Four turning points in Tom Morello’s career

This article traces how Tom Morello turned four musical setbacks into lessons that shaped his career, from returning to the guitar to forming Rage Against the Machine. Morello’s experiences show how he responded to failure and chose what music to make next.

• Early guitar setback: Morello quit guitar at 13 after struggling to learn songs by Led Zeppelin and KISS, then picked it up again after hearing the Sex Pistols.
• Finding his sound: Morello stopped chasing the tone he imagined and used the Arm the Homeless guitar, a 50-watt Marshall half-stack and a Peavey cabinet.
• Record deal setback: After Lock Up was dropped, Morello vowed to play music he believed in and began writing riffs for Rage Against the Machine.
• Bands ending: Morello said that losing Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave opened the way to other musical experiences.

What Was Tom Morello’s First Greatest Musical Failure?

Morello’s first major musical failure came when he was 13 and could not learn the guitar parts he wanted to play. He quit guitar, but later returned to it after hearing the Sex Pistols.

Morello’s first setback led to a four-year break from guitar before he began playing again.

“The first [failure] was when I was 13 and wanted to learn Led Zeppelin’s ‘Black Dog’ and KISS’ ‘Detroit Rock City,'” Morello began. “I failed and I quit guitar. I told my mom, ‘Music is not for me’ and the guitar sat in my closet for four years before I touched it again.”

He recalled, “After getting a Sex Pistols cassette, which is when I picked up the guitar again, there was a determination to forge my own path without lessons and to find my voice without someone telling me what to do.”

What Was Tom Morello’s Second Greatest Musical Failure?

Morello’s second failure involved an expensive guitar and equipment that did not produce the sound he wanted. He eventually stopped focusing on tone and began creating with the gear he had.

Morello’s decision to work with his existing equipment established the setup he used on 22 records.

“Failure number two was when I had this overpriced guitar that I got at a custom shop in L.A. and it was the worst guitar I ever played. It felt and looked the worst and I’d blown a bunch of money,” he revealed. “I spent the next year changing the neck, pickups, electronics and whammy bar and I also had an amp I thought sucked.”

Morello knew the sound he wanted but could not achieve it during long rehearsals. After giving up on the search, he recognized that worrying about guitar tone was taking time away from creating music.

“I was spending too much time worrying about tone and not creating,” he confessed, “So, I marked the setting on my amp and said, ‘This is the guitar I’ve got and this is the gear I’ve got.’ That was the Arm the Homeless guitar, my 50-watt Marshall half-stack and the Peavey cabinet I’ve used on 22 records.”

tom morello, rage against the machine

What Was Tom Morello’s Third Greatest Musical Failure?

Morello’s third failure came when his band Lock Up was dropped after releasing a record. The experience led him to reject music that did not reflect his own beliefs.

After Lock Up was dropped, Morello began writing riffs for Rage Against the Machine.

“The third failure was when my band Lock Up got dropped. I moved to Hollywood to be a rock star and make records. I got a record deal and it was spectacular,” recalled Morello. “Our record came out and 15 minutes later, we got dropped. I failed my quest.”

Of the experience, he shared, “The producer for that record had me tone it down and be smoother. After that, I vowed to never play another note of music that I didn’t believe in and that’s when I started writing riffs for Rage Against the Machine.”

What Was Tom Morello’s Fourth Greatest Musical Failure?

Morello’s fourth failure was not being able to keep Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave together. He said the end of the bands also led to other significant musical experiences.

Morello described the breakups as two closed doors that opened new opportunities in his musical life.

He divulged, “The last pillar of my career: not being able to keep Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave together. I had these two massive bands with billions of streams and they dissipated.”

But, as he added, “That opened a door to some of the greatest musical experiences of my life. A million windows opened for me because those two doors closed, leading to what I’m doing to this day.”

READ MORE: Tom Morello Preps for His First-Ever Solo Album

Morello concluded, “So, those four massive failures led to a career I’ve absolutely loved and am proud of.”

What Tom Morello Previously Said About His Musical Failures?

In a 2024 interview with Loudwire Nights host Chuck Armstrong, Morello recalled how being dropped by Geffen Records changed his approach to songwriting. He said the experience taught him to make music he believed in.

Morello said Lock Up’s record deal did not bring the success he had expected.

“I was in a band before Rage Against the Machine called Lock Up and I signed a deal with Geffen Records. Everybody back home in Illinois thinks you’re a millionaire, [but] you’re living in a squat with six roommates and [you’re eating] some cheese and ramen,” he said.

The guitarist said he was young and naive and put too much trust in the record company’s advice. He recalled that Lock Up made a record he was not as proud of as he wanted to be.

“They must know,” he said. “They have Guns N’ Roses on that label … We were like, they must know. We listened to them and we made a record that I wasn’t as proud of as I would have liked.”

“We had our 15 seconds of interest from them and they stopped returning phone calls,” he continued. “We were summarily dropped and we walked away with about 400 bucks. I was 27 years old. I had failed. I had moved to Los Angeles, I moved to Hollywood, I had my shot at the brass ring. The day that band got dropped, I made a solemn vow that I was never going to play another note of music that I didn’t believe in.”

Morello said he continued to follow that principle throughout 22 records.

“There’s a lesson in that that I followed over the course of 22 records. I’m going to play the music I want to play, make the music I want to make,” he concluded.

What Are Tom Morello’s Tour Plans for 2026 and 2027?

The source reports that Morello released the album Everyone Gets Everything They Want and planned to tour in support of it. It also reported a Canadian tour scheduled to begin in Calgary, Alberta, on March 1, 2027.

The article identified March 1, 2027, in Calgary, Alberta, as the start of the reported Canadian tour and directed readers to Morello’s website for dates, markets and ticket information.

In 2026, Morello is now doing things for himself. He just released the new album Everyone Gets Everything They Want and he’s hitting the road in support of the record.

Morello’s next round of touring comes in March 2027 when he sets out on a run of Canadian markets that kicks off March 1 in Calgary, Alberta. Check his website for dates, markets and ticketing information.

Below, see the 14 biggest rock and metal tours announced for 2027 so far.

What can Tom Morello’s career setbacks teach musicians?

Morello’s stories show that setbacks can prompt changes in direction, equipment choices and creative priorities. His account connects persistence with making music that reflects the artist’s own convictions.

Morello’s account links four career setbacks to changes in his musical approach.

• Returning to practice: Morello picked up the guitar again after hearing the Sex Pistols.
• Using available gear: Morello stopped delaying music-making while searching for a particular tone.
• Choosing creative control: Morello vowed to play music he believed in after Lock Up was dropped.
• Moving forward: Morello said the end of two bands led to other musical experiences.

Together, these examples describe a practical pattern: Morello responded to each setback by changing what he did next, rather than treating the setback as the end of his musical career.

Frequently asked questions about Tom Morello’s musical failures

Morello’s four failures involved learning guitar, finding his sound, losing a record deal and the end of two bands. His own descriptions connect each event to a later shift in his musical direction.

Morello’s account identifies four setbacks as major turning points in his career.

Why did Tom Morello quit guitar as a teenager?

Morello quit at 13 after struggling to learn songs by Led Zeppelin and KISS. He returned to guitar after hearing a Sex Pistols cassette.

What guitar setup did Tom Morello use on 22 records?

Morello identified the Arm the Homeless guitar, a 50-watt Marshall half-stack and a Peavey cabinet as the setup he used on 22 records.

What happened to Tom Morello’s band Lock Up?

Lock Up was dropped after its record came out. Morello said the experience led him to vow to play music he believed in.

Which bands did Tom Morello say he could not keep together?

Morello named Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. He said their endings opened the way to other musical experiences.

When was Tom Morello’s reported Canadian tour scheduled to begin?

The article reported that the Canadian tour was scheduled to begin on March 1, 2027, in Calgary, Alberta.