Chris Cornell Confirms Audioslave Split

LOS ANGELES: Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell confirmed he is leaving the band due to "irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences." In a press statement the singer said "I wish the other three members nothing but the best in all of their future endeavors."

Audioslave formed in 2001 with Cornell and three former member of Rage Against the Machine including drummer Brad Wilk, guitarist Tom Morello and bassist Tim Commerford. Cornell was former singer and guitarist for the Seattle grunge band Soundgarden.

Audioslave recorded three albums, Audioslave (2002), Out of Exile (2005) and Revelations (2006).

The band made musical history in 2005 by becoming the first American rock band to perform in Cuba since the United States placed the country under an embargo.

Audioslave elected not to tour in support of their latest album, Revelations. The decision was instigated by Cornell who did not want to go out on the road. Rumors of an impending Audioslave split began soon after.

The announcement coincided with the release of Cornell's second solo album, Carry On, on February 15.

Just two weeks earlier, Rage Against the Machine revealed that they would be reuniting for a one-time gig at the Coachella festival in Indio, California on April 29, 2007, after seven years apart.

Rage Against the Machine's guitarist Tom Morello said the motivation for the reunion was that "the world needs songs of rebellion and revolution right now," prevalent themes of the band's previous work.

Cornell told MTV that the split was amicable but Audioslave was finished. He said he is enthusiastic about pursuing his solo career and of the Rage reunion.

"I think one of the reasons why I ever wanted a band like Audioslave was because of seeing Rage in 1996, and I thought they were one of the best bands I had ever seen. The thought of those guys playing shows and maybe becoming a band again is a great thing."

The singer acknowledged that Audioslave was a very different experience for the former Rage members and said he often wondered if his bandmates missed "the visceral nature of the audience response that Rage would get."

Although only together for six years, Audioslave made a tremendous impact on audiences that were merged from fans of Rage and Soundgarden. Cornell said that Audioslave will issue a "Greatest Hits" collection at some point, including previously unreleased material.

Cornell said it was unlikely that Soundgarden would reunite. "We were happy with how it ended. There was no unfinished business."

Sources

"Chris Cornell to leave Audioslave" http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070216/ap_en_mu/people_chris_cornell;_ylt=AvJcKH5nT9Q8Ls21UYszPYxxFb8C

Chris Harris "Chris Cornell Talks Audioslave Split, Nixes Soundgarden Reunion" February 15, 2007 http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1552582/20070215/audioslave.jhtml