'I'm both blessed and cursed to be a guitar player. I didn't choose it, it chose me. The challenge was to find a way to weave my convictions into my music in a meaningful way.' - Tom Morello
As the cofounder and guitarist of Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, and Prophets of Rage, and as a solo artist and collaborator with artists as diverse as Bruce Springsteen and Wu-Tang Clan, few musicians have been as groundbreaking as Tom Morello. Now, for the first time, Morello’s remarkable life as a guitarist, songwriter, singer, and political activist is captured in Whatever It Takes.
'I dug deep into my garage and photo albums to find pictures that I hadn't seen in many years. Some of the photos show history in the making. Some are historically rocking. And some are historically embarrassing.' - Tom Morello
Morello's commentary is accompanied by a wealth of photographs, handwritten notes, and set lists, many of which are previously unpublished and come from the author's personal archives. Stunning images of Morello's heavily customized guitars complete this jam-packed photographic memoir, and the result, like his incendiary guitar playing, is fascinating, honest, and completely unique.
'There's never been a successful social movement in the United States without a compelling soundtrack' - Tom Morello
Morello's original commentary documents his late start in learning the guitar and early bands, through to forming Rage Against the Machine, his transition into working with the melodic vocals of Chris Cornell in Audioslave, his solo work and collaborations, and on to Prophets of Rage. Throughout the book Morello reflects on how his 'calling' of activism drives his work. He recounts the protests and controversies that he has encountered in his mission to use his guitar as a means to share ideas worth fighting for.
'He's not only a brilliant musician, but he has a deep heart and a social conscience, just like Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Bono, or Jackson Browne. Tom is right up there with that gang. I think this excellent book helps prove why.' - Jann Wenner
Tom Morello is an American musician, singer, songwriter and political activist. He is living proof of the transformative power of rock'n'roll. Known for his heavy riff playing and inventive techniques on the electric guitar, he has continually pushed the limits of what one man can do with six strings.
'This is a book about a lifelong Mission. A mission that more often can be felt rather than articulated. There are clues to the nature of the mission in the guitar riffs, the crazy solos, the lyrics, and in the shared sweat and solidarity of friends and comrades onstage and off.' - Tom Morello
Whatever It Takes by Tom Morello is published in a limited edition of only 2,000 numbered copies, each signed by Tom Morello.
Fully bound in black cloth with red and gold foil blocking and red page edging, the book is presented in a Solander box which features Tom Morello's handwritten notes for Lock Up and Rage Against the Machine and setlists from his solo career.
Each copy includes a Little Red Songbook - a booklet of songs and chord charts from the Nightwatchman; eight custom Dunlop guitar picks, representing each of Tom Morello's bands as well as his solo work; and an exclusive 7" vinyl disc featuring the title track, 'Whatever It Takes', plus a previously unreleased, live recording of 'Vigilante Nocturno' from the Atlas Underground Tour.
In order to make investing in one of our limited edition books or prints easier, we offer an interest-free option to spread the cost.
For purchases over £150, the payments are spread over three months. For example, for a purchase of £360, £122.40 would be paid today, followed by two instalments of £118.80.
Genesis will dispatch your item once the last instalment is paid.
'Whatever It Takes finds Tom Morello looking back in depth at his entire life and career, from his childhood in Illinois to his time with Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, and the E Street Band, among other highlights.' - Rolling Stone
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Morello’s remarkable life as a guitarist, songwriter, singer, and political activist is all captured in Whatever It Takes. Introduced by the Oscar-winning filmmaker Michael Moore, Jann Wenner, the cofounder of Rolling Stone, Morello’s Prophets of Rage collaborator Chuck D, and Nora Guthrie, daughter of the legendary Woody Guthrie, Whatever It Takes is the photographic memoir of one of the greatest rock guitar players of our times.
Since 1974 Genesis has created signed limited edition books on behalf of authors and artists ranging from the Beatles to Buckingham Palace.
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