Tom Morello, the acclaimed guitarist known for his work with Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, is revered for his technical prowess and innovative use of effects pedals. But even the most skilled musicians have their off days. In a recent interview with Google (Talks at Google on YouTube), Morello described what he considers his “worst performance ever.” While playing the guitar solo for “Bullet in the Head” at Reading Festival in 1993, something went terribly wrong, leaving him completely confused.
RATM at Reading Festival 1993
Rage Against the Machine made their debut at the Reading Festival in 1993, performing on the second stage during the Saturday of the event, which ran from August 27 to 29 that year. This performance was part of their first European tour, following the release of their self-titled debut album in November 1992.
The band’s set consisted of nine songs, with “Bullet in the Head” second to last. Tom’s approach to the solo in that track is pretty unique. In the first part, he usually rushes to his guitar amp, manipulating feedback and his toggle switch while scratching his hand across the strings—a technique reminiscent of how DJs used to scratch vinyl records.
In the second part of the solo, Tom typically stands up and walks over to his wah pedal to create a different sound. But at that time, he had recently discovered a new trick that he thought would blow the audience’s minds.
Turning a Bug into a Feature
Tom had figured out that he could create a unique effect by unplugging his guitar and tapping the metal plate on it with the jack. If you’ve ever accidentally plugged a guitar into an amp while it’s on, you’re familiar with the loud buzzing noise that happens when the jack touches metal. Tom planned to manipulate that buzz in a way that would “wow” the crowd.
I’d worked out a new guitar redefining trick on the guitar, where I take out the jack of the guitar and then I tap it to the metal on the guitar, and it makes like a noise, and I’m going to manipulate it. And it’s like – minds are going to be blown.
Tom Morello – Talks at Google
This buzzing sound is caused by a grounding issue, but what Tom didn’t realize at the time was that this effect only worked in the U.S.
I’m ready for my solo on “Bullet in the Head”. the Tv camera zooms in and i unplug the jack, and what I don’t realize – it’s some grounding that makes the steel jack go buzz. What I don’t realize is that the power in England is different than the power in the United States.
Tom Morello – Talks at Google
The UK and U.S. handle grounding differently. In the U.S., the system uses a neutral-ground bond, while in the UK, the electrical system relies on an “earthed neutral” approach. This meant that Tom’s trick wouldn’t work the same way overseas.
A “Chuck Berry” Save
Confused, Tom can be seen on footage checking his guitar cable, trying to figure out what was happening. Realizing there was no fixing it in the moment, he quickly pivoted.
So, with a cocky confidence, I walk to the front of the stage, as the camera zooms in for my heroic guitar redefining moment. i unplug the jack, I touch it to the thing, and it goes “ptt”.
And then I just sheepishly plug the guitar back in, take a few steps back, and play a couple of Chuck Berry licks.
Tom Morello – Talks at Google
Tom’s bold plan didn’t pan out, but he managed to save the moment by keeping things simple. It’s a testament to how even the best musicians need to improvise when things don’t go as expected.
If you’d like to watch the full interview with Tom Morello, you can find it on YouTube—The Atlas Underground | Tom Morello | Talks at Google. It’s well worth watching for more stories and insights from the legendary guitarist.
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