On the Ground With Tom Morello’s Occupy Wall Street Guitarmy

FUSE TV - On the Ground With Tom Morello’s Occupy Wall Street Guitarmy

While businessmen took their lunches in New York’s Bryant Park and a statue of Gertrude Stein silently squatted nearby, the first wave of Tom Morello’s “Guitarmy” began practicing for today’s International Workers’ Day May 1 protest. Operating separate from, but in conjunction with, the polarizing Occupy Wall Street movement, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello called for an army of “about 10,000 guitar players” to join him when he performs for the OWS protesters later this afternoon.

Only a few hundred musicians had gathered in Bryant Park for the noon rehearsal, but hundreds more are expected to join when the protest marches to Union Square at 4pm ET. At that point, guitarist Tom Morello—operating under his protest nom de plume The Nightwatchman—will perform his working class anthem “World Wide Rebel Songs” before the protesters march on Wall Street. Hip hop duo Das Racist, Harlem rapper Immortal Technique and indie musician Dan Deacon will also perform.

Excerpt of protest classic "Which Side Are You On?" rewritten for OWS

“We are the guitar army / Our eyes are on the prize / Musicians have no choice in life / Unless we organize / Oh people can you hear us / Oh people do you care? / You’re either with the 99 / Or you are with the mayor.”

[The mayor in this case refers to New York’s billionaire mayor Michael Bloomberg. The 99 percent is you. Unless you have many billions of dollars in the bank.]

The Guitarmy itself was clearly made up of veteran protesters. Although a few people skirted around the edges asking when Morello was showing up, the majority of the guitar wielders were focused on the task at hand. While the non-musical protesters chanted slogans at the other end of Bryant Park, the cross-generational collection of musicians—planted directly next to the New York Public Library—planned the specifics of their day. 

A core group of designated organizers advised the Guitarmy players that when the protest began in earnest, the directions given by OWS organizers were for protesters and not for the Guitarmy. Their sole objective was to perform protest songs to amplify the May Day protest message. 

While one of the organizers explained the specifics of joining Morello for the performance of his “World Wide Rebel Songs,” a middle-aged protester leaned in and said to me, “So that’s when the rock stars all show up. Ironic, isn’t it?” There was no malice in her voice, just detached amusement, as if she was resigned to the necessity of celebrity endorsements but still suspicious.

Excerpt of protest classic “We Shall Not Be Moved” rewritten for OWS

“Banks want to take our homes but we shall not be moved / Tear gas will not stop us, we’re fighting for the future / Get money out of politics, the one percent won’t stop us / We’ll occupy democracy / We shall not be moved.”

After that, the crowd broke up into six or seven separate “squadrons” to practice. The mood was optimistic but resolute: Gray-haired guitarists showed college kids the chords to decades-old protest songs like Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land,” Florence Reece’s union anthem “Which Side Are You On?” and the traditional “We Shall Not Be Moved.” While guitar was the weapon of choice for most, I spotted a ukulele, numerous banjos and an entire horn section, with the tubas and trumpets covered in handmade green “Tax the Rich” stickers.

A lyrics sheet was handed out to singers and musicians during the Guitarmy's rehearsals: All of them were reworked versions of classic protest songs altered to reflect the concerns of the times—which for them, means the struggle of the 99 percent against the wealthiest 1 percent.

If you're in the market for some rousing working class anthems, Fuse has put together a definitive International Workers' Day playlist featuring Bob Dylan, Public Enemy, Bruce Springsteen and, of course, Tom Morello.

The River and the Wall

1h 45m

The River and the Wall

Kiana Ledé Does ASMR with Takis, Talks Staying Grounded & Favorites On “KIKI”

10m

Kiana Ledé Does ASMR with Takis, Talks Staying Grounded & Favorites On “KIKI”

Inside the MMA: Ground and Pound

41m

Inside the MMA: Ground and Pound

Plenty Of Fish In The Street

20m

Plenty Of Fish In The Street

On the Road With G-Thing: Deleted Scene

2m

On the Road With G-Thing: Deleted Scene

Street Justice

24m

Street Justice

Out With The Old, In With The New

20m

Out With The Old, In With The New

Clark Should Have An S On His Chest

2m

Clark Should Have An S On His Chest

Eye On The Prize

44m

Eye On The Prize

Battle on the Catwalk

45m

Battle on the Catwalk

Fire On The Floor

22m

Fire On The Floor

Freaky On The Floor

22m

Freaky On The Floor

Eyes On The Prize

22m

Eyes On The Prize

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

21m

All the Focus is on the Diamonds

Sprint, Sweat & Pain with The Cadets

52s

Sprint, Sweat & Pain with The Cadets

Abuela on the Dance Floor

12m

Abuela on the Dance Floor

The Read With Kid Fury and Crissle

The Read With Kid Fury and Crissle

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

12m

Anthony Ramos On 'The Good & The Bad' (Extended Cut)

Cody Spells Out Love On The Field

1m

Cody Spells Out Love On The Field

Is Nya A Baller On The Low?

51s

Is Nya A Baller On The Low?

Ne-Yo On Leading By Example With His Album, Good Man

4m

Ne-Yo On Leading By Example With His Album, Good Man

The Transcendent Star On Donald Trump: Dear Bambiana

1m

The Transcendent Star On Donald Trump: Dear Bambiana

What To Expect On Clash of the Corps

1m

What To Expect On Clash of the Corps

Vacations: It’s Not a Luxury, It’s a Necessity

2m

Vacations: It’s Not a Luxury, It’s a Necessity

Mario Lopez: One On One

Mario Lopez: One On One

Giovanni’s Pizza Commercial

21m

Giovanni’s Pizza Commercial

It’s Soul Food

20m

It’s Soul Food

Too Many BBL’s

21m

Too Many BBL’s

OMG, It’s Beyonce!

20m

OMG, It’s Beyonce!

Hank3's Vinyl Collection

13m

Hank3's Vinyl Collection

Rogelio’s Hollywood Moment

20m

Rogelio’s Hollywood Moment

On Set At The Transcendent Season 2 Promo Shoot

1m

On Set At The Transcendent Season 2 Promo Shoot

Young M.A On The Struggle of Giving Up Meat

9m

Young M.A On The Struggle of Giving Up Meat

Diva’s Day In Court

20m

Diva’s Day In Court

Where The Hell Do We Go From Here With Amara La Negra

16m

Where The Hell Do We Go From Here With Amara La Negra

Alaina Castillo Does ASMR with Her Nails, Talks the Power of Vulnerability

16m

Alaina Castillo Does ASMR with Her Nails, Talks the Power of Vulnerability

Marchin Music’s Major League

20m

Marchin Music’s Major League

Louis The Child Do ASMR with Stress Balls, Talk Music Production & "Self Care"

10m

Louis The Child Do ASMR with Stress Balls, Talk Music Production & "Self Care"

I Played One on TV

46m

I Played One on TV

Internet Money Do ASMR with Bubble Wrap, Talk "B4 The Storm", Producing & More

17m

Internet Money Do ASMR with Bubble Wrap, Talk "B4 The Storm", Producing & More

Got to Be in it To Win it: America's Obsession with the Lottery

2m

Got to Be in it To Win it: America's Obsession with the Lottery

Big Freedia’s Twerk of Art

20m

Big Freedia’s Twerk of Art

In Your B.A.S.E.

22m

In Your B.A.S.E.

Free The Robots Reveals Where He Found One of His Rarest Records

1m

Free The Robots Reveals Where He Found One of His Rarest Records

Sake One

10m

Sake One

Game On!

20m

Game On!

T-Pain’s School of Business: Teaser

30s

T-Pain’s School of Business: Teaser

Tech With A Higher Purpose

20m

Tech With A Higher Purpose

A Seat with Juicy J

4m

A Seat with Juicy J

The Canvas LA: Spotlight Fern Shares How Starting On Tumblr Turned Into Inspiring People

9m

The Canvas LA: Spotlight Fern Shares How Starting On Tumblr Turned Into Inspiring People

Who's On Top?

1h 13m

Who's On Top?

One Take Jake

20m

One Take Jake

On Call Miami

44m

On Call Miami

One Busy Queen

21m

One Busy Queen

On Call LA

43m

On Call LA

Leaning On Lena

20m

Leaning On Lena

Chew On This

44m

Chew On This

On Call NYC

44m

On Call NYC

T-Pain's Encounter With A Roach

48s

T-Pain's Encounter With A Roach

Rapper Rich Quick Performs "Nice Guy" On 'Dancin' On Air'

3m

Rapper Rich Quick Performs "Nice Guy" On 'Dancin' On Air'

Slide Into My DM's with Mozzy

3m

Slide Into My DM's with Mozzy

Anjelah Johnson and Damon Wayan’s Jr. Sh!tshow

20m

Anjelah Johnson and Damon Wayan’s Jr. Sh!tshow

The Beatles: In the Life

1h 2m

The Beatles: In the Life

The Abuela and the Furious

12m

The Abuela and the Furious

T-Pain's School of Business: Artiphon- The All In One Musical Device | Season 1 Look Back |

1m

T-Pain's School of Business: Artiphon- The All In One Musical Device | Season 1 Look Back |

Bougie On A Budget

2m

Bougie On A Budget

Is Everyone on Drugs?

20m

Is Everyone on Drugs?

Freedia's Twerk On Washington

21m

Freedia's Twerk On Washington

Gym Shorts on Runway

41m

Gym Shorts on Runway

Clean Up Aisle One

46m

Clean Up Aisle One

Putting It On Wax

23m

Putting It On Wax

All Hands on Deck

20m

All Hands on Deck

Who's On Top? - Trailer

1m

Who's On Top? - Trailer

The Blue Devils Bring The Parade

1m

The Blue Devils Bring The Parade

Inside the MMA: Release the Kraken

41m

Inside the MMA: Release the Kraken

Slide Into My DM's with Clara Mae

2m

Slide Into My DM's with Clara Mae

Fila Returns with 96s and Ninja Turtles

6m

Fila Returns with 96s and Ninja Turtles

Slide Into My DM's with Jake Miller

2m

Slide Into My DM's with Jake Miller

J.I. Does ASMR with A Keyboard

8m

J.I. Does ASMR with A Keyboard

Slide Into My DM's with Elley Duhé

3m

Slide Into My DM's with Elley Duhé

The Citizen

1h 34m

The Citizen

The Motorcycle

23m

The Motorcycle

The Runway

1h 33m

The Runway

The 212

The 212

The Feels

1h 21m

The Feels

The Luau

1h 30m

The Luau

The Pilot

21m

The Pilot

The Decision

44m

The Decision

The Reunion

45m

The Reunion

The Hustle

20m

The Hustle

The Exchange

1h 27m

The Exchange

The Canvas

The Canvas

The FP

1h 20m

The FP

The Ladies Play "Fill In The Blanks"

1m

The Ladies Play "Fill In The Blanks"

The Abuela Test for Leaving the Nest

15m

The Abuela Test for Leaving the Nest

Nya Rehearses With Luis and Leilani: Deleted Scene

52s

Nya Rehearses With Luis and Leilani: Deleted Scene

How To Tie A Tie With Too Short

3m

How To Tie A Tie With Too Short

Don't Cancel Me With Amara La Negra

Don't Cancel Me With Amara La Negra

The Hilarious Reality of the American Rat Race

2m

The Hilarious Reality of the American Rat Race

Bambiana’s Mom Is Not A Fan of Twerking or Sexy Photos

41s

Bambiana’s Mom Is Not A Fan of Twerking or Sexy Photos

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information