It's Tom Morello's Birthday!
The founder of Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave, as well as the supergroup Prophets Of Rage. Morello also is a touring guitarist with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, under the moniker The Nightwatchman.
After attending Harvard University and earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Studies, he would form the band Lock Up in L.A. When the group disbanded, Morello met Zack de la Rocha and founded Rage Against the Machine. The band would explode on to the rock scene utilizing Zach's rap style to mix with Morello's unique guitar sound where he would mimic turntable scratches with rock guitar licks, the band would be one of the inspirations for the oncoming Nu Metal scene that came behind them, making them one of the most influential rock acts of the 1990s.
Morello through the band became known for his socialist political views and activism; but musically he kept himself grounded creatively outside of that realm forming the band Audioslave, with Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell and the remaining members of Rage. he band would release 2 successful albums before Cornell would leave to eventually reunite with Soundgarden. Morello would then put together the supergroup Prophets of Rage with Public Enemy frontman Chuck D and tour heavily throughout the 2000's along with releasing solo work. Recently Rage would come together once again for a short time to perform shows and lightly tour, until recently breaking things off with De La Rocha again.
Tom Morello's career is now getting a heavy ressurgeance with YouTube reaction creators and guitar cover guitarists who have reaquired heavy interest in Rage and Audioslave. He was ranked number 18 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of greatest guitarists of all time, and as a member of Rage Against the Machine, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Happy Birthday Tom, yours is a cool & radical career for the ages.