My Favorite Riff with Nikki Sixx: Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine)

One of the most creative and unique guitarists in modern rock, Tom Morello sat down with Nikki Sixx to talk about finding his voice on the guitar in this episode of My Favorite Riff.
Known for blending genres and manipulating the guitar into producing sounds never before heard in rock, Tom breaks down how he developed his one-of-a-kind voice using the toggle switch to emulate tones heard in Public Enemy, Dr. Dre and Crystal Method.
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[@brendanbuchanan1047]

Nikki is a very good interviewer. Lets the guests just go and doesnt interrupt.

[@MonkyMonk729]

Exactly. He asks great questions then actually let's his guests answer them. The worst interviewer by far is Eddie Trunk. He never shuts up. In a half hour interview, Trunk will flap his gums for a full 27 minutes. That's not an interview. That's a waste of everyone's time.

[@YourMomsSideDude]

Agreed, but to be fair, there's no interrupting Tom Morello. LOL

[@jengable4888]

Brendan Buchanan ...I would agree !

[@elbruces]

The way he asks just the right questions or brings up topics that make fellow music nerds' eyes light up is incredible. I never knew before now he could do this.

[@hairyhorselegs1509]

Jimmy fallon better take notes

[@LucianoClassicalGuitar]

"Didn't wanna read a manual to play rock and roll." Damn right, man.

[@PjPerez]

I literally sold an FX pedal I mistakenly bought for that very reason. Felt like I needed to learn a programming language to use it.

[@parkerstyers4812]

"Do you know how to use aa slide traditionally?" "No" Love Tom Morrello

[@maximiliano1761]

Parker Styers that was great

[@EmreCanKorkmaz]

Traditionally? Tom: but, WHY?

[@incubrian]

i swear, nikki sixx is keeping rock alive! what a fucking legit guy. love that hes giving back to the music world like this

[@RandyFricke]

I agree. Nikki Sixx is a real goddam rock star.

[@wesabrahams1699]

Totally agree, seems like a really genuinely decent, and nice dude,

[@New_Zealand_Music]

Absolutely. Just like Rob Zombie he seems to just get better and better as he gets older. Both of Nikki sixx's bands are so positive I love them so much

[@joe429t]

I find it very comforting to know that Nikki is probably staying up way too late watching KZbin just like me

[@BIGxBOSSxx1]

I love Tom cause you can tell just how passionate he is when he talks about his gear or his playing. You can tell that he's genuinely excited to share his knowledge and he loves his craft.

[@mikehink4062]

My only complaint is that it wasn't longer. Tom may be well known but he is vastly underrated and he doesn't pretend to be anything he isn't which was made evident multiple times in this video.

[@henkeH2]

RealTomato Ketchup,Eddie? Best nick ever 😀

[@moonoinkgaming2231]

check out "deeper with prophets of rage part 2- tom morello and brad" i just completed this video and absolutely want more of tom. hes such a great guy

[@MK-oz2lf]

There's a 2008 3 part interview of Tom in Guitar World KZbin channel where explains a lot

[@smbonna]

Couldn't agree more.. This should have been at least a 30 minute vid.

[@lamnuck]

Tom got onstage at one of those R N R HOF jams and was a total HOG when it was his turn to solo = NOT COOL

[@MrAttentionSpan]

This is the guy that made me ask for a shitty Yamaha guitar beginner pack in 7th grade, and started a guitar obsession I've been in since then. He wasn't the best shredder, and he didn't pretend to be. He just wanted to give people something they haven't heard, and have it be damn good. No single guitarist has been more influential to me in terms of ethos about music. Thanks for being real, Tom.

[@Thesmartestmanalive81]

Andrew Henry Same here he inspired me to pick up the guitar at age 15. Except I got the shitty Kramer guitar pack from Sam's Club lol. Once I found out his guitar was responsible for the bulls on parade solo I was hooked.

[@erictoniaschwab1009]

The crazy part is Tom can sail on guitar solos with the best of them. I wish he would do it more.

[@bwgti]

Next time I hear someone bitch that Tom isn't this or that. Or why is he big deal when there are real shredders out there. I am just going to cut and paste your comment Andrew. And say that is why Tom Morello is a big deal .

[@sgtspike]

Andrew Henry hey dude I’ve been on Yamaha guitars and basses for 30 years and never graduated

[@ErickMaciasJuarez]

Back in the day, Tool and Black Flag and the Red Hot Chili Peppers were the most respected bands in the west coast's alternative scene. All three bands regarded RATM as the most original and shocking sound of the time. Morello's riffs will live forever. Bullet in the head is a clinic on using the guitar as a turntable, as a guitar, and as a second singer at the same time. In Brazilian martial art/dance circle capoeira, musicians consider birimbao as a singer rather than as an instrument. Morello achieves just that with the guitar.

[@hang-the-93]

I could listen to another few hours of this. Tom is a smart cookie and great pick attack.

[@ron2905]

hang-the-9 he is sloppy if you ask me

[@Cloob6969]

@@ron2905 I don't think he asked what you think

[@ron2905]

@@Cloob6969 little late to the party son...lmfao!!!!!

[@Krankitopia]

I love the thought of Nikki Sixx watching KZbin guitar tutorial videos. That's just fantastic.

[@infowazz]

so true

[@funnymichael1]

Dude I been playing guitar for almost 17 years, you can always learn something.

[@generalruckus]

Nikki Six : his humility and respect is inspiration. What a great host.

[@headbangermetal5929]

HAUNZ PETTWEMEN fuck you

[@infowazz]

really good host.

[@jamesbarrick3403]

Nikki is the kind of guy that would have succeeded at anything... he will be around for years to come

[@2010dame]

Umesh Janardhanan guys lucky to be alive

[@BasswipeNC]

Yes, he makes you think he's not a big deal and is just one of the guys. I mean he's not but he sure acts like it. The learning stuff on You Tube stuff kills me but that's how I learn most of the stuff I know too. It's good to see rock stars like him acting normal. :)

[@roosterj2599]

Tom is such a visionary. I have read several articles where he's said he abandoned his search for the ultimate tone and settled on working with what he's got. I took that to heart and did the same thing. I have written more and enjoyed playing more than ever. I'm not a huge Tom Morello follower, but he has always made sense. Awesome guy.

[@lilstinker1949]

You could hear Nikki’s heart break when Tom said “I didn’t want drugs and groupies I wanted to be a real musician”

[@NealDamiano]

BurtSampson Yeah, but he said it in an eloquent way, not a slight at Nikki at all.

[@GypsyFairy85]

Just discreet?

[@yesimtakeoffcantstopmenow2663]

Lmao

[@pullthereins]

HaHaHa

[@charlesotis6971]

I bet Tom later was like oh shit I didn't mean it like that.. Oops

[@moonoinkgaming2231]

probably the most underrated guitarist ever. he reminded me of a hendrix of the 90s. no one was making the guitar sing/talk like he did his insane riffs for rage or his legendarily scary lines for audioslave, this man is complete

[@MrManuSmith]

I never thought Tom was underrated!He is a guitar hero/icon/legend.

[@djw6670]

NoiseFeedMusic You’re not the only one

[@thorstenstier2220]

in reference to the time jimmy was around he was the one that did push the sound-boundaries of the guitar as far as possible for decades...., as much as I love Morello, I think this isn´t possible anymore in our time

[@andrewdods2236]

NoiseFeedMusic Perhaps if no Jimi, no Tom ?

[@ittdust]

Moo N Oink Gaming Ehhh I think he’s overrated to be honest. Prince is the most underrated.

[@daves4645]

Ironic that the guy who doesn't do drugs always sounds like he's just inhaled an 8 ball.

[@d9280]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@DanFernandesBenficaSaint]

If you believe that then I’ve got seafront property in the Sahara desert for sale.

[@roccotoce2554]

😂😂😂

[@antoniosaxon8605]

Incredibly, uninformed stupid comment. Tom Morello, in additional to being among the best guitar players, is incredibly intelligent. His mind works differently, faster in some ways, than most. No Drugs involved

[@jimijamesmarshall2328]

@@antoniosaxon8605 Fuck you really missed the point of the comment by a country mile.

[@lamnuck]

What he said around the 5 minute mark , " I don't wanna run that race " , was how I felt too. Call me lazy but it was a huge relief to NOT have to practise a zillion hours every day just to sound like a zillion other guitar players

[@Reinemachefrau]

Yeah. I feel that it wasn't really music as such. Just finger gymnastics.

[@tonyjones1560]

Real talk! In hindsight, it was a good thing for me that I realized I *couldn't* run that race, 'cause I was destined not just to lose, but lose BAD....

[@EmreCanKorkmaz]

It's choosing between flicking buttocks at 160bpm VS kicking ass. :) He chose to kick ass.

[@bricebabcock7156]

The Ghost of Tom Joad is lyrically and musically an absolute masterpiece.

[@hotpiegravy382]

Brice Babcock I looked this song up on KZbin just because of your post. Awesome song! Thanks for the recommendation. 🤙

[@Chucklehead617]

Agreed, although FYI it’s originally written by Springstein.

[@jackh8561]

Love how original Toms style is, thinking totally outside of the box

[@robertperez9808]

Obama's voice is just Tom Morello slowed down: Change My Mind

[@MadameZeroni473]

Roob The Boob He’s half Kenyan like Morello, too.

[@themadmattster9647]

yeah but at least Morello criticized Obama too for many of the neoliberal economic things and neocon foreign policy he continued from Bush lol

[@beaubourne2572]

holy shit

[@andyfranklin5004]

Came here for this comment

[@puropsychobilly3995]

At .5 speed it sounds like dr phil lmaooooo

[@kommissar.murphy]

Did you hear the bass come in in your head during know your enemy too.?

[@smashdalde9713]

Yeah!..and the drums too.

[@andrewdods2236]

Kommissar Big Drum kick in! Then the bass....

[@marklasson3177]

And the vocal ...."Know your ENEMY!"

[@fvgc454ss]

Lol fuk yea. That song is a fukn jam

[@andrewdods2236]

No. I heard Zac, "KNOW YOUR ENEMY !"

[@jeffreycarter2548]

tom morello is a genius. this was my first exposure to him and I'm damn impressed

[@ApriliaRacer14]

Jeffrey Carter He has a very high IQ.

[@WishfulSinful1969]

Yep!

[@dennisjr77]

Ducati Drew..... yes he does! He’s classically trained and went to a Ivy League college!

[@AndThenShwarmaAfter]

that morello sound is fucking legendary

[@KdogTN]

I don’t agree with Tom Morello politically very much. However, who can deny this mans skill level with the guitar. He pretty much revolutionized the toggle switch. Just listening to him talk, he comes across as a hell of a cool guy. Love to watch videos like this. Helps to gain respect for someone you might not see eye to eye with.

[@johnhilton9023]

God, hearing Know Your Enemy makes me crave new Rage music!

[@dimsoneill]

The legend. Some of my most favourite riffs ever.

[@MrHeksasens]

How this man has a brutally great riffs. He is the first DJ among guitarists. Nikki hairstyle is like the older lion

[@rickwest2341]

How many coffees did Tom have before this interview ? 😂🤣😅

[@CinoXL]

Brazilian Bold blend with a side of meth

[@dbeck82]

Zero, he's just super passionate

[@primate68]

He did not drink many, he drank all of them

[@BronzDano]

I’m convinced that Nikki sold his soul. He looks younger than he did in the mid 90s.

[@Butterb0ne]

Hair dye.

[@ruggie.74]

I have never even heard him speak before, but Tom seems like an amazing guy. I love how he comes on and plays his own rifts - and not in a conceited way - but because he's genuinely proud of what he has accomplished and is having an awful lot of fun doing it all these years later. I'd give anything to hang out with the guy for a day!

[@barryengle12666]

Yeah, I don't agree with this. If someone were to ask me to play some of my favorite riffs, the last thing I'd be doing is playing my own riffs. I think it sounds and feels super conceited "The hell with everyone else's riffs, I just love my own stuff". Tom is surely a fantastic player, I do enjoy his playing, but this part of it to me sounds like quite an ego. He may have ZERO ego, but this wouldn't tell you that

[@bassist1981]

I love this series. You should get John Petrucci on the show.

[@robwagenaar40]

I got goosebumps when he started playing Know Your Enemy.. What an amazing musician and fascinating dude to listen to

[@thewerd1982]

Tom's solo off that Rage track from the Crow soundtrack is one of the most beautiful solos of all time. I like hearing a little bit of it in that demo he did.

[@snida316]

Not really the biggest fan of his style, but Tom Morello is probably the nicest, most humble “famous” person I’ve ever seen.

[@miquel3657]

So playing Know Your Enemy's intro is somehow like playing the Guitar Hero game LOL

[@skipmichaels6184]

What a great interview. Morello is undoubtedly an intellectual , maybe even a prodigy musically speaking and Nikki is so laid back and cool to rap with !

[@MauroNigro]

"never got the tone i wanted". he has one of the best sound ever. wow.

[@stowjer]

Really awesome down to earth no bullshit interview!

[@samfixer8155]

Know Your Enemy sounds bad ass with those added pinch harmonics! And that Marshall head sounds like it's been hot rodded. That gain sounds incredible.

[@primeDecomposition]

Yeah even cranked stock JCM800’s don’t typically have that much gain on tap as far as I remember.

[@brandonio_granger]

I am freaking loving these episodes so far. Keep up this series Nikki!!👍👍👍

[@michiganmikephoenix]

Loving this series. Looking forward to a lot more!

[@THESNEAKERADDICT]

so dammn good

[@renhoek3851]

Has he just had a few coffees? I wish I had that energy

[@lamnuck]

Having a decent amount of energy is good but not when it makes you an annoying spaz

[@infowazz]

his IQ is off the charts, went to Harvard

[@bambam2372]

Jon Focker so did lil pump so what. Lol

[@skyneyenhuis7001]

I heard he doesn't use drugs. Whether or not that's true, he's probably the only dude out there that doesn't get intoxicated. I mean if he's not on anything then his brain is functioning very well.

[@chambeet]

Sky Neyenhuis Agreed that Morello does NOT seem like the drug-using type. Coffee, of course, might be a different story.

[@daliaaktouf5286]

Such a good interview! Tom Morello is a timeless genius musician, period.

[@mbach9053]

This is great.. looking forward to more of these. 👍🏻Nikki

[@arklowrockz]

Tom Morello awesome guitarist and Nikki Sixx is an awesome host. Two great guys

[@equipt0xxx]

Love seeing this kind of stuff

[@vernonbear]

It never gets old. I could watch Tom talk about music, gear, influences, direction or pretty much anything he’s passionate about. Fascinating bloke who shares everything and makes it all accessible.

[@james_d_eaton]

Thanks Nikki, for another great show! Love getting this kind of insight into my favourite artists! Tom is awesome!

[@TheBFN]

Jimi Hendrix of this era... Because he is experimenting with new ways to make sounds with a guitar... Just like jimi was..

[@piranhakeet]

Jimi came up with new, groundbreaking techniques. Morello badly reproduces techniques already developed by better players.

[@eduardosp2024]

No

[@NoName-vz5xg]

Patrick Cannon your a dumbass if you think anyone made a record with a dj scratch using a guitar before him. And btw he made the whammy pedal popular

[@kaiserwilhelmii1827]

@@piranhakeet You're just fucking stupid. There's no way around that

[@jonfaerman7518]

@@NoName-vz5xg dimebag and vai first and better

[@bigmaxy07]

Glad he put Know your Enemy up front - that whole riff is just super bad ass.

[@itsmebeverly9449]

This is great !! An inside peek to see and hear some good riffs and history of why it's their fav !! Sweetness !!

[@blademan6075]

Morello is always great to watch! Definitely one of the greatest! I could listen and watch him play for hours! Sixx is very humble and honorable to bring some of these guitar virtuoso’s on his show. Hats off to him.

[@oscarbizarre]

this guy really tried to do something new ! love Morello !

[@woody5304]

"show me (anything)" Tom: *plays guitar hero 3 riffs"

[@michaela.velasquez4784]

This was a great and fun interview! Way to go Nikki!

[@azoleyehirooni11]

My all-time favorite guitarist! Amazing sound! Love his creativity! Tom Morello along with Jimi Hendrix are in my view the best!

[@neilmohammed6332]

I wonder how many toggle switches Tom Morello's guitar techs had to replace in his career.

[@shepardwallace5300]

was thinking the exact same thing when he started going

[@angusseletto1511]

Neil Mohammed haha heaps I'd say

[@DanFernandesBenficaSaint]

13:16 Nikki: “I’m not that guy, either” Yes, we know lol 😂

[@holdencazes5208]

Watching this was amazing, everytime he played something I could hear the entire band in my head going along woth his guitar... awesome

[@edude8617]

Lovin' it Nikki!!! Awesome channel!

[@DavidRFIT]

Nikki you have pretty good channel here. You deserve more views and subcribers. You will get them both!

[@infowazz]

i can almost remember the first time i heard Rage. it just hit you in the face.......uniting punks, metalheads, preps, nerds

[@dwgwnr1969]

I was high as fuck..(way higher than Tom on adderall here) 1997..my tweaker buddy had just got evil empire and the bulls on parade got hooked me instantly

[@revko1nyc]

So awesome to see how Tom & Nikki are still ao passionate about playing music after all these years, like two young teens excited about seeing their favorite band in town.

[@stratdx]

Man, Nikki has come a long way! I read his book and wasn't sure what to expect watching this. He is very alert and clear. Love it! Oh... and Tom is a riff monster as well! So innovative!

[@hydraIX]

In all seriousness...Hendrix would have been proud of Morello , & others , that improved the guitar sound to their own feel !!!

[@FrankCastle-he8fl]

Randy Rhoads rules

[@fernandomagana124]

Wow,, LOVE this new series! I saw this and the Joe B. episode, and have to say, Nikki, you're a great interviewer, you actually let your guests talk and you don't interrupt your guests when speaking, which is pretty rare in most interview type shows. Keep up the great work!

[@jengable4888]

Tom Morello seems so excited + passionate @ his career ! Nice to hear ! Good job Nikki with the interview !

[@crudestinkyjoe]

Cochise + Chris Cornell + audio slave + Tom Morello on this video 🤩😎

[@adamweaver1594]

Tom is just like WOOO constantly. 103 mph all the time.

[@trevormason]

This is great! Refreshing & inspirational

[@grovercg]

Great episode...really digging this format!!!

[@CJ_YT.]

The intro to this show is so American

[@bill2527]

That first Audioslave album was kick ass. Tom is brilliant...RiP Chris C.

[@MegaSkidly]

I love how he up picks his individual notes. Rock on Tom and Nikki!

[@layneinchains3373]

After all these years Tom is still so enthralled about playing... its awesome! And so are you Tom!

[@road_king_dude]

Haven't seen that Led Paul since the Audioslave Revelations era.

[@kcmichelson4528]

Apparently he used it while recording self title. Not the Arm The Homeless like everyone thought.

[@HeROsiNhEaVeN]

Digging your channel brother!👍🎸😎✌️

[@guitarofdestiny]

HeROsiNhEaVeN thanks mommy!

[@raytheshredgod6987]

🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@BoyAditya]

awesome interview! I wish I could access all of this videos when i was still playing on a band ... man this kind of information motivating ...

[@tttarms1970]

Love hearing g these real musicians go back and forth....still geek out. I'm 47.. listening to metal for 37 years now....keeps great memories alive

[@svtrader]

Dude's gotta lay off the red bull.

[@bingbingbong2886]

LOL

[@NathanFeinstein]

svtrader *cocaine

[@shaneneilstocker892]

Lol

[@infowazz]

his IQ is crazy high. he went to Harvard. he doesn't touch drugs, his mind is above all that.

[@COEXISTential]

It's called enthusiasm.

[@abelramirez7320]

I could listen to Tom talk about gear all day.

[@HAKKY2112]

That was pretty awesome to watch guys! Way to go both of you

[@Dube230]

Subbed for this series. Keep'm coming!!

[@CursedFortune]

I never thought I'd hear Tom mention grim reaper

[@themadmattster9647]

that was awesome. He has a pretty good/surprising knowledge considering how mainstream I considered RATM (I would've thought he was like the grunge guys, kinda anti-eighties metal, but then again he shredded more normally in his prior band Lock Up). Maybe he'll do an instrumental album one day

[@megadethmofo2035]

I have 2 questions: How often does he have to replace the toggle switch with that kind of abuse? Why are the MARSHALL emblems pried off the head and amp?

[@blindeye5239]

megadethmofo some people do it cause the amp company won't sponsor them

[@clintwalkerx]

Using gotoh toggle switches you don't need to replace it for a long time...

[@clintwalkerx]

prairie650kvf I play into a RATM tribute band, using the same gotoh toggle switch up to 3 years... Playing almost every day

[@josephpatrow]

megadethmofo peeled the labels off because he’s a Liberal and they’re genderless...something an ill-informed teenager would do.

[@mikesvensson]

He has stated that the toggles can last to up to a year of hard toggling. however, with that siad, they can absolutely wear out and need to be replaced or serviced. i have played with that technique for 20 years and have probably gone through at least 200 switches during that time. they all have their faults and even the more sturdier ones aren't water proof. over time they get loose and don't work as good as need to. i probably change out the toggles on my main guitars 1-2 a year. as for Tom i think they change it in preparation for every tour or record. about the marshall he has stated that he doesn't want to do give them any endorsement and so that's why he tapes over the logo

[@swish33pow]

Sensational! Nikki and Tom thank you

[@CodenameCuervo]

This guy is so awesome the toggle switch riff sounds freaking amazing especially with the slide!!! I keep thinking I'm a awesome guitar player and then Tom Morello walks into my You Tube Channels :)

[@tonyhull9427]

Tom Morello sounds like he popped a bucket of speed

[@joeyclemenza7339]

jesus, was tom blowing rails with nikki before taping? he's at a 9

[@Starch1b2c3d4a]

Joey Clemenza hilarity ensues

[@infowazz]

tom is naturally high. his IQ is damn high. he went to harvard. i do coke sometimes and might match him lol.

[@havrisen6620]

Yes...yes he was.

[@michaelrenouf9173]

He’s a Chatty Cathy lol

[@DARKHORSE262]

Converge 👍

[@rezolution6272]

Utmost respect for your show and horns out to you! Tom Morello?! wow what a great interview and what a fantastic guitar player!!!! Really really love your catalogue and it's like the energizer bunny it just keeps going and going and loving every minute \m/ \m/

[@kevinbautista551]

Just discovered this! Amazing...Sick show Sixx!

[@santoslhalper6116]

Man, is he hyper

[@crazybutcool5150]

Meth

[@revolutionday1]

Heh. Yeah, no. Maybe a few too many coffees or something. Get your mind right.

[@jrmarrero96]

Most communists are. For instance; Google Nikita Khrushchev.

[@theintuitiveguitaristfrank9202]

Terry Hesticles defietely not

[@Fakename70]

You're talking about a guy who named one of his kids after Randy Rhodes. So, yeah, he's hyped about this shit.

[@Grandizer8989]

Don’t let this video distract you from the fact that John Denver’s Country Roads is the best song ever written

[@brentbalalas9022]

That , sir, made me chuckle. Classic comment.

[@artysanmobile]

Deja Voodoo Using the index finger tip. Once you get used to it, it’s just as intuitive as the thumb.

[@New_Zealand_Music]

Thank you very much for your band Brides of Destruction, and Sixx AM. Such positive music I love it

[@brendanrobinson9395]

Nikki, it's so cool to see you in this element and be a fan of such eclectic players. A true renaissance man 🤘

[@SophiaAphrodite]

Grim Reaper? Wow, forgot about those guys.

[@phattvids]

See you in hell my friend!!!!!!!

[@Diegolopezlira]

Man I'm really digging this show! I'm not a Tom Morello fan, I like some of his work with RATM and Audioslave bur man, this was very interesting. He is a smart and clever guy. I liked what he said that make him stand out from the EVH and Yngwie's clones. Why bother being the fourth clone when you can stand out doing something different, is not at all the kid of music that I usualy hear, but I admire his "outside the box" kind of thinking, just like The Edge he definetly stands out from anybody else. Great guest Nikki, keep up the good work!

[@Justmi2cents]

Crazy energy from tom Morello. Great interview!

[@MegaToug]

This guy's awesome! I'd listen to him for hours in that format. Would have took more of this discussion!