Rage Against The Machine Guitarist Tom Morello Coming To Wisconsin: 'Madison Is The Next Cairo'

[Joanne98]

MADISON, WIS. - For the past week, the protests outside of the Wisconsin statehouse have had a background soundtrack of Bruce Springsteen, Journey and even the Beastie Boys blasting from speakers as marchers walk around chanting "Kill the bill!" and "Recall Walker!" But on Monday, Madison will get some live music -- a concert headlined by Tom Morello, the guitarist for Rage Against the Machine.

For nearly a decade, Morello has also been playing political folk music -- inspired by people like Woodie Guthrie and Mother Jones -- under the alias The Nightwatchman. On his Facebook page, fans had been urging him to come out and support them in Madison before he made his announcement.

"Hey Tom, could you please come to Madison?" read a message by a fan named Mike Loew. "As I'm sure you're aware, Scott Walker is trying essentially to de-unionize."

"Tom, please come to Madison!" read another posting by Mike Tapia. "The national news are not covering this the way they should be. We need your voice! To get on the national front. First person I thought of writing to was President Obama, which I did, at a close second came you!"

In an interview with The Huffington Post on Saturday, Morello explained that the fight for collective bargaining rights is personal for him. He's a member of Professional Musicians Local 47 in Los Angeles, and his mother worked at a public high school in Illinois for more than 30 years.

"I really think that the future of the rights of working people in this country is not going to be decided in the courts," he said. "It's not going to be decided in Congress or radio talk shows. The future of rights of working people in this country will be the fight on the streets of Madison, Wis. "

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/19/rage-against-machine-tom-morello-wisconsin_n_825627.html

[gateley]

1. I love Tom Morello! Outstanding humanitarian, unbelievable guitarist! nt

[movonne]

2. They should get a bunch of musical stars...this is a big fight and we

need all the ammunition we can get...

[speltwon]

3. He should come with

"three chords, a guitar, and the truth"

[gateley]

4. Well done! And welcome to DU, speltwon!

:hi:

[speltwon]

5. thx nt

[dana_b]

7. he always does

just like his role model(s). :)

[speltwon]

8. Rage Against the Machine is also a great example of how

just a guitar, bass and drums can be so much more.

[dana_b]

9. no kidding - I love them

his assistant and I are friends and she is updating us on her facebook about the protest/performance. They are so excited - Tom said we're going to "stick it to the man!" lol I hope he is right.

[Bennyboy]

6. The Ghost of Tom Joad (with Bruce)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLFLrTnue9s