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Man, downtown is kickass. Yeah, you've seen the great theatre and the wonderful eats and the art walk, but you've probably also thought about the homeless population, or the proclivity for violence in the face of an economic abyss. And while all of these things, in their own way, are true about downtown, things like the Grammy Museum are really helping to elevate the standard while keeping an eye on what’s important in their neighborhood.
Enter Tom Morello, former lead guitarist for Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave, current Nightwatchman and Street Sweeper rocker. Oh, and he's a badass with an honors degree from Harvard who happens to be one of the best guitarists in the world, all while fighting the social ills that are killing the world. And guess what? The Grammy Museum's got him. Well... had him...
On 3/31 Tom did a two hour question and answer session with the Grammy Museum on their beautiful location right in the middle of LA Live, and even took some questions from fans before breaking into a small acoustic set that got the audience jumping, literally. I mean, who else in the world could break out an acoustic version of Guerilla Radio and play their OWN GUITAR RIFFS on harmonica?!
Tom Morello is not only a rock institution, he’s also a social and political phenomenon. Leaning far to the left and strongly towards socialist activism, Tom has been witness to riots, placed in handcuffs, and barred from so many events it’s staggering. But one thing that hasn’t changed is his love of the people, be it in Los Angeles or Lithuania. And, sitting inside the comfortably furnished Grammy Museum space, when Tom mentions the 75,000 people sleeping on the streets of LA, you really understand what it means to be a part of the problem, or part of the solution. And Tom Morello, with the help of the Grammy Museum, shows just how much fun it can be to be a part of the solution.
The Grammy Museum recently changed it's hours, and will now be open Sunday through Friday 11:30 to 7:30, and Saturdays 10:00 to 7:30. It is located on the corner of Olympic and Figueroa at LA Live.
