Punknews.org

|
Sign In | create an account

Chris Cornell leaves Audioslave

Posted by chris on Friday, February 16, 2007 at 1:00 PM (EST)

Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell has announced he will be leaving the group due to "irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences". There has been no further word on whether the band will continue without him, and if so, who would take over vocal duties.

Meanwhile, the remaining members of Audioslave will be taking part in the "knockout blow" reunion of the year, with their prior vocalist Zach de la Rocha, in the form of Rage Against the Machine at this year's Coachella festival. Guitarist Tom Morello has stated that the reunion is a one-shot deal.

Sony Music Entertainment (162 comments)

Please login or register to post comments.What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way. Seriously.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

audioslave sucks nuts , that be the troof

3+ Replies

Icapped2pac (February 16, 2007)

I teach the troof to the yoof, I say "hey yoof! here's the truth, betta start wearin' bulletproof"

Let's play Name That Late Great MC

Someone (February 16, 2007)

jello biafra vs. brandon cruz

Someone (February 27, 2007)

YOU suck nuts, you dumb ass

Someone (February 16, 2007)

this is punk rock how?

when are we going to start getting updates on Paris Hilton?

5+ Replies

Someone (February 16, 2007)

Audioslave has members from RATM, whose lead singer was a member of Inside Out. did you not know this?

Someone (February 16, 2007)

That's my point, Audislave has nothing to do with punk. Nothing at all.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

But they're distantly related. So what's the harm in posting news about them?

Someone (February 16, 2007)

because 50% of the news on here isnt punk anymore.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

how is the internet punk at all you dummy?

Someone (February 16, 2007)

are you seriously that stupid?

Someone (February 16, 2007)

i'm afraid so. frightfully stupid and ignorant of all things "punk" as well. and if you don't mind, please let us know just what is and what isn't punk for all us posers. thanks einstein.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

your welcome cunt

Someone (February 17, 2007)

wow, that's great. just great. now, about you knowing everything punk...

Thus_Spoke_Sean (February 16, 2007)

i love it when, once a month or so, someone comes to this conculsion. WOW. REALLY? Because you, said poster, somehow managed to miss this, I will explain. This site reports on metal, rock, punk, ska, hardcore, indie, etc. etc. etc. Basically music that poeple who view this site want to know about. If all it covered was punk, then even YOU would quickly lose interest in it due to the lack of new material and news.

Dante3000 (rich) (February 16, 2007)

WoooWoooWoooWooo,
Halt, it's the objectivity police.
You're under arrest for multiple counts of pedophilia and rape of an old woman.
Come peacefully or be shot.
-Dante
Yeah, you thought that was going to be a comment on the subjectivity of punk and what qualifies as punk, didn't you? Posers.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

dropped on your head as a child?

Sirens (February 16, 2007)

Chris Cornell and Audioslave were in two different bands that have influence tons of punk bands.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

wow, 3 generations removed from a hardcore band. Not only that, but said "hardcore legend" is not even in Audioslave.

Bush had their LP released on Revelation, does that make them a punk band?

Quit grasping at straws there douchebag.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

Bush had their LP released by rev? Where is the proof?

Someone (February 16, 2007)

Rev pressed LPs for some terrible bands back in the late 90's, the big Bush record came out on vinyl with a Rev logo on it. do a search for it, you'll find it.

punkbytheounce (February 16, 2007)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sixteen-Stone-VINYL-Bush/dp/B000000TDF
HAHAHAHAHAHA

Shindo (adam) (February 16, 2007)

It falls in the umbrella of "probably is of interest to a good segment of the readers," particularly considering the Rage reunion.

-adam

Someone (February 17, 2007)

god DAMNIT!

SHUT THE FUCK UP. please!

Dante3000 (rich) (February 16, 2007)

I thought Audioslave left Audioslave.
"irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences"
Read as: "I like drugs, lots and lots of drugs"
-Dante

8+ Replies

Someone (February 16, 2007)

wow, good one.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

Keep at it, you'll say something funny one day.

- Suck the Fuck

Dante3000 (rich) (February 16, 2007)

Here let me be like everyone else here,
"WAH, me no care. This no punk rock! Music make Uglor angry"

I'm actually really impressed someone that inarticulate knows how to type.
-Dante

Someone (February 16, 2007)

That's Dante for you

-Dante... ?

RecordTheory (February 16, 2007)

I was actually going to say it sounds like fucking divorce papers.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

ugh, you're so boring..... and really not funny.

Dante3000 (rich) (February 16, 2007)

There's nothing funny about drug use.
Unless it's like Half Baked.
-Dante
or The Color Purple

niveK82 (February 16, 2007)

or requiem for a dream

YasserBossin (February 16, 2007)

or Fear and Loathing

HeyBarmold (February 16, 2007)

every now and then, he kills.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

Rage is going to be back for good.. i call it

notfeelingcreative (February 16, 2007)

Good, now Chris can regroup soundagarden and Tom, Brad and TIm can reunite rage for good.

1+ Reply

misterspike (February 16, 2007)

I don't know how any of this is surprising with Rage playing Coachella.

Funny how, when Rage first appeared on Lollapalooza in '93, they got a pretty hostile reception in most places. I remember being at the Orlando stop and everyone around me booing them. Now those same people want to lick this band's ass.

88-fingers-tony (February 16, 2007)

rage = will play one show, have a great time, then put out probably the best album of 08.

cramer (February 16, 2007)

both bands are fucking terrible. PASS

5+ Replies

insertcoolnamehere (February 16, 2007)

agreed. It takes a brave soul to say rage sucks, but I have your back. I n didn't like them ten years ago, and I doubt that will ever change.

cramer (February 16, 2007)

GO WITH IT NOW!

No, seriously, you're so very very right. Even if they wrote decent music, I'd still be turned off after reading Tom Mo'jello describe the one RATM show as a "knockout blow to Bush." Where do these guys get off?

insertcoolnamehere (February 16, 2007)

That is pretty lame, as if American public opinion hadn't administered that blow already.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

I love RATM, but honestly, what a stupid fucking statement. A band cannot give a knockout blow to the leader of a nation.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

Rage is everything that punk should aspire to be..instead of the braindead, fashion-show masturbation parade that is punk today...this band affects people's minds and hearts and motivates them to change the ills of the authoritarian state that is the USA. When the government starts using freedom as it's marketing scheme and then takes away true freedom behind the scenes..we are in trouble. No band in years made that more obvious than Rage! They took risks, musically and socially! Go get a book and stop wallowing in self congratulatory ass-fuck backward american history! Most of us are fat lazy couch potatoe-losers with bigger mouths than brains. Rage is Punk that dares to confront and take action!

morgan5433 (February 21, 2007)

Guess you don't know or appreciate good music dude. Get a fucking grip!! or open your mind to not only the music, but the lyrics as well.

Someone (March 3, 2007)

you are a fucking idiot!! and quite probably a fag too...

EyesLikeBombs (February 16, 2007)

Tom Morello is everything I hate about rock music. "Space-age" sound effects and suck my dick. Yet I'm still a big RATM fan.

discuss.

9+ Replies

Someone (February 16, 2007)

no.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

wow, self important much?

EyesLikeBombs (February 16, 2007)

*can suck my dick, I meant.

But it's funnier the way it is now. So ignore this.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

I actually agree, in all seriousness, while Rage WAS (reunions don't count for shit except to increase Zach's bank account) a great band, Tom Morello and company never did anything musically innovative. Just because the fucking guy can make wierd sound effects on his damn guitar doesn't give him the right to be called a musical genius.....and furthermore, I'm getting a sandwhich.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

it wasn't that RATM were trying to be a band with "space age guitar effects", but I always thought of RATM as Public Enemy, realized with live instruments. On several occasions, Tom Morello has expressed his intentions as a guitarist for RATM to serve more as a percussive instrument, or a turntablist than to play blazing guitar solos or whatever. that's why a lot of the riffs were repetitive, that also explains the squealing and the toggle switch manipulation and all that. it was more to serve as part of the ambience of the song than a driving melodic force.

but anyway, fuck an audioslave. good riddance.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

don't ever fucking compare RATM to Public Enemy. RATM doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath. asshole

Someone (February 16, 2007)

did griff make you his bitch or something?

Someone (February 16, 2007)

ignorant racist

Someone (February 16, 2007)

oh shit. you couldn't be more wrong. you're just jocking pe 'cause you think it makes you cool. and you're cracking on rage for the same reasons. you're a little toy.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

you're right. that's exacty what i'm doing. go back to your newest issue of AP and leave the intelligent discourse to someone better suited.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

"intelligent discourse"
please you little ponce. your comments reveal nothing intelligent in the least.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

"little ponce"

that says it all right there.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

just callin' it as i see it.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

"Grrrr! How could you mention PE and RATM in the same breath!"
You are ridiculous.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

have you even heard a PE record? or would that require opening your mind a little more than you are able?

Someone (February 16, 2007)

looks like you got a problem cause you think you're sooooooo phisticated ... bitch.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

agreed. I'll never buy that "Tom Morello: Guitar god" bullshit. The dude is an average guitar player with a penchant for squeezing odd noises out of it. A guitar god that does not make.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

you're pretty shallow, and not just because you can't spell sandwich, but because if you don't think rage was musically innovative, then maybe you should actually plug in the stereo so you can hear the music.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

ok ok, what was innovative about it? the quasi-political lyrics? I actually call TOTAL bullshit on this band, anybody who is so fucking anarchistic and lives in a damn mansion deserves no respect, man. i am not trying to take anything negative away from your opinion, but seriously.

Someone (February 18, 2007)

Um....what the fuck are you talking about? If you'd stop paying attention to their personal lives for a second and actually listened to it, you'd realize its completely innovative. You are probably just 14 and grew up with all the rage copycat bands around and don't realize that they invented a style.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

wait, but you like the locust?

someones bipolar.

skaboom (February 16, 2007)

Tom Morello IS Rage. He is the primary songwriter and lyricist. The other guys are talented enough to keep up with the parts he writes for them, but Morello is the brains and the brawn of the group.

spoon_of_grimbo (February 19, 2007)

actually, tim the bassist wrote most of the riffs on bass, with tom just playing the same over the top of it on guitar.

justahippie (February 16, 2007)

I agree, one of my friends is all like "oh tom morello is the greatest guitarist ever" and i'm like, "dude, no. Hendrix, Clapton, Page, Watters, King, and on and on and on and then around #784 is the guy from Styx and THEN comes tom morello." and then he's all "well, John Mayer is our generations Jimi Hendrix" and then i sigh deeply and wonder why my friends are so dumb.

justahippie (February 16, 2007)

I agree, one of my friends is all like "oh tom morello is the greatest guitarist ever" and i'm like, "dude, no. Hendrix, Clapton, Page, Watters, King, and on and on and on and then around #784 is the guy from Styx and THEN comes tom morello." and then he's all "well, John Mayer is our generations Jimi Hendrix" and then i sigh deeply and wonder why my friends are so dumb.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

wow! who cares? Between rage getting back together and audioslave being god fucking awful, this hardly qualifies as news.

sickboi (chris) (February 16, 2007)

Think about it. They've put out 3 albums, all of which are terrible, and no one likes them. (yes they sell, but come on, no one likes them)

Rage announces doing one show, and people go nuts. Can you blame him?

-chris

5+ Replies

RecordTheory (February 16, 2007)

Shit, I wish he'd follow suit and do a Soundgarden reunion. That would be boss.

sickboi (chris) (February 16, 2007)

He's doing a solo album. Guess I should have included that.

Dante3000 (rich) (February 16, 2007)

Yeah, because his first one was so awesome. I love both bands so much, so I assumed Audioslave would rule. The first album was one of those ones where you're like, "This is soo good....Wait no this is awful". It had such a short shelf life, I never even heard the other two.
-Dante

RecordTheory (February 16, 2007)

Shit, I didn't even realize they'd made any more than the first one. I assumed they must have since they were still around and what-not.

Anyway, here's to a Soundgarden reunion. Ok.

Dante3000 (rich) (February 16, 2007)

I'll drink to that.
-Dante

RecordTheory (February 16, 2007)

It's Friday, son! I'll drink to pretty much anything.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

people actually like soundgarden? you serious clark? they suck more balls than audioslave.

Coldwaffles (February 16, 2007)

Audioslave's first album is solid for radio rock.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

Yeah people go nuts because they realize how shitty Audioslave is. They sounds like Soundgarden buttfucking a poodle.

spalmer (February 16, 2007)

The second of three prophecies have occurred. The time has come.

1+ Reply

cramer (February 16, 2007)

when the blood of those tibetans touches american soil....

ConsolationPrizefighter (February 16, 2007)

I still could never fathom how basically replacing the singer of Rage Against the Machine, who I love, could make it into a band that eats this much dick.

1+ Reply

MySafetysHarvard (February 16, 2007)

agreed

LikeBats (February 16, 2007)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO(in darth vader voice)

4+ Replies

Someone (February 16, 2007)

Where is Padme?

Someone (February 16, 2007)

yes!!!! comment of the day!

that one moment killed Revenge.

-mike

Someone (February 17, 2007)

you totally stole my idea.

fuckthatemoshit (March 3, 2007)

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!
about fucking time that fagget left the band!! now the rest of them can go back to playing good music!!!

mr_enthusiasm (February 16, 2007)

Uh...who cares?

Someone (February 16, 2007)

audioslave really does have one of the worst band names of all time.

7+ Replies

Someone (February 16, 2007)

how about chris cornell join some new band
so he can just leave it
like he always does

Someone (February 16, 2007)

first time using a keyboard?

JayTee (February 16, 2007)

Maybe he was trying to write a haiku?

BarleyPat (February 16, 2007)

Good call. For that matter, Soundgarden is a pretty shitty name too.

JayTee (February 16, 2007)

Yeah, where can we go from there...

StereoCat?
FrequencyPirate?
AudibleTaco?

What else is synonymous with 'sound'?

Someone (February 16, 2007)

is it ok if i steal AudibleTaco off you if i ever start a band?

JayTee (February 16, 2007)

Haha, go for it. That's a bit of an abstract concept there though. Jam band perhaps?

Archangel (February 16, 2007)

Soundgarden is actually a reference to something in Seattle.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

they named the band after a sculpture that made noise when the wind blew through it, or something like that.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

Velvet Revolver?

spoon_of_grimbo (February 19, 2007)

can't believe audioslave had to give a settlement to a band from liverpool for rights to the name. they should've saved themselves some money and got a decent, original name.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

morello: I call bullshit, dude.

new ratm record in '08.

callin' it.

1+ Reply

Someone (February 16, 2007)

yeah bro, totally!

Someone (February 16, 2007)

Chris Cornell was in Soundgarden who released records on indy's Subpop and SST. SST which is owned by Greg Ginn of Black Flag, so I guess that gives him a little "punk rock" cred eh?

3+ Replies

Someone (February 16, 2007)

no

Dante3000 (rich) (February 16, 2007)

Dude, punk cred is only earned by smashing the state. Duh.
-Dante

Someone (February 16, 2007)

hahaha!!! Fucking classic!!!

JayTee (February 16, 2007)

Yeah great. In other news I drew this bitchin' picture of Poison Ivy from Batman for a friend last night.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d179/SpiderManWhet/Po isonIvy.jpg

4+ Replies

RecordTheory (February 16, 2007)

I said it to the guitar tab, and I'm saying it to you:

It's interesting AND on topic!

Well done!

Archangel (February 16, 2007)

You probably masturbate to hentai. Awesome.

JayTee (February 16, 2007)

I just plain do not "get" anime and all things related. I'm more of a superhero comic geek.

dcpunk (February 16, 2007)

sir thats a martian with a crossbow that you jsut claim is poison ivy i mean that looks nothing like poison ivy

JayTee (February 16, 2007)

http://www.comicon.com/pulse/images/dc_cci_2003_embg/harleyivypg 1.jpg

http://www.kiltylarkins.com/images/poison-ivy-cure.gif

Gotham Knights re-design. Don't ever challenge a comic nerd!

dcpunk (February 17, 2007)

i think i might be more of i nerd than you but ididnt even think about the animated vesion i was set in the way she look recently in the comics so now that i see that not a bad job tho i still dont get the cross bow but its all good i cant draw that well so ill shut up

ray887 (February 16, 2007)

not bad...

Someone (February 16, 2007)

Rage Blows, Soundgarden blows and Audioslave just plain sucks!!!

brangelina (February 16, 2007)

now theyve gotta get another 90's rockstar to sing for them. but who?!

8+ Replies

Someone (February 16, 2007)

Scott Stapp

baseball (February 16, 2007)

don't even joke

seriously

Someone (February 16, 2007)

Try the 80's, I call David Coverdale

JayTee (February 16, 2007)

Kurt Cobain, Elliot Smith, that guy from Sublime? Brad something or other?

Oooo! Courtney Love! (Still fitting the theme, convince me she's not dead.)

notfeelingcreative (February 16, 2007)

The dude from Spin Doctors.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

I think the only 90's rockstar alive and not in a band is Zach de la Rocha...

justahippie (February 16, 2007)

that guy from faith no more, patton or something.

Someone (February 18, 2007)

They would have to actually be good then if they got Mike Patton

Someone (February 16, 2007)

I heard Eddie Vedder was quitting Pearl Jam and is gonna be the new singer for Audiolslave. It's true, my friend who is a huge Pearl Jam fan confirmed it.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

Mabye now he can reform Temple of the Dog

/ I'm Goin HUUUNGGGGGGRRRRRRYYYYY

-Forbidden Donuts

Someone (February 16, 2007)

I thought it was really funny.

SuperRad (February 16, 2007)

Some guy with a Creed tatoo is not stoaked.

2+ Replies

Someone (February 16, 2007)

or stoked.

usversusthem (February 17, 2007)

Or tattoo, for that matter.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

who cares. all i know is he is HOT

1+ Reply

Someone (February 16, 2007)

haha.

VStoriesFallen (February 16, 2007)

I guess I'm the only one that enjoys Audioslave, although I didn't hear the newest album. I'd rather see Rage and Soundgarden reunions, though.

punk1088 (February 16, 2007)

can i get a rage v. the machine in jersey now?

Someone (February 16, 2007)

i know everyone has already said this but this has to be the best god damn news i've heard about chris cornell and the rage against the machinists ever!!!
yay for irreconcilable differences. chris will now proceed to crawl inside that bottle that has been waiting for him since Dec. 31st 1999 effectively ended grunge.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

Jews

k-dubs (February 16, 2007)

they announced the new singer.

its zach de la rocha.

5+ Replies

Someone (February 16, 2007)

Audioslave fucking rocks.... Rage fucking rocks..... And anybody who says any different is a flaming fag!!!

punk1088 (February 16, 2007)

audioslave sucks

JayTee (February 16, 2007)

Well I think rage is okay, and Audioslave is boring trite trash. Does that make me bi?

patman (February 16, 2007)

Haha its almost like Zach De La Rocha is RAGE and Chris Cornell and Audioslave and the three musicians are the corny bad backing band

Someone (February 16, 2007)

I wouldn't call Zach a singer.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

This is the worst band ever

4+ Replies

Someone (February 16, 2007)

agreement

Let's forget they ever existed

Someone (February 16, 2007)

why do you people care if audioslave or ratm isnt punk? i for one am glad they do not fit in the punk category. why? punk rock sucks huge horse testicles and bands that identify themself with the punk genre have slightly more talent than rappers... which is none. all punk rockers do is play 2 minute (maximum) songs that are really fast and all sound the same. the drums sound the same. the guitars sound the same. and the vocals in punk are fucking god awful. i hope for the humanity of you people that you grow the fuck outta punk rock and eventually listen to good rock one day.

Someone (February 16, 2007)

wow! I wanna be in the closed minded club too!

punk music as an innovative artform ENDED with black flag, you closed-minded fags.

real punk music is still the sex pistols, iggy pop. gg, and the ramones.

just because your musical tastes haven't evolved past this point, doesn't justify slamming RATM who WAS and CONTINUES to influence more musicians than any post punk era fashion rock SHIT that has been released in the last 9 years.

go back down to your moms basement and listen to sum41 and blink182 you empty headed infants.

that being said, this should not have been posted to such a biased board... clearly no one here cares about groundbreaking music.

Someone (February 17, 2007)

I sould pay top dollar to see RATM

Someone (February 16, 2007)

This is fucking amazing. I really hope they get back together. That would be unreal.

LeightonESmith (February 17, 2007)

Audioslave only worked on a small level. They should have kept playing rocking riffage AKA RATM style and busted some walls down instead of the dilluted alternative sap that was Audioslave.
Fingers cross for a new angry Rage album.........

LeightonESmith (February 17, 2007)

Audioslave only worked on a small level. They should have kept playing rocking riffage AKA RATM style and busted some walls down instead of the dilluted alternative sap that was Audioslave.
Fingers cross for a new angry Rage album.........

Someone (February 17, 2007)

I liked the Rage singer before he stopped using the effect on his voice. After that, the singer started to sound like the tinny Mike D from the Beasty Boys. Amusing but lacking the oomph. Cornell, however, has the potential to stand on his own. Powerful voice and songwriter who I wish would take the track of Marcy Playground and do some "who cares" solo work (or gather another band to suit his talent (The one he should be sharing more often with others...))

MATEO (February 17, 2007)

"get a pair of Vans or God'll send you to hell"

Someone (February 17, 2007)

Audioslave and Rage Against The Machine have twice the talent any fucken punk band could ever dream of.

givemeamuseumandillfillit (February 17, 2007)

The Rage reunion isn't really a one-off, they're playing reading and leeds in August.

Someone (February 17, 2007)

Anyone who thinks Audioslave is rubbish needs a quick brain check imho.
They are one of the most popular rock bands of today and SELL because people LIKE them.

It's a damn shame that Chris is splitting from Audioslave, because this was not his intention a month or so ago.
He's hitting it up with a solo career though, and his recent work with David Arnold was a very good show-case for his much improved vocals.

Come on Chris, if the split is final, prove to us that you can go alone!

1+ Reply

Someone (February 23, 2007)

I was freaking obsessed with Audioslave and am really sad they are splitting. They had pretty much an all-star line up with Chris Cornell at vocals and Morello on the guitar=/

Features

Exclusive Streams

see more streams

Newest Reviews

see more reviews

Punknews.org Team

Other Places to Go

Punknews.org Flickr Pool

View All Photos