Chris Cornell : Ex-Audioslave vocalist

A Surprise Left · February 2007

I liked Audioslave but I prefer to hear some more solo Cornell.....I hope there are more albums to come.

Marie Curie · February 2007

another article with more info

Cornell Splits Audioslave, Covers Michael Jackson

February 15, 2007, 4:10 PM ET

Jonathan Cohen, N.Y.
Chris Cornell has split Audioslave, the band he formed with three former members of Rage Against The Machine, due to unspecified "irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences," according to a statement.

"This is something I don't want to do anymore," Cornell tells Billboard.com of Audioslave. "There were problems from the very beginning and we dealt with them in a great way. We made three great records. We were a band that got along great, but we've also had our differences. My focus is definitely on doing my own music now.

Indeed, Cornell is quickly moving on to his second solo album, "Carry On," due May 1 via Suretone/Interscope. The 14-track set was produced by Steve Lillywhite and includes a cover of Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean" (which Cornell has been known to play live) as well as "You Know My Name," the theme to the recent James Bond film "Casino Royale."

The album is Cornell's first solo affair since 1999's "Euphoria Morning." Among the other songs set to appear are the country-leaning "Finally Forever" and the harder-edged "Poison Eye" and "No Such Thing."

"Lately, when I'm writing a song, I've gotten used to the idea that no judgments should happen until a song is done and recorded," he says. "Thinking about it that way, I've become pretty prolific and really enjoyed some of the directions my songs have gone in. For this record, I've written a lot of songs that are unlike anything I've ever done."

Cornell is already assembling a band and plans to tour "extensively" in support of "Carry On," and says Audioslave's 2005 trip to Cuba made him realize "there are a lot of people who would enjoy seeing me play 20 years of recorded music in any context."

Last month, guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk announced they were reuniting with Rage vocalist Zack de la Rocha for what they are claiming to be a one-off performance at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in late April in Indio, Calif.

Cornell admits he was surprised by the decision, noting that it was De La Rocha who quit Rage initially. "I never really got into it with them in terms of what happened or what the problems were," he says of Rage's split. "I only know that I was coming from a band that a few years before that had split up, and I knew what that experience was like. It's not something I'd want to do, but with them, it's a different can of worms. It's four completely different people."

That said, Cornell is taking a "never say never" approach to any potential work with his ex-Soundgarden bandmates, with whom he has not played in a decade. "If we got together to play one show, sure," he says. "A tour wouldn't make sense to me. To make another record? I think it's possible, but I don't know what it would take to make me feel that."

Plus, he adds with a chuckle, "I like the idea that Soundgarden fans will always be able to listen to their Soundgarden records without having to think about a show or a [new] record that's going to bum them out."

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003546530

jeff's_the_man · February 2007

man, i'd just been on a massive audioslave binge. pretty sad to see they're over. but then again the possibilities of maybe seeing both rage and chris solo are covering the grief pretty well.

chris is one of my favourite vocalists of all time. some of his live performances have been hit and miss, but some of his recorded stuff is out of this world. cant wait for the solo record. and the possibility of a long tour is very exciting!

allornone · February 2007

Marie Curie wrote:

The LP will contain 14 tracks, including "Safe and Sound," "Scar on the Sky" and a slow-grind cover of Michael Jackson's "Billy Jean."

Hmmm, a "Billy Jean" cover? WTF? Out of all people, he would be the last person that I would think would do a cover of "Billy Jean".

jeff's_the_man · February 2007

allornone wrote:

Hmmm, a "Billy Jean" cover? WTF? Out of all people, he would be the last person that I would think would do a cover of "Billy Jean".

he played it at a gig recently, its on accoustic, and it is awesome...

Marie Curie · February 2007

allornone wrote:

Hmmm, a "Billy Jean" cover? WTF? Out of all people, he would be the last person that I would think would do a cover of "Billy Jean".

just listen, it's amazing

http://www.triadpictures.com/audioslave/index.php?dir=CHRIS%20CORNELL/Unplugged%20in%20Sweeden/

dotheevolution1 · February 2007

This news opens all kinds of doors:
1. Obviously, rage can reunite.
2. Soundgarden can reunite.
3. Matt Cameron can go back to soundgarden, and Eric Kretz (ex-STP drummer) can join PJ.

(No beef against Matt, I just love eric kretz and soundgarden, so this is the best of all worlds)

soulsinging · February 2007

dotheevolution1 wrote:

This news opens all kinds of doors:
1. Obviously, rage can reunite.
2. Soundgarden can reunite.
3. Matt Cameron can go back to soundgarden, and Eric Kretz (ex-STP drummer) can join PJ.

(No beef against Matt, I just love eric kretz and soundgarden, so this is the best of all worlds)

hmmm... hadnt thought of that. i was thinking with all the reuinons maybe they'd bring back dave or jack. but that might be a good fit. i like matt, but his drumming has never quite sat well with pearl jam i dont think. he's too tight and precise. pearl jam is at their best when they're lose. listen to porch from atlanta 94... they jammed for like 10 minutes. i dont think matt pulls that off all that well.

Marie Curie · February 2007

another interview, from rolling stone

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/02/15/update-chris-cornell-speaks-about-his-split-with-audioslave/

UPDATE: Chris Cornell Speaks About His Split With Audioslave

Earlier today we reported that Chris Cornell had announced he’d be leaving Audioslave — a disclosure tantamount to the end of Audioslave as a whole. Our Andy Greene spoke to Cornell immediately following the news:

Was there any one moment when you knew you wanted to leave Audioslave?

There wasn’t a key moment when I knew I wanted to quit. We finished our third record and I went back to Paris and felt like we needed some time away from each other. We did a lot of touring. We did three records. We had done a lot of stuff in a short time period of time. Everyone ran off and did their own thing. I got real busy working on music and getting into a world I was missing on the last record - which was the ability to experiment with where a song could go and spend some time on the craft of making songs. When you have four guys in a room writing songs, it different. It’s great - that’s what makes a band a band. Audioslave was great. But there’s a lot I want to do and I don’t want to juggle that with a band.

When did you tell the band?

They’ll be hearing about this today. I haven’t spoken to anyone in the band in a few months.

Where you guys not getting along towards the end?

We were getting along. Getting along as people is one thing. Getting along as a group of people that can work together in a band situation…We weren’t particularly getting along well, no. Bands work in a way where everyone at some point has to have a similar idea of how you do things. A band that makes records and tours is also as business. That’s usually where a lot of disagreements come. It’s four guys who are musicians and don’t really know much about business, but are very passionate and have very specific ideas. In this case it was a collaboration that was very satisfying and we all had a great time. When I started I was already in the midst of a solo career. It didn’t feel to me like this was ever a band I wanted to be in if there were going to be problems being in it. But we ran into this issue right away, even before the first record came out. Three albums into it, it started to seem like our interests weren’t as conjoined anymore.

Are you surprised by the Rage reunion?

A little bit. In the time I had been in Audioslave I’m pretty sure that none of them had even talked to Zach, which is a long time (laughs). It was a bit surprising, but I think it’s a cool thing. Audioslave, for my part, existed because of my memory of seeing them play shows in 1996. I thought they were one of the best live bands I’d ever seen. When I got a call from Tom and Rick Rubin about maybe making a record with them I was really curious. What they bring live is different than anything anyone has ever done. If they can actually be a band, it will be great.

Any chance of a Soundgarden reunion?

I seriously doubt it. If that were ever going to happen, someone would have to rally behind it. We ended on a great note. There is no unfinished business and no record to make and no more tours to play. I think that’s a great thing. At the end of the day it’s the fans who make you who you are. We can all be proud that a Soundgarden fan can always put on a Soundgarden record and not have to try and get some uncomfortable memory of a bad show or a new record in their mind. (laughs)

-- Rolling Stone

Can't believe he didn't even told the other guys about leaving the band before making it public. He's being quite an ass about all this :rolleyes:

DiRtyFranK38 · February 2007

Marie Curie wrote:

another interview, from rolling stone

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/02/15/update-chris-cornell-speaks-about-his-split-with-audioslave/

UPDATE: Chris Cornell Speaks About His Split With Audioslave

Earlier today we reported that Chris Cornell had announced he’d be leaving Audioslave — a disclosure tantamount to the end of Audioslave as a whole. Our Andy Greene spoke to Cornell immediately following the news:

Was there any one moment when you knew you wanted to leave Audioslave?

There wasn’t a key moment when I knew I wanted to quit. We finished our third record and I went back to Paris and felt like we needed some time away from each other. We did a lot of touring. We did three records. We had done a lot of stuff in a short time period of time. Everyone ran off and did their own thing. I got real busy working on music and getting into a world I was missing on the last record - which was the ability to experiment with where a song could go and spend some time on the craft of making songs. When you have four guys in a room writing songs, it different. It’s great - that’s what makes a band a band. Audioslave was great. But there’s a lot I want to do and I don’t want to juggle that with a band.

When did you tell the band?

They’ll be hearing about this today. I haven’t spoken to anyone in the band in a few months.

Where you guys not getting along towards the end?

We were getting along. Getting along as people is one thing. Getting along as a group of people that can work together in a band situation…We weren’t particularly getting along well, no. Bands work in a way where everyone at some point has to have a similar idea of how you do things. A band that makes records and tours is also as business. That’s usually where a lot of disagreements come. It’s four guys who are musicians and don’t really know much about business, but are very passionate and have very specific ideas. In this case it was a collaboration that was very satisfying and we all had a great time. When I started I was already in the midst of a solo career. It didn’t feel to me like this was ever a band I wanted to be in if there were going to be problems being in it. But we ran into this issue right away, even before the first record came out. Three albums into it, it started to seem like our interests weren’t as conjoined anymore.

Are you surprised by the Rage reunion?

A little bit. In the time I had been in Audioslave I’m pretty sure that none of them had even talked to Zach, which is a long time (laughs). It was a bit surprising, but I think it’s a cool thing. Audioslave, for my part, existed because of my memory of seeing them play shows in 1996. I thought they were one of the best live bands I’d ever seen. When I got a call from Tom and Rick Rubin about maybe making a record with them I was really curious. What they bring live is different than anything anyone has ever done. If they can actually be a band, it will be great.

Any chance of a Soundgarden reunion?

I seriously doubt it. If that were ever going to happen, someone would have to rally behind it. We ended on a great note. There is no unfinished business and no record to make and no more tours to play. I think that’s a great thing. At the end of the day it’s the fans who make you who you are. We can all be proud that a Soundgarden fan can always put on a Soundgarden record and not have to try and get some uncomfortable memory of a bad show or a new record in their mind. (laughs)

-- Rolling Stone

Can't believe he didn't even told the other guys about leaving the band before making it public. He's being quite an ass about all this :rolleyes:

true, but in his defense appearently the band didn't tell him about the rage reunion, as he was surprised hearing about that. whatever chris is a brilliant musician and a great guy..any album that he is on is classic.

Mojopin · February 2007

I'm really excited about this. The door for some kind of SG get-to-gether is at least open right now. :shock:

Mojo

lalalalaaaaaaaa · February 2007

I think that's great all around, and he's making the right decision. I was really disappointed when he abandoned his solo career. I think he will have a great one if he continues with it, and doesn't try to reunite Soundgarden.

And of course, if RATM came back, that'd be great. 3 albums wasn't enough from a band like that.

bharQ · February 2007

yes finally!! rage could still put out a really amazing album..they are still somewhat young and have plenty to be angry about!

ii44 · February 2007

moho wrote:

Listen to Temple Of The Dog... Just go listen properly and compare it with anything he's done after Down On The Upside.

Yeah, I've heard 'em all. Obviously, if you listen to CC mainly to hear power high-notes you're gonna disagree. My $0.02: If you have a chance to listen to a singing voice as beautiful as Chris' I could give two shits about heavy-metal power high-notes.

It's um... how do I put it? His crazy high-up range, the part of his voice that is gone forever, really added a whole new, unique, dimension to songs like Slaves and Bulldozers, Jesus Christ Pose, Hunger Strike, and Limo Wreck- it was an integral instrument to those pieces, the vocals on those are wonderful. I'm not denying that. But, let me try to explain where I'm coming from-- For example, I think his vocal on Beyond the Wheel is silly. It's so over the top. It's just REALLY LOW, or ANNOYINGLY HIGH. I can't even try taking it seriously. Give me EM or or any of the Audioslave records any day over that nonsense.

While he definately couldn't pull of many of the classic SG songs now, I don't think he could have pulled off some of the best Audioslave songs back in 1990 (Dandelion, One and the Same, Hypnotize, You're Time has Come), or at least not nearly as successfully. If people give these songs a chance, they'll see that he really has matured as a singer and is beyond doing just a bunch of heavy-metal wailing.

Ledbetterman10 · February 2007

bovy_j wrote:

As much as I liked Audioslave and I'm horribly sad to hear that Cornell has gone..haven't gotten the chance to see these boys live, like I would have hoped to...

....I loved Rage even more!! Let's hope that the 1 show that Rage has in April or whatever the date is...will turn into another album and a whole new tour! Viva la Rage!

umm....I think you took all of these words right out of my mouth. all i'll add is we need a NEW RAGE ALBUM. I'd take that over a tour. the fact that I only own four Rage Against the Machine albums is a travesty!!

immortality_13 · February 2007

its a damn shame that their last album will never be played live at all probably, and its their best one.

janegosford · February 2007

I love Chris but he's not turning into Billy Corgan is he?

Blyss · February 2007

Aww didn't mind audioslave and i was hoping for him to go solo so dissapointment.

facepollution · February 2007

Ha, I fucking knew it - I predicted this a few weeks ago. Oh well, bring on the solo album and the RATM reunion!

Songburst · February 2007

A new Rage album would be complete shit. A bunch of 40 year olds kicking out angst-driven rap-rock is a laughable concept. I think that Zak has lost his vocal range - lol. At least Cornell will put out a solo album with some dignity. Although releasing the cover of Billie Jean soils that a bit too.

Chris Cornell : Ex-Audioslave vocalist

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