Though he has been a part of some excellent damn-the-man tunes as a part of Rage Against the Machine and as a solo artist, guitar virtuoso Tom Morello turned to the Great White North for his pick for “Best Contemporary Protest Song.” What Canadian band topped his personal chart? Click here for Morello’s pick.

• Best of Rock 2008 Artist Picks: Tom Morello

• Best of Rock 2008 Artist Picks

• Rolling Stone’s Best of Rock 2008

Tom Morello kicked off his seven-city “Justice Tour” last night by calling every able-bodied rock legend in Los Angeles for a surreal night of music and social awareness at the Troubadour. “This is what happens when I go through my Blackberry,” Morello joked to the crowd before Stuart Copeland snuck behind the drums and Perry Farrell grabbed the mike for a thundering version of the Police’s “Message in a Bottle” just twenty minutes into the evening. It was the start of a marathon night that would showcase unforgettable collaborations by rock royalty for more than three and half hours.

The concert featured early acoustic performances by Morello, Pete Yorn, Jerry Cantrell and the MC5’s Wayne Kramer. (more…)