Legendary Rage Against the Machine guitarist shares anti-fascist anthem “Date Night” ahead of September release.
Tom Morello has never separated his music from his politics, and his newly announced solo album makes that mission unmistakably clear. The Rage Against the Machine co-founder has announced Everyone Gets Everything They Want, his first solo rock album, arriving September 25 via Mom + Pop Music.
Alongside the announcement, Morello has released the new single “Date Night,” a blistering track inspired by one of World War II’s most extraordinary true stories. The song recounts the exploits of Dutch resistance fighters Truus Oversteegen, Freddie Oversteegen, and Hannie Schaft, three young women who used their youth and innocence as cover while serving as spies, saboteurs, and assassins against occupying Nazi forces.
“I make anti-racist songs for anti-racists. I make anti-fascist songs for anti-fascists. And I make anti-Nazi songs for anti-Nazis,” Morello said in a statement. “‘Date Night’ is really a ‘which side are you on?’ song. If any of that offends you, do the math. Oh, and Roman Morello wrote the killer riff in this tune.”
The album marks Morello’s return to center stage as a solo rock artist while continuing the political convictions that have defined his career across Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, Prophets of Rage, Street Sweeper Social Club, and his work as The Nightwatchman. While his unmistakable guitar playing remains front and center, Everyone Gets Everything They Want expands its reach through an eclectic lineup of collaborators including Serj Tankian, Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap, and Beartooth.
Perhaps the most intriguing collaborator, however, is Morello’s 15-year-old son Roman Morello, who receives writing credits on five tracks after spending the last several years joining his father onstage. Morello has repeatedly praised Roman’s musicianship, and the younger guitarist’s fingerprints are already evident on both “Date Night” and the previously released single “Adjourn It,” which also features Serj Tankian.
Produced by Tyler Smyth, Carl Restivo, Zakk Cervini, Dan Carey, and Sam Nelson Harris, the record tackles themes of fascism, immigrant rights, systemic injustice, and collective resistance while continuing to showcase the experimental guitar work that helped redefine modern rock. More than three decades after Rage Against the Machine emerged as one of the most politically outspoken bands in music, Morello remains committed to using heavy music as a vehicle for activism rather than escapism.
The announcement arrives during another remarkably active chapter in Morello’s career. Fresh off touring with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band on the Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour and an appearance at the Newport Folk Festival, Morello will next perform at Louder Than Life before curating Power to the People Festival on October 3. The sold-out event will feature an extraordinary lineup that includes Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Public Enemy, Killer Mike, Brittany Howard, Dropkick Murphys, Jack Black, Serj Tankian, grandson, The Linda Lindas, Taylor Momsen, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, and more.
For an artist whose career has consistently blurred the lines between music, activism, and organizing, Everyone Gets Everything They Want appears poised to continue that tradition. If “Date Night” is any indication, Morello isn’t interested in softening his message. Instead, he’s doubling down on the conviction that rock music can still challenge power as effectively as it entertains.
Everyone Gets Everything They Want Tracklist
- Beth From Electronics
- Everyone Gets Everything They Want
- Adjourn It (feat. Serj Tankian & Roman Morello)
- I Am Not Yours To Command
- Soldier in the Army of Love
- Unconquered (feat. Kneecap)
- Date Night
- The Last Rung on the Ladder
- Everything Burns (feat. Beartooth)
- Pretend You Remember Me
- Untethered
- They Can’t Kill Us All
Featured image credit: Danny Clinch
