#591: Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine Fame — Fear{less} with Tim Ferriss

Welcome to another episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, where it
is my job to deconstruct world-class performers to tease out the
routines, habits, et cetera that you can apply to your own life.


You’ll get plenty of that in this special episode, which
features my interview with Tom
Morello from my 2017 TV Show Fear{less}. The
“less” is in parentheses because the objective is to teach you to
fear less, not to be fearless.


Fear{less} features in-depth, long-form conversations with
top performers, focusing on how they’ve overcome fears and made
hard decisions, embracing discomfort and thinking big.


It was produced by Wild West Productions, and I worked with them
to make both the video and audio available to you for free, my
dear listeners. You can find the video of this
episode on YouTube.com/TimFerriss, and eventually
you’ll be able to see all episodes for free
at YouTube.com/TimFerriss.


Spearheaded by actor/producer and past podcast guest Vince
Vaughn, Wild West Productions has produced a string of
hit movies including The Internship, Couples
Retreat, Four Christmases, and The Break-Up.


In 2020, Wild West produced the comedy The Opening Act,
starring Jimmy O. Yang and Cedric The Entertainer. In addition
to Fear{less}, their television credits
include Undeniable with Joe Buck, ESPN’s 30 for
30 episode about the ’85 Bears, and the Netflix
animated show F is for Family.


Please enjoy!


*


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*


Tom shares what it’s like to try something musically for the
first time and then present it to others — whether it’s to
bandmates or an audience. [05:24]


My first impressions upon hearing Tom’s work in Rage Against the
Machine. [09:16]


Where did Tom’s parents meet, and what was it like to grow up as
an interracial child with a single mother in Libertyville,
Illinois during the mid-1960s when they parted? [09:49]


How did Tom’s mother encourage him to respond to the racism he
would sometimes encounter in this otherwise idyllic Midwestern
suburb? [12:46]


What politicized Tom even more than reading Noam Chomsky in high
school? [14:54]


When did music enter the picture for Tom, and what precipitated
his first band coming together? What experience really drove home
the fact that making music was an accessible goal? [16:32]


How did Tom learn guitar? [20:59]


How did Tom become the first person from Libertyville, Illinois
to ever go to Harvard, and what did he take away from his
experience there? [22:24]


After graduation, Tom drove his Chevy Astro van west to Hollywood
with a thousand dollars and a dream. How long did the money last,
how supportive was his mom of this endeavor, and what was his
plan B if things didn’t go as intended? For that matter, how
thought-out was plan A? [23:36]


Exotic dancing as a makeshift plan B. [25:32]


How did Tom become involved in the band Lock Up, and why was
getting signed to a major record label more of a curse than a
blessing? [26:32]


How did Rage Against the Machine come together, and what kind of
experimentalism did Tom bring to the band? [28:27]


When did Tom know Rage Against the Machine was working, and how
did his experience with Locked Up inform his approach to dealing
with the music industry when it came knocking this time around?
[30:51]


Who finally succeeded in signing Rage Against the Machine, and to
what does Tom credit the enthusiastic response of the fandom to
the band’s live performances? [33:17]


How performing as a solo acoustic act in front of eight people in
a coffee shop can be a more vulnerable experience than playing as
part of a band live on television for millions. [36:26]


How Tom prepares for a gig. [39:01]


What factors contributed to the end of Rage Against the Machine?
[40:40]


How did Tom’s father come back into his life? [41:42]


If Tom weren’t a guitar player, what would he do for a living?
[47:23]


If Tom had to teach someone guitar in three months, what would
the curriculum be? [47:44]


What are the biggest wastes of time Tom sees novice musicians
making? What are the wrong things to focus on? [48:58]


As a teacher, what advice might Tom have for an aspiring young
artist who can’t seem to make a connection with their audience?
[50:14]


What book has Tom gifted most? [51:12]


An inspiring quote Tom ponders often. [51:56]


An inexpensive purchase that has had a positive impact on Tom’s
life. [52:44]


How did Prophets of Rage come together? [53:30]


What would Tom’s billboard say? [55:54]


Advice for artists who might feel too intimidated to try changing
the world. [56:22]


*


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Past guests on The Tim Ferriss
Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh
Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin
Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew
McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth
Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah
Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine
Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary
Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael
Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold
Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria
Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de
Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly
Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard
Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael
Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan
Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit
Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim
Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval
Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth
Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard
Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid
Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick
Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many
more.


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