Tom Morello recalls Star Trek, Rage Against The Machine and The Prodigy in career quiz
Tom Morello took part in NME's career-recall quiz, discussing memories from his time in Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave and beyond. He recalled appearing in Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Insurrection, as well as Rage's early UK TV performance on The Word. He also described The Prodigy as one of the few live bands that could match Rage Against The Machine.
Morello’s NME quiz covered screen roles: crewman Mitchell in a 2000 Star Trek: Voyager episode, giving Janeway directions, and a So’na alien in Star Trek: Insurrection two years earlier, with long makeup calls and meetings with The Next Generation cast. He also recalled Rage Against The Machine’s 1993 The Word UK TV debut, but guessed wrong about his shirt; it was Kiss.
He remembered early UK shows, including Reading 1993 and a Birmingham club date in 1992 where “Killing In The Name” sparked headbanging. Morello also discussed Lock Up’s horse-head album art, industry pressure, and the post-breakup vow that preceded early Rage riffs. He named The Prodigy as a rare live band that could rival Rage.
This nostalgia-driven interview may resonate with rock and sci-fi fans, offering a humanizing look at a politically charged guitarist’s lighter memories. It could strengthen cross-generational interest in Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave, and The Prodigy, while reminding listeners how live performance and censorship protests shaped rock culture. Fans of Star Trek may enjoy the crossover, though the piece is unlikely to shift broader public opinion.