Tom Morello Wiki Biography

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.



Full Name Tom Morello
Net Worth $30 Million
Date Of Birth May 30, 1964
Place Of Birth Harlem, New York City, New York, United States
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.8 m)
Profession Musician, Songwriter, Actor, Guitarist, Singer-songwriter, Film Score Composer
Education Libertyville High School, Harvard University
Nationality American
Spouse Denise Luiso (m. 2009)
Children Rhoads Morello, Roman Morello
Parents Mary Morello, Ngethe Njoroge
Nicknames Thomas Baptiste Morello , Thomas Morello , Rage Against the Machine , Audioslave , The Nightwatchman
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TomMorello
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/tmorello
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tommorello/
MySpace http://www.myspace.com/thenightwatchman
IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0603780
Allmusic https://www.allmusic.com/artist/tom-morello-mn0000617336
Albums 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)
Trademark
1 Shaven head
2 Ibanez Guitar
3 Fiery Politically charged Lyrics with an emphasis on Social Injustice
4 Explosive energetic Guitar Solos
5 Baseball Cap
6 Producing DJ-like “scratching” sounds with his electric guitar, as well as passionate, adventurous solos featuring interesting digital effects..
Quote
1 Beethoven’s (Ludwig van Beethoven] Fifth Symphony contains one of the great riffs of all time.
2 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.
3 “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.
Fact
1 Once worked as an aide for Democratic senator Alan Cranston.
2 Graduated from Harvard University in 1986 with a BA Degree, with Honours, in Political Science.
3 Is a Vegetarian.
4 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.
5 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).
6 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.
7 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.
8 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).
9 His mother, Mary, is of Irish/Italian heritage.
10 His father was a civil servant. was part of the first Kenyan delegation to the United Nations in New York.
11 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.
12 Was in a band called Electric Sheep with Tool guitarist Adam Jones.
13 Has started the rock band Audioslave with fellow Rage Against The Machine members Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk and former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell. [2002]
14 His father was a guerilla in the Mau-Mau uprising that freed Kenya from British rule.
15 His mother, Mary, started Parents for Rock and Rap, an organization against censorship in music.

Soundtrack

Title Year Status Character
Resident Evil: The Final Chapter 2016 performer: “Collider” / writer: “Collider”
One Hit Wonderland 2012-2015 TV Series documentary writer – 2 episodes
Entourage 2015 performer: “King Of The Jungle” – as Tom Morrello / writer: “King Of The Jungle” – as Tom Morrello
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 2015 TV Series performer – 1 episode
My Mad Fat Diary 2014 TV Series writer – 1 episode
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards 2013 TV Special performer: “Refuse to Lose”, “No Sleep till Brooklyn”
Sound City 2013 Documentary writer: “Killing in the Name”
Zero Dark Thirty 2012 performer: “Rise Up Featuring Tom Morello” / writer: “Rise Up Featuring Tom Morello” – as Thomas Morello
Pauw & Witteman TV Series performer – 1 episode, 2012 writer – 1 episode, 2012
Battleship 2012 performer: “Super Battle” / writer: “Super Battle”
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno TV Series performer – 1 episode, 2011 writer – 1 episode, 2011
P.O.V. 2011 TV Series documentary writer – 1 episode
Real Steel 2011 performer: “The Midas Touch”, “One Man Army” / writer: “The Midas Touch”, “One Man Army”
Transformers: Dark of the Moon 2011 performer: “Goodbye – Gate 21”
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front 2011 Documentary writer: “Sleep Now In The Fire”
Conan 2010 TV Series performer – 1 episode
Friday Night Lights TV Series performer – 1 episode, 2010 writer – 1 episode, 2010
Hawaii Five-0 TV Series performer – 1 episode, 2010 writer – 1 episode, 2010
The A-Team 2010 performer: “A-TEAM BLASTOFF SUITE” / writer: “A-TEAM BLASTOFF SUITE”
The Losers 2010/I writer: “Clap for the Killers”, “The Oath”
WWE Raw TV Series writer – 3 episodes, 2010 performer – 3 episodes, 2010
Live from Studio Five TV Series performer – 1 episode, 2009 writer – 1 episode, 2009
Tropic Thunder 2008 writer: “The Name Of The Game”, “The Name Of The Game The Crystal Method’s Big Ass T.T. Mix”
Drillbit Taylor 2008 writer: “Name Of The Game”
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock 2007 Video Game “Tom Morello Boss Battle” / writer: “Bulls On Parade”
World in Conflict 2007 Video Game writer: “Shadow on the Sun”
Slacker Uprising 2007 Documentary performer: “No One Left” / writer: “No One Left”
Sicko 2007 Documentary performer: “I’m Alone Without You” – as The Nightwatchman / writer: “I’m Alone Without You” – as The Nightwatchman
Guitar Hero II 2006 Video Game writer: “KILLING IN THE NAME OF” – as T Morello
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby 2006 writer: “Cochise” 2002
Miami Vice 2006 writer: “Shape of Things to Come”, “Wide Awake”
Coachella 2006 Video documentary writer: “Om Nia Merican” – as Tom Morrello
Threat 2006 performer: “Rage” / writer: “Rage”
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas 2004 Video Game writer: “Killing In The Name” – as Thomas Morello
Collateral 2004 “Shadow On The Sun” / writer: “Shadow On The Sun” – as Thomas Morello
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story 2004 performer: “Face Off” / writer: “Face Off”
Foolproof 2003 writer: “Wild, Sweet & Cool”
Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle 2003 writer: “Sleep Now in the Fire”
The Matrix Reloaded 2003 writer: “Calm Like a Bomb”
Splinter Cell 2002 Video Game writer: “Name of the Game”
Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever 2002 writer: “The Name Of The Game” – as T. Morello
Blade II 2002 producer: “PHDream” / writer: “The Name of The Game”
S.P.U.N.G 2002 TV Series writer – 1 episode
This Is What Democracy Looks Like 2000 Documentary writer: “Guerrilla Radio”
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 2000 Video Game writer: “Guerrilla Radio”
The Matrix 1999 writer: “Wake Up”
The Faculty 1998 performer: “Another Brick in the Wall, part II”
Spawn 1997 performer: “One Man Army” / writer: “One Man Army” – as T. Morello
Daria 1997 TV Series writer – 1 episode
Dangerous Ground 1997 performer: “Rapaz R.N. Dainja Chain Me to the Gear Re-mix”

Music Department

Title Year Status Character
Pacific Rim 2013 musician: feature guitarist
Battleship 2012 musician: featured guitarist
Iron Man 2 2010 musician: electric guitars
Iron Man 2008 musician: additional electric guitar
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby 2006 musician: guitar
xXx: State of the Union 2005 additional musician: guitar

Actor

Title Year Status Character
Iron Man 2008 Guard
Berkeley 2005 Blue
Made 2001 Best Man
Star Trek: Voyager 2000 TV Series Crewman Mitchell
Star Trek: Insurrection 1998 Son’a Officer (uncredited)

Writer

Title Year Status Character
Leo Moracchioli: Killing in the Name 2016 Short

Composer

Title Year Status Character
Rage Against the Machine: Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium 2003 Video

Thanks

Title Year Status Character
Marvel Studios: Assembling a Universe 2014 TV Movie documentary thanks
Occupy Los Angeles 2012 Documentary thanks
Save the Farm 2011 Documentary short special thanks
Fahrenheit 9/11: A Movement in Time 2004 TV Movie documentary special thanks

Self

Title Year Status Character
The Survivor’s Guide to Prison 2017 Documentary post-production Himself
Beyond Barricades 2016 Documentary post-production Himself
Jimmy Kimmel Live! 2007-2016 TV Series Himself – Musical Guest / Himself – Musical Support / Himself
Tavis Smiley 2008-2016 TV Series Himself
Real Time with Bill Maher 2006-2016 TV Series Himself / Himself – Guest
A Director Prepares: Bobby Roth’s Masterclass 2016 TV Series documentary Himself
Imagine John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert 2015 TV Movie Himself – Musician
Shadow Nation 2015 Documentary
The 2015 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 2015 TV Movie Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon 2015 TV Series Himself – Musical Guest
The 2014 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony 2014 TV Movie Himself (inducting Kiss)
Who Is Vermin Supreme? An Outsider Odyssey 2014 Documentary Himself
Bruce Springsteen’s High Hopes 2014 Documentary short Himself
Marvel Studios: Assembling a Universe 2014 TV Movie documentary Himself
The Kennedy Center Honors 2013 TV Special Himself
Four Days in Chicago 2013 Documentary Himself
Forward 2013/I Documentary Himself
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards 2013 TV Special Himself – Performer
Night of Too Many Stars: America Comes Together for Autism Programs 2012 TV Movie Himself
Let Fury Have the Hour 2012 Documentary Himself
Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell 2012 TV Series Himself – Guest
Occupy Los Angeles 2012 Documentary Himself
Democracy Now! 2010-2012 TV Series Himself
Moyers & Company 2012 TV Series Himself
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 2012 TV Series Himself
Metal Evolution 2011-2012 TV Series documentary Himself
Capitalism Is the Crisis 2011 Documentary Himself
Rise Like Lions 2011 Documentary Himself
Last Call with Carson Daly 2007-2011 TV Series Himself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 2011 TV Series Himself – Musical Guest
Talk Stoop with Cat Greenleaf 2011 TV Series Himself
That Metal Show 2011 TV Series Himself – Guest
Save the Farm 2011 Documentary short Himself – Rage Against the Machine
The Rage Factor: Rage Against the Machine Live from London 2011 Video Himself
Conan 2010 TV Series Himself – Musical Support
Ultimate Iron Man: The Making of ‘Iron Man 2’ 2010 Video documentary Himself
Sounds Like a Revolution 2010 Documentary
Breakfast 2010 TV Series Himself – ‘Rage Against the Machine’
Rage Against the Machine: Live on the BBC 2009 TV Movie Himself
The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concert 2009 TV Special Himself
PoliWood 2009 Documentary Himself
Iron Maiden: Flight 666 2009 Documentary Himself
Late Night with Conan O’Brien 2008 TV Series Himself
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson 2008 TV Series Himself
South Central Farm: Oasis in a Concrete Desert. 2008 Video documentary short Himself – Musician
Open the Debates: Super Rally in Denver, CO 2008 2008 Video Himself
Chevolution 2008 Documentary Himself
Public Enemy: Welcome to the Terrordome 2007 Documentary Himself
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock 2007 Video Game Himself
Escape from Suburbia: Beyond the American Dream 2007 Video documentary Himself – Guitarist, Audioslave
Slacker Uprising 2007 Documentary Himself
Air Guitar Nation 2006 Documentary Los Angeles Judge
Audioslave: Live in Cuba 2005 Video documentary Himself (Guitars) (as Audioslave)
Audioslave: [email protected] 2005 TV Movie Himself (as Audioslave)
Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey 2005 Documentary Himself
The Work of Director Mark Romanek 2005 Video documentary Himself – Interviewee
React Now: Music & Relief 2005 TV Movie Himself
Words and Music in Honor of Fahrenheit 9/11 2005 TV Movie documentary Himself
I Love the ’90s 2004 TV Series documentary Himself
I Love the ’80s Strikes Back 2003 TV Series documentary Himself
The Ultimate Song 2002 Video documentary Himself (member of Rage Against the Machine)
Rage Against the Machine: The Battle of Mexico City 2001 Video documentary Himself
Rage Against the Machine: The Battle of Los Angeles 2001 Video Himself
MTV Video Music Awards 2000 2000 TV Special Himself – Performer (as Rage Against the Machine)
Free Tibet 1998 Documentary Himself (Rage Against the Machine)
Rage Against the Machine 1997 Video documentary Himself
The Word 1993 TV Series Himself

Archive Footage

Nominated Awards

Year Award Ceremony Nomination Movie
2013 Black Reel Black Reel Awards Best Song The Man with the Iron Fists (2012)

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