Tane Nikolov was born in Haskovo in the family of Nikola Zhekov and Rada Stoeva who both come from the village of Gorski izvor near Dimitrovgrad.

In the end of June 1902 he quit the army and joined the revolutionary movement in Eastern Thrace.

In July 1907 Tane headed the united divisions of the organization in what turned to be the biggest battle against the authorities after the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie uprising.

Fifty-four revolutionaries lost their lives in the battle of "Nozhot" (the Knife) which was later sung in songs by the people and celebrated during Serbian rule.

In 1907 after Boris Sarafov and Ivan Garvanov were killed by the inner opposition in IMARO, Tane Nikolov found new friends in the faces of Hristo Matov, Vasil Chekalarov and Nikola Kostov.