Tom Morello has previously described his final moments with Audioslave bandmate Chris Cornell following their first show in 12 years in protest of President Donald Trump’s inauguration, but the guitarist has now discussed the gig further in an interview with Red Bull, also delving into the issues that may have ultimately claimed the Soundgarden singer’s life.
“In January, the last time I saw Chris, we played the first Audioslave show in 12 years at the Anti-Inaugural Ball [at the Telegram Ballroom in LA], it was so great to see him,” Morello begins.
“It was a charity show. He sang, he’s one of the most powerful rock gods of all time. He looks great and he sings both ferociously and beautifully. And his lovely sweet smile, it was great to hang out with him backstage.
“His last words to me were, ‘I had a great time, let’s do that again, you guys let me know.’ And so, that was lovely.”
Morello then took a moment to reveal his thoughts on Cornell’s “darker side” – and why those “demons” made him so great, yet also so vulnerable.
“A lot of the tributes to Chris have been about what a great singer he was, what a handsome guy he was, what a good dad he was, all of which is very true,” Morello explains. “But I think, in my view, what sometimes goes unacknowledged is his creative brilliance and power came from the darker side of his psyche.
“And his demons were, that was the root of his awesomeness, in the part that may have eventually been his undoing,” he adds. “And he was able to speak. Read Chris Cornell’s lyrics some time, they’re beautiful and poetic. He was able to speak to millions of people around the globe.
“So while the eulogies are all about the great guy he was, it was the dark box that he accessed and he wrote the shadow part of himself, like a chariot of lightning to make some of the greatest rock and roll of all time.
“We were blessed to have had 52 years of him.”
Morello and his Audioslave bandmates Tim Commerford, Brad Wilk played a special tribute to Chris Cornell soon after his death, in a touching moment captured during a rehearsal for their shows as Prophets of Rage.
A part of Audioslave’s final show with Chris Cornell can be watched below.
