Audioslave is an alternative rock supergroup consisting of Chris Cornell (formerly of Soundgarden) and the instrumentalists of Rage Against the Machine. Tom Morello plays guitar, Tim Commerford plays bass, and Brad Wilk plays the drums. The music is fueled by Cornell's powerful voice and Tom Morello's unique and unconventional style of guitar playing, with heavy hip-hop style solos, scratches down his guitar's neck, synthesizer-like sound effects, and an extensive use of pedals and devices to change the guitar's sound. As with Rage Against the Machine, the band prides itself on the fact that all sounds are produced by vocals, guitar, bass guitar, or drums only.
While Rage Against the Machine's music was politically influenced, Audioslave is not, as Chris Cornell said he would refuse to join the band if they were political. However, the band is part of the Axis of Justice, which is a non-profit organization formed by Morello and Serj Tankian of System of a Down. Its purpose is to bring together musicians, fans of music, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice together.
