Tom Morello is Cool, But His Mom, Mary Morello, is Cooler
Tom Morello celebrates his birthday on May 30, but this actually is a perfect time to celebrate his mother, Mary.
Tom Morello celebrates his birthday today (May 30), but this actually is a perfect time to celebrate his mother, Mary.
If you follow Tom on Instagram, there's a good chance you've caught a few of his posts honoring Mary's incredible history of activism and general badassery. Frankly, reading random stories about Mary Morello is one of the best reasons to follow Tom on social media.
Want proof? On Mother's Day 2018, Tom wrote an awe-inspiring tribute to Mary that highlighted all of her stellar accomplishments during every decade of her life.
Tom began, "In the 1930’s she helped feed hobos during the Great Depression and supported the coal miners struggle to organize. In the 1940’s she helped raise war bonds to defeat the fascists in WWII. In the 1950’s she taught international students and opposed racist Jim Crow laws and as a single woman traveled the world. In the 1960’s she aided anti-colonial movements while living in Africa."
Tom continued, "In the 1970’s she was a radical teacher in a conservative high school inspiring students to challenge the system and aided the United Farm Workers and the Urban League. In the 1980’s she went on nine peace missions to the Soviet Union and Cuba and spoke out against Apartheid South Africa and Central American death squads. In the 1990’s she opposed the first Iraq War and founded an international organization to fight music censorship (Parents For Rock & Rap)."
Tom wrapped up his tribute with, "In the 2000’s she helped homeless people and recovering addicts get their high school diplomas at the Salvation Army and opposed wars for oil. In the 2010’s she volunteered at local soup kitchen and currently works with Doctors Without Borders and Mideast peace and justice organizations. All the while being a loving, supportive single mom Mother Bear & grandmother who at 94 is still the most radical member of the Morello family and still lets me rock in her basement."
More Amazing Greatness About Mary Morello
Mary Morello doesn't rest even when it's her birthday. On her 96th birthday, Tom shared, "Happy 96th birthday to my mom, Mary Morello! Still the most radical AND most popular member of the Morello family. Of course, she spent her birthday morning making sandwiches for the hungry."
Oh, and if that's not enough, in May 2023, Morello shared a photo of himself and Mary out supporting the Writers Guild of America strike. He captioned it, "#MaryMorello: 99 and holding the line! @writersguildwest #Solidarity #TakeItEasyButTakeIt #UnionStrong."
To further prove her awesomeness, when Mary celebrated her 100th birthday in October 2023, her party featured a rousing performance of "Mr. Crowley" by a group of 12 and 13-year-olds (including Tom's son, Roman) fronted by Jack Black.
What's the point of all of this? Tom Morello's entire aesthetic, which has made him so beloved for three decades, can be traced back to his mom. So, if you plan on celebrating Tom today, take a moment to celebrate his extraordinary mom, too. The rock landscape would look quite different without her.
Rage Against the Machine announcing a reunion tour was easily one of the best surprises in the rock world in recent years.
Of course, those tour plans had to be pushed back, and sadly, partially canceled due to an injury sustained by Zack de le Rocha. However, that doesn't mean still can't celebrate the incredible catalog of this dynamic band, and what better time than now to do so?
Here is Rage Against the Machine's top 20 songs ranked.
20. “Kick Out The Jams” - ‘Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium’ (2003)
EpicRage recorded a studio version of “Kick Out The Jams” for their 2000 covers album ‘Renegades,’ but this visceral live version captures both the energy of this iconic song and how Rage has always been the spiritual sons of the MC5.
19. “Beautiful World” - ‘Renegades’ (2000)
EpicSo, what exactly does Rage covering Devo sound like? In the case of this selection from ‘Renegades,’ it’s unexpectedly haunting in the best way possible. Simply put, the band’s cover of “Beautiful World” is...well...beautiful.
18. “Freedom” - ‘Rage Against the Machine’ (1992)
Epic“Forget about the movement/Anger is a gift.” And so is this epic closing track to Rage’s classic debut album.
17. “Wake Up” - ‘Rage Against the Machine’ (1992)
EpicWriting a song about how the FBI targeted iconic figures like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X and then using the actual words from FBI memos as lyrics is a such a next-level act that it’s amazing it came on Rage’s debut.
16. “The Ghost of Tom Joad” - ‘Renegades’ (2000)
EpicOne of the most popular covers in Rage’s catalog is their take on Bruce Springsteen’s 1995 acoustic folk track “The Ghost of Tom Joad.” Tom Morello would become a temporary member of Springsteen’s E Street Band on the road filling in for Steven Van Zandt while he was filming Netflix’s ‘Lilyhammer.’ Morello would also appear on Springsteen’s 2014 album, ‘High Hopes,’ which included a new version of “The Ghost of Tom Joad.” Talk about a cool full circle moment.
15. “Take the Power Back” - ‘Rage Against the Machine’ (1992)
EpicThis 5:37 gem ripping apart the Euro-centric version of American History has some pretty incredible lyrics, but the best line has to be “Motherf*ck Uncle Sam” for both its simplicity and how it conjures up Public Enemy’s takedown of Elvis Presley and John Wayne on “Fight The Power.”
14. “Vietnow” - ‘Evil Empire’ (1996)
EpicThere have been a number of criticisms about conservative AM radio shows over the years, but “Vietnow” clearly wins the award for “Most Blistering Verbal Attack,” especially with lyrics like, “Fear is your only god on the radio.”
13. “Born of a Broken Man” - ‘The Battle of Los Angeles’ (1999)
EpicEasily one of Rage’s most unique songs, its lamb/lion dynamic between its verses and chorus makes it a standout not just on ‘The Battle of Los Angeles’ but in the band’s entire catalog. The band may be known for its hybrid of rap and metal, but they certainly had no qualms about shaking things up.
12. “Down Rodeo” - ‘Evil Empire’ (1996)
EpicJust a really catchy tune about socioeconomic inequality!
11. “Calm Like A Bomb” - ‘The Battle of Los Angeles’ (1999)
EpicIf U2’s The Edge played metal, he’d be Tom Morello. Morello’s innovative and experimental guitar work has been written about countless times over the years, and it’s because of tracks like “Calm Like A Bomb.”
10. “People of the Sun” - ‘Evil Empire’ (1996)
EpicThe opening track of ‘Evil Empire,’ “People of the Sun” proved that as far as political commentary goes, RATM wasn’t letting up on the gas pedal four years after their self-titled debut. In fact, if there was a way to push that pedal through the floor, Rage did it here on this track inspired by the Zapatista revolution in Mexico.
9. “Bombtrack” - ‘Rage Against the Machine’ (1992)
Epic“Enough/I call the bluff/F*ck Manifest Destiny/Landlords and power whores/On my people they took turns/Dispute the suits I ignite/And then watch 'em burn.” Rage really did have a way with starting an album off with a statement, and “Bombtrack” is especially powerful since it’s from their debut.
8. “Renegades of Funk” - ‘Renegades’ (2000)
EpicWant to know the sign of a great cover? When it eclipses the original. All due respect to Afrika Bambaataa, but “Renegades of Funk” is Rage’s song the same way that “I Love Rock ‘N Roll” is Joan Jett’s song.
7. “Testify” - ‘The Battle of Los Angeles’ (1999)
EpicRemember that thing about Rage knowing how to really kick off an album? “Testify” is easily their best opening track, and it features the second-best bridge on ‘The Battle of Los Angeles’: “Who controls the past now controls the future/Who controls the present now controls the past/Who controls the past now controls the future/Who controls the present now?” (BTW: You’ll learn more about the best bridge five songs from now.)
6. “Know Your Enemy” - ‘Rage Against the Machine’ (1992)
EpicBetween the opening riff and the guest vocal from Maynard James Keenan, it’s understandable why “Know Your Enemy” is one of RATM’s most memorable songs. However, “Know Your Enemy” is not just “another ‘Bombtrack’”; it’s a mission statement of the whole Rage ethos and literally points out the things they aim to overthrow (“Compromise! Conformity! Assimilation! Submission! Ignorance! Hypocrisy! Brutality! The elite! All of which are American dreams!”)
5. “Sleep Now In the Fire” - ‘The Battle of Los Angeles’ (1999)
EpicIf you thought a song about the atrocities of war and the colonization of the United States couldn’t have an incredible riff hook, “Sleep Now In the Fire” proved you to be incredibly wrong. The song’s impact is only expanded when coupled with its classic music video. Directed by Michael Moore, the video shows Rage performing in front of the New York Stock Exchange and “Occupying Wall St.” before that was even a thing.
4. “Bullet In the Head” - ‘Rage Against the Machine’ (1992)
EpicIn today’s media landscape, you could easily see the respective political sides using lyrics like, “Believin' all the lies that they're tellin' ya/Buyin' all the products that they're sellin' ya/They say jump and ya say how high/Ya brain-dead/Ya gotta f*ckin' bullet in ya head” against one another. If only Rage in 1992 knew what would come of the media in 2020. Also, it bears mentioning that Tim Commerford’s entire bass track takes “Bullet In the Head” to a whole new level.
3. “Guerrilla Radio” - ‘The Battle of Los Angeles’ (1999)
Epic“Guerrilla Radio,” ironically, is Rage’s most commercially successful song and is the only Rage song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 topping out at #69. (I know, nice.) Low hanging fruit jokes aside, “Guerrilla Radio” was released during the rap-rock/nu-metal boom and really just proved how all of those bands were just weak sauce compared to Rage. Plus, as far as bridges go, it doesn’t get more iconic than, “It has to start somewhere/It has to start sometime/What better place than here/What better time than now?”
2. “Killing In the Name” - ‘Rage Against the Machine’ (1992)
EpicThis entire entry could be just, “F*ck you, I won't do what you tell me” listed 16 times just like the actual lyrics of “Killing In the Name” and most Rage fans would get it. (In all honesty, this was legitimately considered for about two minutes, but then imagining that conversation with my editor would have only resulted in me saying, “F*ck...I’ll do what you tell me.”) As far as statement songs go, you’re not going to find too many bolder, and that boldness is only amplified when you take into consideration this was the first single Rage ever released. If only this song’s themes didn’t resonate so much nearly 30 years later.
1. “Bulls On Parade” - ‘Evil Empire’ (1996)
EpicPicking the best Rage Against the Machine song is a difficult task, because there are so many incredible contenders for that title. However, there are two important reasons why “Bulls On Parade” wins out: It proved that four years after their incredible self-titled debut, the band wasn’t some fluke, and it really drove home the mind-blowing insanity of those magical nine words. You know them, you love them and they appeared on the back cover of all of Rage’s albums: “All sounds made by guitar, bass, drums and vocals.” Tom Morello’s ridiculous solo perhaps made you challenge them, but what you were hearing in all their defiant glory were those four basic band building blocks, albeit they sounded anything but “basic” back in 1996 and that sentiment still rings true to this day.
