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He was born in Harlem, New York and grew up in Libertyville, Illinois. His mother, Mary Morello, is a founder of Parents For Rock And Rap, an anti-censorship group. His father was a Mau Mau guerilla, a Kenyan revolutionary who later was the first Kenyan delegate to the United Nations. Tom's uncle, Jomo Kenyatta, was the first elected president in Kenya.
In 1986 Tom graduated with honours from Harvard University with a degree in political science. He moved to L.A with the intention of joining or starting a band. He joined a band called Electric Sheep with soon-to-be-guitarist for Tool Adam Jones. While in Los Angeles, California, Tom's roommate was Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan.
In 1988 he joined Lock Up, who released one album through Geffen Records before splitting up. Afterward, Tom called Brad Wilk who had auditioned for Lock Up interested in forming a band. First meeting Zack de la Rocha at an LA club, where Zack was rapping, it was not long before Tim Commerford was called and Rage Against The Machine was created.
He is famed for his guitar style, which consists of punk/funk hybrid riffs and hip hop inspired sounds.