Know Your Enemy
Rage Against the Machine, 1992, from Rage Against the Machine. Solo by Tom Morello.
Tom Morello's solo on 'Know Your Enemy' sounds less like traditional guitar playing and more like noise manipulated by a DJ. He uses whammy-pedal pitch leaps, stuttering on-off rhythms and unconventional techniques to create a solo that feels urgent and chaotic. It's rooted in rhythm, locking tightly with the groove rather than floating above it. Morello's approach expanded ideas of what a rock guitar solo could sound like, influencing players in rap-metal and beyond. Listen for how he uses sudden changes in pitch and texture to mimic scratching or electronic effects, blurring the line between guitar and turntable, all without leaving the band's fierce pocket.
Know Your Enemy by Rage Against the Machine is ranked #167 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Tom Morello and the song was released in 1992. It appears on 3 lists, placing as high as #17 (Magazyn Gitarzysta).
In our lists
- The Modern Canon: Best Since 1990 — #44
- The 25 Greatest Alternative Rock Guitar Solos — #8
- Whammy, Fuzz & Feedback — #14
- SGs & Telecasters — #25
- The Best Rage Against the Machine Guitar Solos — #3
- The Best Tom Morello Guitar Solos — #3
Sources
- Magazyn Gitarzysta: 100 solówek wszech czasów [100 solos of all time] — #17
- Digital Dream Door: 250 Greatest Rock Guitar Solos — #111
- Guitarhabits: 50 of The Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time
Who played the guitar solo on Know Your Enemy?
Tom Morello played the solo on Rage Against the Machine's Know Your Enemy (1992).
What guitar was used on the Know Your Enemy solo?
A fender telecaster, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does Know Your Enemy rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#167 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 3 of them.