Tom Morello

Widely regarded as one of rock's leading axe-men, Tom Morello broke new ground in music as co-founder of Rage Against the Machine. The group formed in the early 1990s and featured Morello's hard-hitting guitar riffs along with Zack de la Rocha's commanding vocals. Rage Against the Machine earned critical praise and a legion of fans for its socio-politically-charged lyrics and rap-rock hybrid music that dominated the group's impressive self-titled debut album (1992) and subsequent hit singles such as "Bulls on Parade" and "People of the Sun," both from the 1996 album Evil Empire. After Rage Against the Machine disbanded in 2000, Morello continued to make music with Audioslave, alongside Soundgarden's Chris Cornell, and as a folk rock soloist using the alter ego The Nightwatchman. Morello's activism extended beyond the realm of music, as he was active in everything from the Free Tibet cause to the Occupy Wall Street movement. Unafraid to voice opposition against the government and support the underrepresented minorities, Morello often positioned himself a proponent for change while also making his mark in the music as one of the most influential guitarists of his generation.