Tom Morello needs as many “what the f***” elements in his music as doable.
The Rage Against The Machine guitarist – who launched his second solo album ‘The Atlas Underground Fire’ final month – has opened up about his want for innovation relating to how his instrument sounds on completely different songs.
He advised Guitar World journal: “That’s been the common thread through everything, whether it’s an ‘Atlas Underground’ record or an Audioslave record. I need to feel a jam move air, but I also want it to challenge me.
“[Living Colour founder] Vernon Reid referred to as it the ‘What the f***’ issue, you recognize? Like, whenever you placed on a report and also you hear what should be a guitar however cannot presumably be a guitar, you are like, ‘What the f***?’
“I remember thinking about that over and over again as a young person, and as a young guitar player. Every record I make, I try have as many ‘What the f***?’ factors as possible.”
This mentality manages to enhance his “cornerstone” which is “unapologetically and uncompromisingly big rock ‘n’ roll”, whereas he at all times strives for some degree of innovation.
He defined “I mean, the first cornerstone of my playing is unapologetically and uncompromisingly big rock ‘n’ roll, and I will never budge an inch on that.
“That’s what I get off on essentially the most, going again to the primary AC/DC and KISS and Led Zeppelin posters on my wall. That simply feels proper and appears like residence.
“At the same time, the other cornerstone of my playing has been to just disregard anything that has to do with tradition, whether it’s melody or tone or sound, or even what part of the guitar to look at as a sound-maker.”