Take the Power Back
Rage Against the Machine, 1992, from Rage Against the Machine. Solo by Tom Morello.
Morello treats the solo as a sound-effects showcase, twisting pitch and noise over a funk-metal groove.
Take the Power Back shows Tom Morello treating the guitar as a sound-effects machine as much as a melodic instrument. Over a funk-metal groove anchored by Tim Commerford's slapped bass, his solo is a barrage of pitch-twisting squeals, scratchy noise and stuttering effects. There are few conventional licks; instead, Morello uses his pickup selector, effects and unusual techniques to create sounds that feel closer to a DJ's turntable than a guitar. The solo is playful and aggressive, fitting the song's defiant energy. It helped establish Morello as one of the most original guitarists of the 1990s. Listen for the sounds you can't immediately place, and try to picture how he is making them.
Take the Power Back by Rage Against the Machine is featured in our Alternative (#19) list. The solo is played by Tom Morello and the song was released in 1992.
In our lists
- The 25 Greatest Alternative Rock Guitar Solos — #19
- The Best Rage Against the Machine Guitar Solos — #12
Sources
Who played the guitar solo on Take the Power Back?
Tom Morello played the solo on Rage Against the Machine's Take the Power Back (1992).