TOM MORELLO Discusses AUDIOSLAVE Split, Comments On CHRIS CORNELL's Solo Album

Chris Riemenschneider of the Star Tribune recently conducted an interview with RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE/ex-AUDIOSLAVE guitarist Tom Morello. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Star Tribune: Did AUDIOSLAVE end because you wanted to focus on activist music, or are you doing this because AUDIOSLAVE ended?

Morello: As far as the actual making of the record, I did that because it was clear we were not going to be proceeding with AUDIOSLAVE. So it helped me to analyze my priorities. I decided I'm just going to be involved in music that expresses my world views, and that left me open to making a NIGHTWATCHMAN record and to the idea of doing RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE shows.

Star Tribune: RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE shaped a lot of young fans' beliefs. How did these reunion shows fit your scheme of things?

Morello: Well, so far we've only played the one show at Coachella, and it was a great time for both band and audience, from what I could tell. I think there's about six more this summer. We're at this historical juncture. It's important for people who don't like the direction that the country is going in to speak up, and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE has a catalog of songs that sound like they were written for 2007.

Star Tribune: Why not more shows?

Morello: Um, why do more? [Laughs] We're just happy to be doing the ones that we are. So far, we enjoyed the one show, so we're gonna play a few more. And that's all we have plans for right now.

Star Tribune: Chris Cornell is in Minneapolis a few nights after you. Any opinion on his new record?

Morello: I've heard it, and that's part of what's great about where we are in our career is we can make the music we want. These NIGHTWATCHMAN songs would not have been appropriate for AUDIOSLAVE, and that's why I made the solo record. Same with him. I think that he's probably much more comfortable with a band of hired hands than a band of equals, and that's fine. He has earned that right.

Star Tribune: Where do things stand between you and Chris?

Morello: I haven't heard from him in many months, almost bordering on a year now. We didn't hear from him when he quit the band, and we haven't heard anything since. But it's OK. I think our time together was great. We made records that we're all proud of and had fun making, and we toured and had a great time doing that. In a way, we very much helped revive one another both personally and musically. And when he decided to quit the band, that opened the door for me to make this NIGHTWATCHMAN record, and for RAGE to reunite. So it's all good.

Read the entire interview at www.startribune.com.

(Thanks: Matt)