How Tom Morello faked his way through his first gig with Springsteen

Tom Morello is one of the great guitarists of our time, known for his epic albums with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave. We talk about his many collaborations, with Chris Cornell, Bruce Springsteen, and now his 15-year-old son, Roman, on Tom's latest record, “Everyone Gets Everything They Want.” 00:00 Intro 01:02 Tom's first solo rock album after 22 records 02:02 Writing with his son Roman 05:44 Failed guitar lessons and the Sex Pistols 07:27 The Clash and "The future is unwritten" 08:45 Practicing 8 hours a day at Harvard 12:29 Finding his signature sound by accident 14:39 Lock Up, Geffen, and a vow to play only what he believes in 15:55 Growing up in Libertyville and his mother 19:13 Meeting his father, the Kenyan ambassador 27:21 Bruce Springsteen and "The Ghost of Tom Joad" 32:36 Chris Cornell and the birth of Audioslave 36:53 A word from the FLAG Art Foundation 37:44 The Nightwatchman and his most personal songs 41:42 Black Sabbath's farewell and why metal hooked him 44:36 The Power to the People festival 47:03 Why he's not slowing down 48:35 Guitar solos and "Holy Spirit" moments ——— New episodes of Alchemy every Wednesday. 🟠 Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.alchemy.show/ 🟡 Stay connected with Anthony Mason: YouTube:    / @alchemywithanthonymason   Instagram:   / alchemywithanthony   &   / anthonymasoncbs   TikTok:   / alchemywithanthony   🟢 If you’re interested in sponsoring Alchemy: partnerships@collective.media 🔵 For press inquiries: dawn@thepresshouse.com 🟣 For bookings: rebecca@alchemy.show About our Founding Sponsor, The FLAG Art Foundation: Alchemy with Anthony Mason is presented by our founding sponsor, the FLAG Art Foundation. It is a nonprofit contemporary art exhibition space in New York's Chelsea Arts District. Since 2008, FLAG has staged more than 100 exhibitions celebrating nearly 1,000 artists, with innovative partnerships including the Parrish Art Museum, the Serpentine Galleries in London, and the Harlem Children's Zone. FLAG is free and open to the public. In this episode, I’m highlighting two exhibits: 🖼️ Spotlight: Hank Willis Thomas “Spotlight: Hank Willis Thomas” is currently on view at FLAG’s Chelsea gallery in New York. Featuring a new sculpture by the artist titled “LOVE OVER RULES,” the presentation is accompanied by a commissioned piece of writing by Ashley James. Thomas’ large-scale stainless steel sculpture ruminates on its titular phrase, which comes from a recording of the artist’s late cousin Songha Willis, and contemplates the place of love over all else. On view through through November 7, 2026 📍The FLAG Art Foundation More info → https://www.flagartfoundation.org/exh... 🎨 Leidy Churchman: Space Remembers Matthew Marks Gallery's Leidy Churchman: Space Remembers is on view in the gallery's New York location at West 22nd Street gallery. Including five six foot by nine foot paintings, the fifteen new works by the artist exhibited have been described as “turning notions of home into a gravitational force.” On view through through October 24, 2026 📍 Matthew Marks Gallery Check it out → https://matthewmarks.com/exhibitions/... Learn more about the FLAG Art Foundation → https://www.flagartfoundation.org 📍 545 W 25th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10001 | Wed–Sat, 11AM–5PM 📸 Follow FLAG on Instagram →   / flagartfoundation   About Anthony Mason: Anthony Mason, the host of Alchemy, is also a Special Correspondent with CBS News. One of the most versatile and experienced television journalists, Anthony co-hosted CBS This Morning: Saturday for seven years (2012-2019), and then the weekday CBS This Morning broadcast for two more. But he may be best known for his interviews with artists like Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Dolly Parton, Annie Leibovitz, Judi Dench, David Hockney, and André 3000. He has won a dozen Emmy Awards. In 2023, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented him their Patron of the Arts Award. And for the past three years he has hosted the GRAMMY Hall of Fame Gala.