AUDIOSLAVE Guitarist Discusses Decision To Dust Off RAGE And SOUNDGARDEN Classics

AUDIOSLAVE guitarist Tom Morello (ex-RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE) recently spoke to The News Tribune about "Out of Exile" — the follow-up to the band's self-titled debut, due May 24 — the decision to dust off old RAGE and SOUNDGARDEN tunes; and his work with Axis of Justice, the grass-roots political group he runs with SYSTEM OF A DOWN's Serj Tankian.

Q: The thing that's gotten the most buzz regarding this tour so far is that you’re playing RAGE and SOUNDGARDEN material. What went into the decision to dig into the vaults?

Tom Morello: "It was very important to us the first time around … to not rely on our past as a crutch. We wanted to establish AUDIOSLAVE as its own independent entity. We think we made a record that both artistically, and certainly commercially, stands alongside our best work.

"Having done that, we felt it was time to own our histories. And the SOUNDGARDEN songs and the RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE songs are an important part of the thread of our musical lives. They're songs that are our songs … and songs that we're having an awesome time rocking. And people are losing their minds."

Q: Vocally, I can imagine the RAGE songs being a tough transition.

Tom Morello: "It actually took Tim [Commerford] and Brad [Wilk] and I a little longer time to master the SOUNDGARDEN songs than it took Chris [Cornell] to master the RAGE songs and make them his own. We chose songs where there's not any overt rapping, and there's a number of those in the RAGE catalog. We really interpreted those songs in our own way, and they're sounding ferocious.

Q: Give me an idea of what we can expect [on the new CD]. Will the album have mostly heavy stuff, like on the first record, or more melodic stuff like the first single ("Be Yourself")?

Tom Morello: "This record is a very diverse album. There are songs that are harder and faster than anything we’ve played before. And there’s also a real wealth of haunting material and beautiful Cornelian songs in there. It’s a record where we really approached the songwriting process pretty fearlessly. We feared no riff. (laughs)"

Q: A lot has happened in the world — from Iraq to a lot of different world events — since the last record in 2002. Given that and your background with RAGE and Axis of Justice, can we expect a lot more political content?

Tom Morello: "That’s a question probably better directed toward Chris Cornell since he puts his lyrical antennae very high, and whatever it attracts it attracts.

"I know for me and my political organizing work with Axis of Justice, we've never been more busy. And there will be Axis of Justice tabling at the shows for people who want to get involved there … to lend a hand in fighting the power and sticking it to the man. But with regard to the lyrics, one thing that's nice to see is some of those RAGE songs resurfacing just in time."

Q: How important is Axis of Justice to you and Serj?

Tom Morello: "Very important. My two primary interests are music and political activism. Those are sort of the twin pillars of my life's work. And I wouldn't say one is less or more important than the other."

Q: Is there an issue you think people aren’t paying enough attention to?

Tom Morello: "One issue that is overlooked is the continued ongoing grass-roots resistance that is going on here in the United States, and around the world, to the policies of the Bush administration. … That's why I think it's very important to remember that progressive change doesn't come from above. You can't sit around and wait for some president or Supreme Court to wave a magic wand and make the world a better place. Change comes from average, everyday people standing up for their rights where they live and where they work and where they go to school."

Q: Do any of you keep in touch with (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE vocalist) Zach (de la Rocha) at all?

Tom Morello: "I have not kept in touch with Zach. But I wish him no ill will. We're very proud of our history in RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, and he's a crucially important part of that.

Q: You and Tim have both mentioned "Behind the Music" drama and substance abuse problems. Does Zach suffer from personal demons that may be delaying that long-awaited solo album?

Tom Morello: "Zach does not suffer from any drug problems. I did not mean to imply that in any way. That is patently untrue. … You know as much as I do why there hasn't been a Zach solo record. I'm looking forward to it when it comes out. I'm sure it'll be great."

Read the entire interview at this location.