ARTIST

Audioslave

When Zack de la Rocha left Rage Against the Machine in October 2000, the band's future dynamic was obviously in question. Within months, rumor had it that ex-Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell would be replacing de la Rocha. Gossip fueled truth, for Cornell joined the rest of Rage in the studio in May 2001. The mix was great and a musical bond was in the making.

Cornell, Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk, and Tom Morello spent the next year writing and recording, and it appeared that a band would soon come to form. By spring 2002, the foursome were no longer going by the Rage Against the Machine name and signed on for Ozzfest. But before the summer tour even got underway, Cornell quit the new project. He claimed it wasn't moving forward in the direction he'd hoped for.

The breakdown didn't last, for Cornell joined the rest of the band by early fall. They'd tossed around the idea of being called Civilian, but settled on Audioslave. The first single "Cochise," which is named for the great American Indian chief who died free and unconquered, debuted in September 2002 and did moderately well among radio. Audioslave's Epic debut was released in November.

Written by MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide