Tom Morello closed out Jimmy Kimmel Live with a fiery performance of “Soldier in the Army of Love,” the protest anthem from his new solo album Everyone Gets Everything They Want (via Mom + Pop Music). The guitarist, sporting a cap and aviator glasses, led a full band and backing vocalists through the song’s furious, angry verses. His teenage son Roman joined him on stage, playing guitar behind his back with the instrument emblazoned with a call to action for homeless rights.
The performance was a fitting closer for a show currently running a special week of episodes from the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). Morello’s set brought the political edge of his solo work to primetime television, and the song’s lyrics — which reference the road to Damascus and the Westfield Mall — made the point without ever losing the crowd.
The Song’s Message
“Soldier in the Army of Love” is lifted from Everyone Gets Everything They Want, a record described as “stacked with anti-fascist songs.” The track’s lyrics transform the familiar biblical story of Saul becoming Paul into a commentary on modern life, with Morello singing:
“Transforming motherf—ers like Saul into Paul / On the road to Damascus at the Westfield Mall / In the maquiladoras and at Carnegie Hall / In the grain elevator making fascists crawl.”
The song moves from the ancient road to Damascus to the modern Westfield Mall, from factories in Mexico to concert halls to grain elevators. Each location carries its own weight, and Morello ties them together under the shared theme of transformation — or, as he puts it, turning motherf—ers into something else entirely.
The line about the grain elevator is particularly striking. Morello sets the scene in a working elevator, with fascists crawling beneath the feet of the workers. It is a small image, but it lands hard.
Roman Morello’s Solo
Roman Morello, the guitarist’s teenage son, delivered a solo during the performance. He played his electric guitar behind his back, the instrument daubed with a call to action for homeless rights. The move is a technical flourish that has a long history in guitar performance — playing guitar behind the back is a signature trick of flamenco and classical guitarists, and it has found its way into rock as a display of dexterity.
But the instrument’s message was the real draw. Roman’s guitar carried a call to action for homeless rights, a direct appeal to the audience to act rather than simply watch. The combination of the solo and the message made Roman a clear chip off the old block — a young musician following in his father’s politically charged footsteps.
Father and Son Together
The performance featured a full band and backing vocalists, but the center of attention was the Morellos themselves. Tom Morello took the mic and wielded the axe, while Roman played guitar behind his back. The dynamic between father and son added a familial warmth to the political intensity of the song.
Morello’s son has been involved in his father’s work before. The source describes Roman as a teenager who plays guitar behind his back, and the performance showed that involvement continuing on stage. The two performed together.
A Long History of Protest
Morello has spent decades fighting the power across multiple projects. He joined Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band, formed the “supergroup” Prophets of Rage, and led the solo project The Nightwatchman. He also founded Rage Against the Machine, which was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2023.
Rage Against the Machine was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. Morello’s role as a founding member remains central to his legacy.
| Project | Role | Notable Albums |
|---|---|---|
| Rage Against the Machine | Founding member | Evil Empire (1996), The Battle of Los Angeles (1999) |
| The Nightwatchman | Bandleader | Three titles on the Billboard 200 |
| Prophets of Rage | Member of the “supergroup” | N/A |
| E-Street Band | Joined Springsteen’s band | N/A |
The Billboard Numbers
Morello’s solo work continues a pattern of strong chart performance. As a member of Rage Against the Machine, he notched seven entries on the Billboard 200, including two No. 1s: Evil Empire (1996) and The Battle of Los Angeles (1999).
As bandleader of The Nightwatchman, Morello has landed three additional titles on the all-genre national albums chart. The Nightwatchman’s chart history shows a consistent presence on the Billboard 200 across multiple records.
| Album | Artist | Chart Position |
|---|---|---|
| Evil Empire | Rage Against the Machine | No. 1 |
| The Battle of Los Angeles | Rage Against the Machine | No. 1 |
| Everyone Gets Everything They Want | Tom Morello | Not stated |
A Statement of Purpose
Morello’s approach to his solo work is defined by his politics. In a statement announcing Everyone Gets Everything They Want, his first-ever rock full-length as a soloist, he framed his music as a tool for organizing. He is not making songs for passive listeners — he is making songs for people who already share his beliefs and want to act on them. The distinction matters. Morello is not trying to convert anyone; he is rallying the choir.
The BAM Setting
Jimmy Kimmel Live is currently broadcasting a special week of episodes from the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). The show’s location adds a New York City context to the performance, with the city’s cultural institutions serving as a backdrop for the political message.
The BAM setting is part of the show’s current run, and it gave Morello a distinctive venue for his performance. The Academy is a well-known cultural institution, and performing there added a layer of significance to the already charged material.
The Legacy Continues
Morello’s performance at Kimmel is the latest chapter in a long career of protest music. From Rage Against the Machine to The Nightwatchman to his solo work, he has consistently used his platform to address social and political issues.
The fact that he closed out the show is notable in itself. The performance ended the show on a high note.
KEY FACTS
– Album: Everyone Gets Everything They Want (via Mom + Pop Music)
– Song: “Soldier in the Army of Love”
– Performance date: Sept. 29, 2025
– Chart positions: Rage Against the Machine — Evil Empire (No. 1), The Battle of Los Angeles (No. 1); The Nightwatchman — three titles on the Billboard 200
– Kimmel special week: Broadcast from the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
COMPARISON TABLE
| Project | Role | Notable Albums |
| — | — | — |
| Rage Against the Machine | Founding member | Evil Empire (1996), The Battle of Los Angeles (1999) |
| The Nightwatchman | Bandleader | Three titles on the Billboard 200 |
| Prophets of Rage | Member of the “supergroup” | N/A |
| E-Street Band | Joined Springsteen’s band | N/A |
The performance was a success on its own terms. Morello delivered a powerful performance of a protest anthem, backed by his teenage son, who played guitar behind his back while the instrument itself carried a message about homelessness.
Source material: “Tom Morello Rocks Out For Politically-Charged ‘Kimmel’ Performance: Watch,” Billboard.
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