In a new chat with Guitar Interactive Magazine at the Download Festival in the UK, Tom Morello explained why he didn’t want to be the next Yngwie Malmsteen.
The guitarist discussed how he shifted from typical heavy metal solos to a more artistic approach. Tom started focusing on authentic music rather than trying to be famous. The change began during his early days with Rage Against The Machine when he embraced a DJ-like style. He talked about a moment that changed his guitar style forever:
“We were opening up for two cover bands in a college on a Wednesday afternoon – a throwaway gig. At soundcheck, each of the other bands had a top-notch Yngwie Malmsteen-level shredding guitar player, and that’s what I was trying to be.”
Then, he tried to focus on his mistakes:
“I started practicing guitar eight hours a day. I started practicing mistakes. I started deconstructing the instrument. It was just a piece of wood with some wires and some electronics. And if I can make a noise, then that noise can be the centerpiece of a song or a solo. That was the moment I stopped being a musician and started being an artist.”
Morello’s Approach To Guitar Playing
In a February interview, Morello shared guitar tips with Classic Rock. He mentioned his unique approach of playing guitar, which he calls ‘crappy.’ Morello explained that not chasing the perfect tone actually made him a better guitarist:
“I tried for years to find this magical tone that was in my head and I never did. I finally just gave up and I just played with the crappy tone I had and said, ‘I’m never gonna worry about it another day in my life, I’m just gonna make music that sounds good with the tone I’ve got’ and that ended up being Rage Against The Machine.”
Morello didn’t start playing guitar until he was 17. He heard advice in high school to practice consistently, which he took seriously. Starting with one hour a day, he quickly increased to two, then eventually practiced eight hours daily. Even while studying at an Ivy League university, he dedicated hours each night to practice.
You can watch the guitarist’s full interview below.