Tom Morello | The Rolling Stone Studio

Tom Morello sits down with Rolling Stone's Brian Hiatt at the magazine's New York studio for a wide-ranging conversation spanning music, politics, and personal history. The primary focus is Morello's first solo rock album, 'Everyone Gets Everything They Want,' which serves as the headline topic. Beyond the album, Morello discusses his Power to the People Festival and his touring experience with Bruce Springsteen, positioning the latter as a model for how liberals and leftists can work together effectively. The conversation touches on several contemporary controversies, including Morello's take on Ed Sheeran and Macklemore, and he addresses his own political engagement by discussing whether he voted for Kamala Harris. On a more personal level, Morello reflects on creative collaboration with his teenage son Roman, from whom he has borrowed riffs, and honors the late Chris Cornell during his live performances. He also discusses how his mother, Mary Morello, shaped his lifelong commitment to social justice causes. A notable topic is whether the band name Audioslave presented problems, suggesting some reflection on his past work. The 41-minute format allows for substantive conversation without appearing rushed, though the breadth of topics—spanning new music, touring, politics, family, legacy acts, and social activism—suggests the interview covers considerable ground. Hiatt, a veteran music journalist, likely brings informed questioning to these topics. The episode promises access to Morello himself, a significant figure in rock music with a distinctive perspective on the intersection of art and activism. The show notes indicate this is a studio session, suggesting professional production quality and a focused interview setting rather than casual banter.

Verdict: A solid artist interview with good access and personal stories, but the wide topic range and lack of evidence for deep musical analysis keep it from being essential listening.

Music rubric

• Musical insight 3/5 20%

  Album discussion and riff-borrowing from his son suggest some musical substance, but show notes don't indicate deep technical analysis of songwriting or production.

• Access and stories 4/5 20%

  Direct interview with Morello covering personal stories (mother's influence, son's collaboration, Cornell tribute) and insider perspective on Springsteen touring relationship.

• Discovery 3/5 15%

  New solo album is the centerpiece, and Power to the People Festival is mentioned, giving listeners concrete music to explore, though limited detail on other artists.

• Substance 3/5 15%

  Covers multiple substantive topics (album, politics, family, legacy) but breadth across many subjects in 41 minutes may limit depth on any single topic.

• Delivers on its title 4/5 15%

  Title promises studio access with Morello; delivers interview covering his new album, touring, and personal reflections as advertised.

• Value for time 3/5 15%

  41 minutes is reasonable for a studio interview; ambitious topic range suggests solid pacing but potential for some topics to feel rushed.

How we score Music

Worth it if you're a Tom Morello fan, interested in his new solo work, or want his perspective on activism and the Springsteen collaboration.

Based on the episode description. AI-generated; it can be wrong.