It's Official: Rage and Cornell Unite
Or, uh, the Miami Sound Machine.
Better yet, don't call it anything but an unprecedented (and as-yet-untitled) collaboration between two pioneering rock artists and their record labels. Politically charged group Rage Against the Machine has officially joined forces with former Soundgarden lead singer Chris Cornell, ending months of speculation about Rage's full-time plans following the departure of frontman Zack de la Rocha last year.
Managers for both Cornell and the remaining members of Rage (guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk) confirm that the group has written 20 songs and will begin recording next week with producer Rick Rubin. And, as Morello has previously indicated, the new group will not be called Rage Against the Machine.
As for what the new band will sound like, the Los Angeles Times reports that the new project--built off Cornell's high-pitched, superhuman lungs--veers away from Rage's rap-rock style and more toward melody-oriented hard rock. But for now, it appears the band is leaving specifics up to the fans' imaginations.
"I've only walked in on a rehearsal," Cornell's manager Jim Guerinot tells E! Online. "They're literally in a rehearsal stage, so it would be difficult to say, but beyond that...I think it will be great."
Or, as Rage manager Peter Mensch told the Times, "I'm thrilled to [expletive] bits."
De la Rocha left Rage last October, citing a communication breakdown inside the band. Cornell, meanwhile, parted ways with his legendary Seattle-based grunge group, Soundgarden, in 1997, and found mild success with his 1999 solo debut, Euphoria Morning.
Word of the Rage-Cornell collaboration has been stirring speculation for months, with Morello telling reporters backstage at the Grammys in February that informal jam sessions with Cornell had been "groundbreaking."
"He's one of the greatest singers and songwriters in rock history, and jamming with him was off the hook," he said. "We were just making up new, exciting rock...Chris Cornell is definitely not the singer of Rage Against the Machine. And the music that we made in the couple of days that we worked together was groundbreaking, fantastic and so exciting."
But the music isn't the only thing that's groundbreaking. Because both Cornell and Rage have different management and different record labels (Cornell is signed to Interscope; Rage is on Epic Records), the new group will require a unique alliance between both sides.
"I think the management-teams thing has been done in the past, whether it's been the Eagles or Fleetwood Mac," says Guerinot, who will likely split duties with Rage's management, New York-based Q Prime. But as for the two labels sharing distribution duties, he said, "I'm not familiar with it ever happening before."
Although the group's labels aren't commenting, the Times reports that the record labels are weighing their options on two possible sharing agreements: One (which is apparently favored) would give Epic the group's debut release, and the second album would come out on Interscope. Another possibility would give one label U.S. distribution rights and the other international.
And, as the deal suggests, Rage manager Mensch insists this will not be a one-time side project. "Until the boat founders on the shoals," he told the Times, "this is as permanent as anything."
The rest, as Cornell might say, is somewhere in the superunknown.
The Big Picture
Hamm 'n' Cheese Our fave goofball Jon seems sorta determined to prove he's nothing like Don Draper in real life
More PhotosMost Commented
- Bitch-Back! Breaking News—Johnny's a Hottie (915)
- Costars and Suits Give Robsten Their Blessings! (650)
- Rob and Kristen "Relaxed" Together in NYC (641)
- Blab Blab Blab: Is Twilight Sexist? (553)
- Truth, Lies & Ted: Twilight Special (478)
- Why Won't Sarah Palin Go Away? (442)
- Is Ugly Betty Ending? And Who Gets the Girl? (422)
- Adam Lambert: For Your Entertainment—or His? (422)
- Is New Moon Even Good? (422)
- Review: New Moon Is Either Just Fine or Way Mopey, Depending On Who You Are (353)
Top 10 Stories
- Michael Lohan Runs Out of Family Members to Alienate, Starts Leaking Jon Gosselin Tapes
- Housewives Idol: Kim Zolciak vs. Gretchen Rossi?
- It's a Sexy Job, but Adam Lambert's Gotta Do It!
- Donny Discovers Parts He Never Had Before for Dancing With the Stars Finale
- End of a Weird Era: Jon & Kate Plus 8 Signs Off
- Timbaland Denies Dumping Chris Brown
- New Sweet Home for Khloé and Lamar
- Family Wants Second Autopsy for Real Housewife Kandi Burruss' Slain Fiancé
- Sarah Jessica Parker Surrogate's Alleged Invader Found Somewhat Guilty
- No, New Moon Absolutely, Positively Didn't Beat Dark Knight
Fashion Police
Bring On the DramaLeave it to fearless fashionista Rihanna to make the fiercest statement on the AMAs red carpet
More Photos
Latest Movie Reviews
Get Your E! News Now
0 Comments
Now loading...