Sleep Now in the Fire
Rage Against the Machine, 1999, from The Battle of Los Angeles. Solo by Tom Morello.
Morello's pitch-shifted solo leaps octaves and squeals like a siren, one of his signature effects.
Sleep Now in the Fire features one of Tom Morello's signature effects-driven solos. Using a Whammy pedal, he makes notes leap octaves and swoop like a siren, creating a sound that is instantly recognizable. The solo is less about melody than about texture and energy, fitting the song's aggressive, political mood. It is concise and punchy, delivering maximum impact in a short space. Morello's inventive use of effects influenced countless guitarists who sought new sounds. Listen for the moment when the pitch jumps up an octave and screams, a sound that has become one of Morello's calling cards, and notice how precisely it locks in with the groove.
Sleep Now in the Fire by Rage Against the Machine is ranked #309 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Tom Morello and the song was released in 1999. It appears on 2 lists, placing as high as #153 (Digital Dream Door).
In our lists
- The 25 Greatest Alternative Rock Guitar Solos — #20
- The Best Rage Against the Machine Guitar Solos — #4
- The Best Tom Morello Guitar Solos — #4
Sources
Who played the guitar solo on Sleep Now in the Fire?
Tom Morello played the solo on Rage Against the Machine's Sleep Now in the Fire (1999).
Where does Sleep Now in the Fire rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#309 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 2 of them.