AUDIOSLAVE To Rock Cuba

Supergroup AUDIOSLAVE are set to become the first U.S. rock band to perform outdoors in Cuba, sharing the stage with their Cuban music counterparts.

The group, currently touring in support of their upcoming sophomore release, "Out of Exile", accommodated their touring schedule to be able to give a special performance May 6 at La Tribuna in Havana, Cuba. The concert will be free and open to the Cuban public. In the past, the open air venue has accommodated up to 1 million people.

The performance, the first open air concert by a U.S. rock band in Cuba, was authorized by the U.S. Treasury Department and the Instituto Cubano de la Musica. The effort represents an opportunity to share with the Cuban youth the free expression of music that embodies rock and roll.

"Kids are the same all over the world, and we are extremely proud and excited to bring rock 'n' roll to the youth of Cuba. It's all about the music, and free expression of music crosses all barriers. This is a rare opportunity, and we are grateful and honored to have the support of both countries," said AUDIOSLAVE in a statement.

The band will be in Havana May 4-7, interacting with the Cuban youth and the Cuban musical artists. Interscope/Epic, Cynthia Semon, William Martinez and Phil Sandhaus, as well as Done and Dusted, a U.K. film production company, are producing the event with the Instituto Cubano de la Musica.

AUDIOSLAVE, comprised of Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk, are in the midst of a tour to support the release of "Out of Exile", the band's highly anticipated second album, which will be released May 24. The group's self-titled 2002 debut album has sold close to five million records worldwide. The first single from "Out Of Exile", "Be Yourself", debuted at #1 on both the rock and alternative radio charts, and went on to occupy the top spot at both formats for four weeks.

Chris Cornell was the frontman for SOUNDGARDEN, one of the biggest bands to emerge from the Seattle, Washington grunge scene. The group made five albums, toured the world, played in front of hundreds of thousands of people, and then decided to go their separate ways. Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk are the non-singing, non-rapping portion of the now-disbanded RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE. The two pieces came together in 2001 to form the super group AUDIOSLAVE.