[blueerica]

Rant on "Why Blueerica Liked Audioslave"

While I haven't met Chris in person, I have met Tom Morello (and the rest of RATM) on a handful of occasions. I can say, with all of my heart, that Tom is one of the nicest guys I've ever met, and I'd venture to say he's one of the nicest guys on the planet. He's just... here. Know what I mean?

Now, I'd loved Rage for a number of years, completely idolized them in fact (hey, I was in high school). So when I found out that one of the busboys at the restaurant I was working at when I moved to California knew Zach De La Rocha, I was stoked. They came by a handful of times. The first time, Zach was very kind. In subsequent returns, rolling up in his black SUV and expensive clothes, of course, I realized that... well... it felt like he looked down on those of us working at the restaurant serving him - he always needed special seating, never said hi to anyone again, and expected free stuff. It was such a disappointment - plus the revelation that maybe money had 'gotten' to him - it's hard for me to listen to RATM, or more specifically, his voice again. He became the opposite of what I'd thought he would be (the first of many people that would fall into the "disappointment" category). I don't expect perfection, but for crying out loud, if your job involves singing and rapping about injustice and the poor, where do you get off being such a little sh*t?

When I found out Tom Morello (and the other RATM guys) and Chris Cornell were getting together, it was like a dream come true for me. I liked it, even though I felt Tom could go farther with his guitar skills than Audioslave ever went.

When I heard Rage was getting back together, I was actually bummed. I was hoping Zack would get his come-uppance. He was never as good as he thought he was without his "backup." I hope I hear Audioslave again, or that the rest of the RATM band finds something better to do than relive the RATM days. I'm soooo over them.

Back to the OP, I still couldn't be happier that Chris is doing his own thing. Such a talent just can't go to waste.