Tom Morello was born on May 30, 1964 in New York city. He has become an influential guitarist due to his work with Rage Against The Machine in the 1990s. Tom got his Social Studies degree from Harvard and went to L.A to start a band. He briefly played guitarist for a band named Lock Up with fellow Rage member Zack De La Rocha .

His mother, Mary, started Parents for Rock and Rap, an organization against censorship in music.His father was a guerilla in the Mau-Mau uprising that freed Kenya from British rule.Has started the rock band Audioslave with fellow Rage Against The Machine members Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk and former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell. [2002]Was in a band called Electric Sheep with Tool guitarist Adam Jones.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.His father was a civil servant. was part of the first Kenyan delegation to the United Nations in New York.His mother, Mary, is of Irish/Italian heritage.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).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.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.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).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.Is a Vegetarian.Graduated from Harvard University in 1986 with a BA Degree, with Honours, in Political Science.Once worked as an aide for Democratic senator Alan Cranston.