Thomas Morello was born on 30 May 1964, in Harlem, New York City USA, of Italian, Irish and Kenyan descent. He is well known for being a guitarist for popular bands Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. Tom is a well-established musician and songwriter, with his music accounting for most of his current net worth.
How rich is Tom Morello? Sources estimate that his net worth is at $30 million as of early 2016. Most of this has been attributed to his earnings with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. He’s also made music for numerous movies and has been playing solo under the name The Nightwatchman. Success in the music industry and a unique style has put him where he is now.
Tom Morello Net Worth $30 Million
Even at a young age, Tom became very interested in both music and politics. He developed a leftist perspective early, and it defined most of his future endeavors. He was educated at Libertyville High School, and attended Harvard University as a political science student. He graduated in 1986, and then moved to Los Angeles to pursue his music career. To make ends meet he worked as an exotic male stripper, then as a political secretary. His experience in politics didn’t really work well with him, and he realized he didn’t have much interest in that kind of career.
With influences from rock, rap, metal and punk bands, he formed the band Lock Up which went on to produce one album, but sales tanked, and the group soon disbanded. Eventually he met Zack De La Rocha and liked his freestyle rapping, so they formed the band Rage Against the Machine and added drummer Brad Wilk as well as Tom’s childhood friend Tim Commerford on the bass. This would be the start of Morello’s rise in net worth. The band released a self-titled debut album, which was well received and became a hit in many music circles. It was a revolutionary fusion of rock and rap which inspired many similar bands in years to come.
Tom Morello became well known for his unusual style of playing the guitar, using feedback and effects to create unique sounds that fit the band well. Rage Against the Machine went on to make three more studio albums, performing in large, crowded stadiums all around the country. After some disputes during the late 2000s, a disgruntled Zack De La Rocha decided to leave the band just before their fourth album was released.
The remaining members of the band went on to collaborate with Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell. The new band which was originally named Civilian, became Audioslave and released a triple-platinum debut album. The second album from the band in 2005 achieved a number one Billboard status as well as platinum status. But in 2007, the band broke up due to some conflicts on Cornell’s side. The remaining members reunited with Zack de la Rocha and Rage Against the Machine was formed once again. They continued to tour and perform until 2011.
For Tom’s solo career, he is called The Nighwatchman, and his music is a great contrast to what people are used to. He played folk music, which Tom considered an extension of his political views. He went on to collaborate with many artists during his solo run, but also made appearances for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which many believed contributed to that band’s success. He is currently part of the band Street Sweeper Social Club.
Tom Morello keeps his personal life very private. He is married to Denise Luiso and they have two children. Aside from this he’s known to be an activist, joining various groups and also playing music for them. He’s known to always customize and modify the guitars he uses, having different preferences for each one.
Rage Against The Machine (1992), Evil Empire (1996), The Battle of Los Angeles (1999), Renegades (2000), Axis of Justice (2004), One Man Revolution (2007)
Music Groups
Rage Against the Machine ,E Street Band, Civilian, Soundgarden
Movies
Iron Man (2008), Live at Finsbury Park (2015), Made (2001), Berkeley (2005), We Are Wisconsin (2012, documentary)
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Trademark
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Shaven head
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Ibanez Guitar
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Fiery Politically charged Lyrics with an emphasis on Social Injustice
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Explosive energetic Guitar Solos
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Baseball Cap
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Producing DJ-like "scratching" sounds with his electric guitar, as well as passionate, adventurous solos featuring interesting digital effects..
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Quote
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Beethoven's (Ludwig van Beethoven] Fifth Symphony contains one of the great riffs of all time.
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When you're managing human affairs in the name of profit, it's going to be very scarring to the environment and devastating to human rights. And the Occupy movement is now giving voice to that discontent. The discontent is always latent, but now it is represented on street corners in cities around the world.
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"We are committed to continuing with our efforts to effect change in the social and political arena and look forward to creating more ground-breaking music for our fans. In other words, we'll keep it loud, keep it funky and most definitely rock on.
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Fact
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Once worked as an aide for Democratic senator Alan Cranston.
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Graduated from Harvard University in 1986 with a BA Degree, with Honours, in Political Science.
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Is a Vegetarian.
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Is a long time friend and protégé of U2 frontman Bono who personally sought out RATM to open for U2 during their juggernaut Achtung Baby tour back in the early 1990s.
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Is a close friend and supporter of 'Farenheit 9/11' film maker Michael Moore (Moore directed the RATM video 'Sleep Now In The Fire', nominated for a VMA in 2000).
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In 2004, Morello combined activism and music as his alter ego The Nightwatchman on the 'Tell Us The Truth' tour which also included Billy Bragg and Steve Earle.
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Tirelessly continues his political activism during Audioslave's off time through the non-profit organisation he co-founded Axis of Justice which focuses on issues of peace, human rights, and economic justice.
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Along with his former Rage bandmates, he heavily supported the "Free Mumia" movement. This called for the release and retrial of covicted Philadelphia cop killer Mumia Abu Jamal, who has been on death row since 1981. As a result of the affiliation, Rage's music is permanently banned from one of Philadelphia's rock stations, WMMR (although Audioslave songs are allowed).
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His mother, Mary, is of Irish/Italian heritage.
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His father was a civil servant. was part of the first Kenyan delegation to the United Nations in New York.
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His uncle is the late Jomo Kenyatta, one of the earliest and best known African nationalist leaders who went on to become the first president of Kenya.
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Was in a band called Electric Sheep with Tool guitarist Adam Jones.
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Has started the rock band Audioslave with fellow Rage Against The Machine members Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk and former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell. [2002]
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His father was a guerilla in the Mau-Mau uprising that freed Kenya from British rule.
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His mother, Mary, started Parents for Rock and Rap, an organization against censorship in music.