Story & photos by Ron Lyon
Grammy Award-winning guitarist and 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave) brought his trademark fire to a very different kind of stage on February 26, 2026, the auditorium of historic Manual Arts High School in South Los Angeles, California.
Partnering with Gibson Gives and national nonprofit Music Will, Morello surprised students with a generous donation of new Gibson guitars ahead of Music in Our Schools Month. But this wasn’t a ceremonial handoff and photo op. It was loud, personal, and deeply inspiring.
Students took the stage for three live performances, ripping through original songs and covers while Morello watched closely, smiling, nodding, and offering thoughtful feedback. Morello invited the entire student body to the front of the stage during the final performance, raising his arm in encouragement as students fed off the moment.
When the students ripped into Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing in the Name” and the vocalist unleashed a full-throttle scream, Morello beamed like a proud bandmate rather than a rock icon. For many in the room, this wasn’t just a school assembly, it was maybe to coolest day this school had ever seen.
Wearing a simple “Listen to the Kids” T-shirt, Morello later addressed the crowd, emphasizing creativity, access, and the life-changing power of music education. “Access to instruments changes what’s possible,” echoed organizers from Music Will, reinforcing the mission behind the morning’s surprise.
The event closed with a jubilant group photo: students gathered around a row of gleaming Gibson guitars, faculty and organizers standing shoulder to shoulder, and Morello at center, celebrating the next generation of musicians.
At Manual Arts High School, rock ‘n’ roll wasn’t nostalgia — it was possibility.
