

Tom Morello (RAtM/Audioslave)


Name: Thomas Baptiste Morello aka The Nightwatchman
Born: 30th May, 1964 (New York City, USA)

Profile: He is a Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, best known for his tenure with the bands "Rage Against the Machine", "Audioslave", his acoustic solo act "The Nightwatchman" and his newest group, "Street Sweeper Social Club". He is best-known for his use of guitar effects, his innovative guitar solos, his use of the tapping and his heavy-riffs. His guitar playing is also characterized by heavy use of guitar effects, such as delay, modulation, wah, harmonizers, distortion, feedback, and others in unique ways and combinations.

History: Morello attended Libertyville High School, where he was active in speech, drama club and sang in the school choir. He also met Adam Jones future member of "Tool". At age 13, Morello joined his first band; a Led Zeppelin cover band as the lead singer and purchased his first guitar. Around 1984, Morello first started studying the guitar seriously. He had formed a band in the same year called the "Electric Sheep" with long time friend Adam Jones (Tool) on bass, followed by his next band "Lock Up". At the time, Morello's musical tastes lay in the direction of heavy metal.

In 1991, Morello was looking to form a new band after "Lock Up" disbanded. He was impressed by Zack de la Rocha's freestyle rapping and asked him to join his band "Rage Against the Machine (RAtM)". He also drafted drummer Brad Wilk, who he knew from his band "Lock Up", the band's lineup was completed when Zack convinced his childhood friend Tim Commerford to play bass.

In 1992, after frequenting the L.A. club circuit, "RAtM" signed a record deal with Epic Records, and released their self titled debut. They achieved a considerable amount of mainstream success and released four more studio albums.

In 2000, "RAtM" disbanded, Morello, Wilk and Commerford went on to form "Audioslave" with former "Soundgarden" singer Chris Cornell, and released three studio albums. In 2007, "Audioslave" have broken up as a result of frontman Cornell's departure. The band reunited with Zack de la Rocha and resumed their previous band "RAtM".

Morello and "RAtM" has since continued to tour around the world, headlining many large festivals in Europe and the US, including Lollapalooza in Chicago.

Morello is less known for his folk music, which he plays under the alias "The Nightwatchman". In 2003, The Nightwatchman joined artists Lester Chambers (The Chambers Brothers), Boots Riley (The Coup) and Mike Mills (REM) on the Tell Us the Truth Tour. In 2007, The Nightwatchman released his debut solo album, "One Man Revolution".

Influences: Kiss, Iron Maiden, Alice Cooper, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, The Clash, The Sex Pistols and Devo.

Axology: Mongrel Custom named "Arm The Homeless", Fender Stratocaster named "Soul Power", Fender Telecaster named "Sendero Luminoso", Ibanez Artstar, Ibanez Talman, Gibson EDS-1275, Gibson Les Paul, Ovation Breadwinner, Digitech Whammy Pedal and Marshall JCM 800 - 2205 with Peavey 4x12 cabinets

Signature song(s): Killing In the Name - RAtM (Rage Against the Machine, 1992) and Like A Stone - Audioslave (Audioslave, 2002)

Link(s):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-Z1UKYcqNE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjmsIfkrBxY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdC9Lph3AGw

"It took a while for me to realize that I should concentrate on the eccentricities in my playing and find my own voice" - Tom Morello

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