RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's TOM MORELLO Discusses 'Justice Tour 2008'

The Pulse of Radio reports that RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello will lead a shifting lineup of artists on the Justice Tour 2008, which will hit the road this spring and summer for six or more shows. According to Billboard.com, the trek will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights. Morello told The Pulse of Radio that a key aspect of the trip will be efforts to encourage participation in political and social causes at both the national and local level. "It will benefit specific good causes, whether it's repairing destroyed New Orleans, or anti-war efforts like supporting Iraq Veterans Against the War, to issues of poverty, education, environment, workers and immigrants' rights," he said. "But also it will allow the musicians who participate in the shows to physically get engaged in these struggles as well. We're gonna do, like, two days in each city and one day will be kind of like an activist workshop for fans and musicians, and the other day we're gonna play a kick-ass show."

The dates, venues and lineup for the tour are still to be finalized, with an announcement possibly coming in a few days. The tour is expected to start in mid-April.

Justice Tour 2008 is part of continuing efforts by Axis of Justice, the activist organization co-founded by Morello and SYSTEM OF A DOWN vocalist Serj Tankian. It is not clear whether Tankian will participate in the tour.

Morello will perform as his folk alter ego, the NIGHTWATCHMAN.

The guitarist will also appear this week at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas, where he'll participate in an event celebrating the upcoming release of the movie "Body of War" and its soundtrack, which features music from Morello, Tankian, Eddie Vedder and others.

Morello will also join RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE at a number of European festival stops this summer.