Tom Morello Unleashes “Pretend You Remember Me” After Orchestrating the Biggest Metal Gig in History

July 12, 2025 rocknews

Fresh off masterminding Back to the Beginning — the most seismic metal event ever staged — guitar revolutionary Tom Morello has dropped a blistering new solo track, Pretend You Remember Me, and it’s already igniting conversations across the rock world.

From Villa Park to the Frontlines of Justice

Last Saturday, Morello stood at the helm of Back to the Beginning, a 10-hour metal marathon at Birmingham’s Villa Park that reunited Black Sabbath for their final bow and featured a pantheon of legends: Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, and more. As musical director, Morello didn’t just curate — he conjured a sonic pilgrimage that raised over £140 million for charity.

But the man behind the riffs wasn’t done.

Just days later, Morello released Pretend You Remember Me, a thunderous protest anthem written in solidarity with immigrant families torn apart by recent ICE raids in Los Angeles. Partnering with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), Morello channels his activist roots into a track that’s equal parts rage and redemption.

A Song for the Times — and the Movement

“Children torn from their wailing mothers’ arms by masked government thugs… Pretend You Remember Me is for them,” Morello declared. The song’s haunting melody and searing guitar work echo the urgency of his message, while the accompanying video — directed by Morello himself — features freed political prisoner Leonard Peltier delivering a powerful opening statement: “No human being is illegal.”

Produced by Zakk Cervini, the track blends Morello’s signature riffage with a Springsteen-esque storytelling vibe, landing somewhere between Audioslave fury and Nightwatchman introspection.

Morello’s Voice — Front and Center

While fans may know Morello as the six-string sorcerer behind Rage Against the Machine, this track puts his vocals in the spotlight. “I’ve been singing on records since 2007,” he said, “but it’s really in the forefront with this song”. And it works — his baritone cuts through the mix like a battle cry.

What’s Next: A Solo Rock Album and Revolution(s)

Pretend You Remember Me is the first taste of Morello’s upcoming solo rock album, his first in a career spanning 22 records. He’s also gearing up for Revolution(s), a genre-defying theater production debuting in Chicago later this year — described as “an illegal underground rave with a mosh pit”.

From Global Stages to Grassroots Change

Whether he’s shredding alongside Metallica or standing shoulder-to-shoulder with immigrant families, Tom Morello proves that rock music still has teeth — and a conscience. Pretend You Remember Me isn’t just a song; it’s a rallying cry. And after orchestrating the most legendary metal gig of all time, Morello’s message is clear: the fight isn’t over, and the riffs are only getting louder.