Tuesday, August 2, 2011

TOM MORELLO UNVEILS DEBUT COMIC SERIES AT SAN DIEGO COMIC CON

Tom Morello unveiled his debut comic seriesOrchid, at San Diego Comic Con last night.  From Dark Horse Comics, Orchid is an epic fantasy story set in a dystopian future infused with Morello's class conscious worldview and the politics of street terrorism.  "It's like Lord of the Rings meets Battle of Algiers," said Morello.  "I wanted to craft a story that has the same visceral impact and political clout as the music I've been involved in."  Part Suicide Girl, part Joan of Arc - Orchid is the tale of a 16-year-old street prostitute who learns that she is more than the role society has imposed upon her.  When the seas rose, genetic codes were smashed.  Human settlements are now ringed by a dense wilderness from which ferocious new animal species prey on the helpless.  The high ground belongs to the rich and powerful that overlook swampland shantytowns from their fortress-like cities.  Iron-fisted rule ensures order and allows the wealthy to harvest the poor as slaves. This is the world of Orchid .  

The debut issue of Orchid features a variant cover by the well-known and influential street artist Shepard Fairey, with interior art by Scott Hepburn (Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic). Orchid will be released over the course of twelve issues with the first issue on sale October 12th, 2011.  Morello has written a score for the series which will serve as a soundtrack to the story. Each song will be distributed as a free rack available with the purchase of each issue.
  

World Wide Rebel Songs Cover Art

Morello is also set to release his solo album, World Wide Rebel Songs, on August 30th via New West Records.  The 12-track set is the follow up to the 2008 The Nightwatchman album The Fabled City and was produced by Morello.  While Morello's solo albums as The Nightwatchman have primarily been acoustic affairs, World Wide Rebel Songs features a full electric band, "The Freedom Fighter Orchestra."  Morello stated "The genesis for the idea came when I played 'The Ghost Of Tom Joad' on stage with Bruce Springsteen.  That was the first time I had ever sung with an electric guitar in my hand, and I saw that it could be done."  On the 2008 Nightwatchman tour in support of The Fabled City, he took along the musicians who now comprise "The Freedom Fighter Orchestra."  Over the course of those shows, he says "I became comfortable melding my worlds as an electric guitarist and folk troubadour."  When describing the album, Morello stated "Troubled times call out for troubled songs.  World Wide Rebel Songs is an album of rousing hopelessness and this time The Nightwatchman has brought along his electric guitar to tip the scales.  I wanted to capture a vibe midway between Johnny Cash and Che Guevara, murder ballads and Molotov anthems." The song "Save The Hammer For The Man" was co-written with Ben Harper and features Harper on vocals and guitar.   World Wide Rebel Songs is the 14th studio album of Tom Morello's influential career.

Tom Morello will also be supporting Incubus in the US in August and Rise Against in Europe in November.  In addition to playing the Musicians United For Safe Energy benefit concert with Jackson Browne, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Bonnie Raitt and more, he has also announced a performance at the Ottawa Folk Festival on August 27th and a solo, acoustic show at NYC's City Winery on September 1st.  

 

Tom Morello With The Freedom Fighter Orchestra Tour Dates:

8/7 Musicians United for Safe Energy - Shoreline Amphitheater - Mountain View, CA *Solo, Acoustic  

8/17 Denver, CO Red Rocks Amphitheater w/ Incubus

8/19 Kansas City, KS KRBZ Beach Ball at Sporting Stadium w/ Incubus

8/21 Chicago, IL  Charter One Pavilion w/ Incubus

8/23 Indianapolis, IN  Verizon Wireless Center w/ Incubus  

8/24 Detroit, MI  DTE Energy Center w/ Incubus

8/26 Cleveland, OH  Nautica Amphitheater w/ Incubus

8/27 Ottawa Folk Festival, Cupe Stage 8pm - Hog's Back Back

8/28 Molson Amphitheater w/ Incubus - Toronto, ONT

9/1 New York, NY City Winery *Solo, Acoustic  

11/2 Nottingham, UK Rock City w/ Rise Against

11/3 Leeds, UK  O2 Academy w/ Rise Against

11/4 Glasgow, UK O2 Academy w/ Rise Against

11/5 Manchester, UK O2 Apollo w/ Rise Against

11/7 Birmingham, UK O2 Academy w/ Rise Against

11/8 Newcastle, UK O2 Academy w/ Rise Against

11/9 London, UK  O2 Academy Brixton w/ Rise Against

11/12 Bristol, UK O2 Academy w/ Rise Against

11/13 Southampton, UK Guildhall w/ Rise Against

 

World Wide Rebel Songs Track Listing

 

1. Black Spartacus Heart Attack Machine

2. The Dogs of Tijuana

3. It Begins Tonight

4. Save The Hammer For The Man featuring Ben Harper

5. The Fifth Horseman Of The Apocalypse

6. Speak and Make Lightning

7. Facing Mount Kenya

8. The Whirlwind

9. Stray Bullets

10. Branding Iron

11. World Wide Rebel Songs

12. God Help Us All

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