Published: Thursday, November 8, 2007
Now solo, Cornell relishes freedom
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
There are two realities associated with Chris Cornell covering Michael Jackson's '80s hit "Billie Jean" on his latest solo album "Carry On."
The first — and really biggest — truth associated with picking an off-the-wall cover song involves the freedom of being a solo artist compared to that of being in a band. For Cornell, most recently of super-group Audioslave, the notion of performing "Billie Jean" encapsulates his current mind-set and why he decided the time was right to return to solo waters.
"I don't think you could get, regardless of which band it is, four or five members of a band to do a Michael Jackson cover song, with the exception of Alien Ant Farm — which is really great, by the way," said Cornell, calling from Dallas. "So there's that, which kind of illustrates why at this point in my life I prefer to be solo. Not so I can do Michael Jackson covers, but so I can do whatever I want whenever I feel like it without having to have a meeting about it.
"And that isn't said with any kind of venom. Obviously being in Audioslave and deciding to be in a band again, I knew what I was getting into. And at the time I think it's what I needed, but after the third record it ran its course, there was still this kind of tugging inside me that said, 'I started the solo career and it didn't really have a chance to breathe.' I just decided it was time to go back."
For Cornell, who co-founded influential Seattle act Soundgarden, which disbanded in 1997, life after the grunge act hasn't exactly gone the way he had hoped. Cornell briefly dabbled with a solo career, releasing his lackluster 1999 debut effort "Euphoria Morning." A supporting tour was difficult to watch, as an uneasy Cornell appeared uncomfortable in his skin.
Deep in a depression, with alcohol issues to boot, Cornell eventually joined three-fourths of Rage Against the Machine to form Audioslave. Life appeared good with three studio albums giving rock radio something classic-sounding but new (hit singles "Like a Stone," "Cochise" and "Be Yourself") to sink its teeth into.
However, longevity wasn't in the cards with Cornell announcing last year he was leaving Audioslave. Soon he was hard at work on a solo album, which included James Bond soundtrack tune "You Know My Name" and a cover of "Billie Jean."
This leads us to the reality that what may on the surface seem like just another ironic cover actually has some serious depth magnitude.
"What started out to be sort of a joke kind of turned into this song that when I started singing I was like, 'Wow, this is really a powerful song,'" Cornell said. "There is that contrast similar to when Johnny Cash did [Nine Inch Nails'] 'Hurt' or [Soundgarden's] 'Rusty Cage.' where it's the last thing you think of, but it actually has an emotional impact and in the end becomes a great song."
Fans of all chapters of the rock singer's history will be happy to know Cornell, who is scheduled to play Sunday at the House of Blues, is pulling from his entire career. This includes material from Soundgarden ("Black Hole Sun," "Burden in my Hand" and "Outshined"), Temple of the Dog ("Hunger Strike" and "Say Hello 2 Heaven") and Audioslave ("Show Me How to Live" and "Be Good To Yourself"), as well as solo material ("Billie Jean" and "Seasons").
Even though "Carry On" has yet to be embraced in terms of record sales, Cornell said he's ambivalent to the business side of his career. Being ambivalent offers a certain amount of freedom that doesn't require platinum records hanging on the wall.
"It would be great if I was selling millions of 'Carry On' records, but at the same time, I'm not alone in the plight of downward record sales," Cornell said. "I feel somehow like it's a good thing for the artist.
"The first time around I didn't get into the possibilities of what having a solo career can really mean. Now I have. I have the focus and energy and reinvigorated a completely different life than I did then. I spend more time focusing on working and being creative. And that's great."
Thursday, November 8, 2007
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
There are two realities associated with Chris Cornell covering Michael Jackson's '80s hit "Billie Jean" on his latest solo album "Carry On."
The first — and really biggest — truth associated with picking an off-the-wall cover song involves the freedom of being a solo artist compared to that of being in a band. For Cornell, most recently of super-group Audioslave, the notion of performing "Billie Jean" encapsulates his current mind-set and why he decided the time was right to return to solo waters.
"I don't think you could get, regardless of which band it is, four or five members of a band to do a Michael Jackson cover song, with the exception of Alien Ant Farm — which is really great, by the way," said Cornell, calling from Dallas. "So there's that, which kind of illustrates why at this point in my life I prefer to be solo. Not so I can do Michael Jackson covers, but so I can do whatever I want whenever I feel like it without having to have a meeting about it.
"And that isn't said with any kind of venom. Obviously being in Audioslave and deciding to be in a band again, I knew what I was getting into. And at the time I think it's what I needed, but after the third record it ran its course, there was still this kind of tugging inside me that said, 'I started the solo career and it didn't really have a chance to breathe.' I just decided it was time to go back."
For Cornell, who co-founded influential Seattle act Soundgarden, which disbanded in 1997, life after the grunge act hasn't exactly gone the way he had hoped. Cornell briefly dabbled with a solo career, releasing his lackluster 1999 debut effort "Euphoria Morning." A supporting tour was difficult to watch, as an uneasy Cornell appeared uncomfortable in his skin.
Deep in a depression, with alcohol issues to boot, Cornell eventually joined three-fourths of Rage Against the Machine to form Audioslave. Life appeared good with three studio albums giving rock radio something classic-sounding but new (hit singles "Like a Stone," "Cochise" and "Be Yourself") to sink its teeth into.
However, longevity wasn't in the cards with Cornell announcing last year he was leaving Audioslave. Soon he was hard at work on a solo album, which included James Bond soundtrack tune "You Know My Name" and a cover of "Billie Jean."
This leads us to the reality that what may on the surface seem like just another ironic cover actually has some serious depth magnitude.
"What started out to be sort of a joke kind of turned into this song that when I started singing I was like, 'Wow, this is really a powerful song,'" Cornell said. "There is that contrast similar to when Johnny Cash did [Nine Inch Nails'] 'Hurt' or [Soundgarden's] 'Rusty Cage.' where it's the last thing you think of, but it actually has an emotional impact and in the end becomes a great song."
Fans of all chapters of the rock singer's history will be happy to know Cornell, who is scheduled to play Sunday at the House of Blues, is pulling from his entire career. This includes material from Soundgarden ("Black Hole Sun," "Burden in my Hand" and "Outshined"), Temple of the Dog ("Hunger Strike" and "Say Hello 2 Heaven") and Audioslave ("Show Me How to Live" and "Be Good To Yourself"), as well as solo material ("Billie Jean" and "Seasons").
Even though "Carry On" has yet to be embraced in terms of record sales, Cornell said he's ambivalent to the business side of his career. Being ambivalent offers a certain amount of freedom that doesn't require platinum records hanging on the wall.
"It would be great if I was selling millions of 'Carry On' records, but at the same time, I'm not alone in the plight of downward record sales," Cornell said. "I feel somehow like it's a good thing for the artist.
"The first time around I didn't get into the possibilities of what having a solo career can really mean. Now I have. I have the focus and energy and reinvigorated a completely different life than I did then. I spend more time focusing on working and being creative. And that's great."
Thursday, November 8, 2007
and really biggest — truth associated with picking an off-the-wall cover song involves the freedom of being a solo...
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