Audioslave Community

"black hole sun won't you come"

2007-12-26T16:56:09Z

I went to see Chris Cornell on 30th of August 2007, here's my update at my personal lj after it:

HEY!

I'm back from a fucking gorgeous concert. One of the best I have ever been to. Chris was all cute and funny and so was his band! The show included 2 drum and quitar parts, mainiac jumping and singing and ooh I'm missing it all so much <3 I managed to get few awesome shots, and many videos (16 in total). So this is only the first part of many entries to come! I'm so asdkjkljas hyper and crazy at the moment. Did I meantioned that Chris looked me in the eyes 2 times?! CHRIS WITH HIS EYES! oh my FUCKING GOOOOOOD!!!!!

welcoooooooooooome!!

we also got an acoustic session

!!!

THE SET LIST.

Intro
Let Me Drown
Outshined
Show Me How To Live
You Know My Name
No Such Thing
Rusty Cage
Arms Around Your Love
Say Hello To Heaven

Acoustic

You Know My Name!!!
Billie Jean
Fell On Black Days
Blow Up the Outside World
All Night Thing
Doesn´t Remind Me (half)
Doesn´t Remind Me IMPROVISATION:)(Super cool)

What You Are
Cochise
Black Hole Sun
Spoonman
Gasoline

Encore

Silence the Voices
Like A Stone
Slaves And Bulldozers
Whole Lotta Love

audioslavefans @ 2007-07-11T13:04:00

2007-07-11T20:05:53Z

Hey guys, I'm sure you're all as stoked as I am about the upcoming Chris Cornell tour supported by Juliette and the Licks! That's a pretty awesome lineup right there.

I just wanted to give you a heads up that Juliette and the Licks' new album Four on the Floor will be out on July 24th, 2007 - and you can preorder it now at The Militia Group store for just $8! While supplies last, all preorders will recieve a free poster and button. It's a pretty sweet deal.

Come check out three songs from the album on Myspace or Virb!

<3,
TMG Faye
themilitiagrp|The Militia Group

Russian Audioslave's Fan's Site

2007-07-04T09:52:58Z

Your welcome! www.audioslave.ru
Anybody, who likes this great band - join us!

Carry On Contest

2007-06-01T17:36:29Z

Can't afford to purchase Chris's new solo album? Well I'm holding a contest for just that reason. Check out all the details and how to enter at this website: Carry On contest

Audioslave Tribute, Part II

2007-02-18T20:24:32Z

Here is part 2 of my Audioslave tribute. This one is a tribute to them live.

Once more available for download, if wanted here.

Xposted

Audioslave Tribute

2007-02-18T07:59:36Z

I just put together a video in honor of Chris's unslavement from Audioslave. Well, okay, it took like 2 hours to do. But here it is in all it's glory.

If you can't watch it on YouTube or want to DL it for some reason, it's also available for download here.

And be sure to watch through the credits. ;)

X-posted around.

Music Photo Sale 50% OFF THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS

2006-12-05T19:49:04Z

let me preface this by saying if this does not belong here, by all means please delete. i'm just a struggling photographer trying to make enough to get by and hoping sharing some of these images with fans may be of some help. thanks!

music photo sale! 50% off through the holidays!

perfect for holiday gifts!

click here to access my new store - this site details image sizes, prices, shipping info, etc.

prices already marked down on the web store.

i will be updating the galleries daily.

click here for more samples of photos
(scroll down the left side of the screen for a monster list of bands)!

if there are any band images you'd like to request, send me an email and i'll add them to the store.

photos of U2, morrissey, radiohead, sonic youth, coldplay, alice in chains, placebo, death cab for cutie, liz phair, pj harvey, kaiser chiefs, beastie boys, the decemberists, interpol, franz ferdinand, rufus wainwright, morcheeba, muse, anthrax, megadeth, audioslave, alkaline trio, and over 100 more to choose from.

if you know of anyone that would be interested in buying some of my work, please help spread the word and repost.

email me for more info.

thanks!

audioslavefans @ 2006-11-19T02:19:00

2006-11-19T07:19:05Z

http://shipwreckthesun.blogspot.com/

Today I made an Audioslave-focused blog. I'll most likely discuss and post on other stuff as well, but my intent is to make a place for me to share and post audio/video from great bands. Audioslave/U2/RATM/Soundgarden/Neil Young/Bob Dylan... you name it!

So, does anyone on here have a blog? I was thinking we could co-link to increase blog traffic and exposure for everyone. I post a link to yours if you post a link to mine.

Sounds like fun!

The funny hair interview

2006-11-12T20:22:05Z

A while back there was a vault thingie that if you inserted your Revelations CD while visiting the site, it would bring up an interview track-by-track with Chris. They claimed it would be updated regularly with more snippets.

Well I've been visiting it weekly to find the rest of the vids of Chris talking about the album. And I swear it's never changed.

So through some sleuthing, I managed to get all of the short vids of the interview. Yes, the interview where Chris has funny hair.

However when I converted the files to another format so that I could join it all into one big file, it completely messed it up. Therefore I don't have just one video to share today, but rather 13 (one on each track and one of the OF video). I'll probably throw them up on youtube later too (as in tomorrow or later).

Anyways, enjoy!

Zipped file uploaded to Megaupload

Contents of zipped file:
What Chris has to say about:
Revelations, One and the Same, Sound of a Gun, Until We Fall, Original Fire, Broken City, Somedays, Shape of Things to Come, Jewel of the Summertime, Wide Awake, Nothing Left to Say But Goodbye, Moth, Original Fire - Video

Screencaps:

X-posted to audioslaved_com, audioslavefans, audioslaves, chriscornell, cornell_daily

20 Audioslave icons

2006-11-11T06:43:06Z

Teasers:

The rest are HERE

Download Chris's acoustic VH1 preview

2006-08-23T05:14:57Z

I ripped the videos. And then converted them to audio. So here's both for you to enjoy.

Like a stone

Video
Audio

Original Fire

Video
Audio

Until We Fall

Video
Audio

Enjoy! :)

X-posted

Link to "The Original fire" video!!!!

2006-08-08T21:03:20Z

http://music.yahoo.com/ar-296097-videos--Audioslave

Cornell interview 2, transcribed

2006-08-07T06:19:27Z

Okay, here's the second one I have. It's with live105 (I'm not sure of the location).

Download the interview here

Radio hosts: Welcome to the show. Good morning, Chris.

Chris: Hi.

R: How ya doing?

C: Good. Thank you.

R: Thanks for coming on. So the new record September 5th.

C: Yeah.

R: Do you hear like a weird feedback? I’m hearing a feedback.

C: No. That might be some sort of inner ear damage you’ve got.

R: No. Everytime I say something I hear myself right back.

C: Uh oh.

R: Very strange. Are you on like a speakerphone or something?

C: No. No.

R: That is very strange and annoying. Hello. That sounds very strange. All right, Chris so the new record Revelations will be in stores September 5th. I heard Tom Morello was in the news describing it kinda like a cross between Led Zeppelin and Earth Wind and Fire.

C: Yeah I don’t know enough about Earth Wind and Fire to say that’s correct.

R: I don’t either.

C: What is an Earth Wind and Fire song?

R: Name one, Tony.

C: Come on.

T: You got me.

R: You don’t even know?

T: But no, but I do understand because the first single Original Fire does have that like R&B kinda swing to it but its still crunchy and gritty like Audioslave.

C: Uh huh. Uh huh. I’m thinking of one. The song goes -sings some notes- and then the guy goes ‘ah ah ah ah’. That’s Earth Wind and Fire.

R: Ohhh.

C: I’m hearing that all over the new Audioslave.

R: I was going to say, if that’s what the new Audioslave sounds like, uh… okay.

C: Actually the background harmonies on Original Fire are sung by none other than Brendan O’Brien, our record producer.

R: Oh really?

C: Yeah. I do this as kind of a mean thing. But when someone has an idea for background vocals and they come out and sing it, then I make us use that. Cuz I’ve never been a fan of hearing my own voice stacked up. I don’t. It doesn’t sound that great. It kinda reminds me of Sting when he had like five Stings singing the chorus. Brendan’s voice was great though.

R: You know what I read this morning? It’s probably crap. Just internet stuff. There’s this website called hitsdailydouble.com that says that this record may be the last Audioslave record. That you may be leaving to do another solo thing.

C: I’m planning to do another solo record, but um, I’ve never said it’s like the last Audioslave record. That would be stupid.

R: Yeah it didn’t seem like it. It seems like you guys are having a lot of fun. Everything I read, interview with the band, especially when you see the band live, it just seems like you guys are having a blast.

C: Yeah, its one of several rumours that shows up every once in awhile. It’s one I’ve heard several times.

T: Do you guys have any plans, I mean obviously you’re going to tour on this, but do you have any plans to go back to Cuba?

C: I would love to go back to Cuba.

T: That was seriously, the last DVD you put out, I can’t of the name of it offhand, they went to Cuba and they were the first I believe American rock band to play in Cuba?

C: Yes. Not only that. When we got there and started doing the interviews and doing the research we’re one of the only rock bands that’s ever been there. I started asking questions. Some members of bands would go there on vacation. Uh. The band the Maniac Street Players went and actually played a real show. And that’s the only rock band in years and years that I had ever heard about from anywhere. And that to me was a little bit shocking. For example U2 or Rolling Stones bands that aren’t from the USA or hold US passports can go there anytime they want. Why haven’t they gone there? You you… it costs you money. You don’t make money. You take their money out. But um still there are a lot of bands that have obviously done very well and could afford go there and play for the people and be allowed to. And I can’t wait till we get to go back. But I’ll be very disappointed if Audioslave is the next American rock band to play there or the next rock band period. Because what I hoped we would get out of this is that people would see ‘oh there’s an audience there’. ‘Oh and even if you’re from the USA you can actually get through the bureaucracy and get people to let you go.’ And even more importantly they allowed us to film it and allowed us to release it. And that’s not that often that you see an image of Cuba that doesn’t go through some sort of a process of editing. My image of Cuba was very different, based on what I saw on the news as a little kid. Just like flotillas of people trying to flee and risking their lives. Um that’s not the feeling we got from the people there.

R: So there’s not really much a lot of anti-American sentiment?

C: Oh absolutely there is an anti-American sentiment. But it’s anti-American gov’t foreign policy. It’s not anti American guy in rock band. And that’s the important message that people need to get. Not just about Cuba, but every country around the world.

R: Yeah I think it sucks. Here were are in America, living in a free country. I hear it from people who have been to Cuba how beautiful it is. It’s a great country. I realize there’s all this stuff that happened a long time ago. Things change. We’re not longer in a cold war with ussr. It doesn’t even exist any more. Can’t we at some point, re-evaluate, move on. Like we’ve learned to protect ourselves. I know Castro is still down there, but it just seems silly.

C: Well I think that the Clinton Administration was working towards that and was getting close to some sort of normalizing the relations. And then um the Bush admin of course to gain popularity with his peeps went the other direction very quickly. Um. When we were there, Castro does this thing where he goes on tv kinda like a public access channel and everyone gets to watch it. And they have these open cabienet meetings where he just bitches and complains and then people talk to him about stuff. And here we are the first American band to be there Cuba and it was the anniversary of a Cuban plane being shot down by the US and he was just basically ripping the US apart the whole time we were there on tv.

And at the same time we’re a rock band traveling around being embraced by everyone we that saw so graciously and they were so thankful and happy that we were there.

So you really did get the idea that its not about one population or another one population. Its about one administration or one gov’t versus another one. And the people have very little to do with it.

It’s the same thing with the Middle East. The US foreign policy towards the middle east tends to be the us attitude towards cells of terrorists and gov’t dictatorships of people that are pretty evil. But that has nothing to do with the families and the citizens of those countries. They don’t back that. They have the same wants and needs as we have. They want their children to be safe, they need food, they need water, and they need a place to live. And whatever religion they’re into, they can be into that and practice that without stopping you from doing what you want to do.

But I think based on propaganda we get lead away from that. The Cuba experience was a great one because its so opposed the process of the way that they’re gov’t is and the structure of it is so opposed to ours. And the way that the society runs here versus there is entirely opposite and yet the people are very much the same. And it’s also extremely shocking because the flight from Miami to Cuba is about 22 minutes long.

R: That’s it?

C: And it’s like you went around the world. Because it’s so different.

R: I guess if you can make it in an intertube it can’t be that far.

C: No.

R: Believe it or not we’re not actually talking to a CNN policial correspondent we actually have Chris Cornell from Audioslave. You’re very well informed.

C: Yeah. Cuz that’s what happens when you travel around all the time.

R: Yeah you wanted to call to talk about the new record. And we’re talking about Cuba and foreign policy and the whole thing.

C: Well the other thing is too, that when the band is working, I’m in LA with my wife and my babies. But otherwise I’ve been living in Paris. And Paris is a very international city with people from all over the world. And that’s been great just to get a view of the rest of the world from a different vantage point.

And there as well I’ve never been approached with anti-American sentiment because I’m from the US. And that’s also where part of it stems from. We can kinda get intimidated into believeing we’re hated by the rest of the world. But as a people, as citizens of this country, our voice can be heard regardless of what the administration is doing. If we don’t agree with it, our voice can be heard and it will be heard by people everywhere.

R: It’s funny. Cuz like when you see these people going on like ‘kill americans’ whatever you want to do that whole thing when you call up a customer service line and start screaming. I don’t make the decisions I just work here.

C: Exactly. You know if someone comes up my drive way to kill me, I’m going to kill them first, absolutely. But uh I think to respond by bombing apartment buildings somewhere in a city terrorists might live and kill families. I have a family. I don’t want that to happen to my family. And I don’t want to be a part of something as you don’t want to be a part of something that’s killing somebody else’s kids. It’s horrible.

If I were president of the us and the day came where I was getting put under pressure to take military action against an area where there might be some civilians. I would have to resign.

R: Well Cornell in ’08. I feel it.

T: Cornell and Commerford in ’08!

C: Vote Cornell this fall.

R: The new Audioslave album is called Revelations is going to be in stores September 5th. The first single Original Fire which we’re playing here at live 105 now available on iTunes. Another song is going to be featured in the Miami Vice movie that comes out on Friday. And the title track is going to be featured on Madden 07 which comes out in August as well.

Now Chris I heard a rumour. There’s this Finnish newspaper reporting that you’re going to write and sing the new Bond theme. Is that true?

C: Yeah actually I did it already. Um, I worked with the composer that has done the scores for the last several. And I just got a call one day asking if I was interested, that they were thinking about me. And I thought it was kinda maybe a bad idea. I’m not the right guy for that.

Then I heard about who the new actor was going to be, who I’m a fan of, Daniel Craig. Who’s like an extremely accomplished actor. He was in the movie Munish recently and a movie called Layer Cake a really great actor.

So I saw a rough edit of the film and it hits, it really pulls the rug out from under any idea of what this character is like. Just a completely new approach. It’s very, very edgy. Now the actor has emotional depth. The character is different. And and uh. And I thought well this was going to make a huge impact and I would love to be the guy singing that song.

R: Now were you like a big Bond fan before?

C: From childhood very much. And also part of that was I’m an enormous Beatles fan and an enormous Paul McCartney fan. I think he’s like one of the best singers of rock ever, one of the best songwriters in rock. And when you do a Bond song you sorta become a part of a list. Some of it’s not so great. And then there’s Paul McCartney on it. So that was part of it too.

R: So what made them decide? Did they approach you specificially?

C: They approached me specifically. And then I just went and saw the film and said I want to do it. And then the direction I got was like go do whatever you want and we don’t want it to sound like any previous Bond song.

R: And the new Bond is a cool film?

C: Yeah its fantastic.

R: [the guy and the girl talked amongst themselves] When does that come out, Raven? November. November its coming out? Mmmmhmmm.

R: No news on tour yet for the new record. When are you guys planning on announcing that?

C: I don’t know. We’ve got to figure out where we want to go and when we’re gonna start it. Then we’ll, then we’ll let everybody know.

R: You guys have obviously have started working on it though, right? As far as what you’re going to be doing on the tour as far as like setlists and stuff like that.

C: No. I mean. It’s actually going to be a bit of a challenge. This record is you know a lot of it sorta plays out kinda in the level of energy like Original Fire. It’s the most up tempo record we’ve done by far. And um. And also finally we’re a band where we have a lot of a lot of material a lot of original material to draw on. At the same time that we started going into our past more, playing Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine songs.

R: Yeah I was going to ask you about that.

C: So now we’ve got a huge amount of material to draw from.

R: Still the Soundgarden and Rage stuff be as much of the tour as it was in the past?

C: I’m not sure, you know. It was something we really enjoyed doing. But I definitely have to say that I wouldn’t miss it if we weren’t doing it. I don’t really care. I was actually more into doing Sleep Now in the Fire than I was into doing Spoonman because it was different for me. It was like a different expression and also the audience responded differently. That was exciting to me. And I loved doing old Soundgarden songs and Rage songs but it’s not like something I feel like we have to do. So so we’ll see. I think what’s going to happen is that we’ll be able to be really varied in our setlist choices from one day to the next day. Keep the shows really one, each show being kinda special. We hadn’t had the ability to do that so much up until now because of the fact we only had one record and then two records out. And um, we learned some Rage and Soundgarden. Because I wasn’t in Rage and they weren’t in Soundgarden we it takes a lot of work to go back and take those songs to make them work right.

R: Well let’s say you’re going to some three song set somewhere. You’re going to do some little guest spot on a tour somewhere. And you’re going to do one Audioslave song, one Soundgarden and one Rage song, which songs would they be?

C: I would probably do Original Fire… of course right away. Um Soundgarden song it depends. I do an acoustic version of Black Hole Sun that I kinda like. I also like the way Audioslave plays Rusty Cage. I think that’s really fun. And that’s a good song to sing. So it would be one or two of those. And a Rage song, I think Sleep Now in the Fire is— [my copy of the audio of the interview cuts off here :(]

X-posted, again

Chris on 99x, Atlanta

2006-08-05T18:15:41Z

Here's the text from one of Chris's latest radio interviews (which is downloadable by click the link).

Chris Cornell on 99x, Atlanta

Radio hosts (whose names I don't know): Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, the voice of Audioslave. Chris Cornell, how are you?

Chris: I'm really good actually.

R: Good.

C: And I'll tell you why. Because I'm in the same time zone as you.

R: That's why you're doing good. You're not calling us from like, LA.

C: Yeah, it's not like 7 in the morning or 1 am in the morning.

R: And you're not in Paris. You're not way ahead of us.

C: No. Same time zone. So, you know, we're all on the same page now. I'm pretty much wide awake. Everything's good.

R: You know what's so weird for me right now? Actually hearing you talk, because I'm used to just hearing your singing voice.

C: Yeah, I'm one of those guys that my singing voice doesn't sound anything like my voice voice. I was friends with Jeff Buckley and his speaking voice, you would say yeah, that voice would come out of him. It makes perfect sense. I'm not really that way. I think it has to do with the fact that whatever... I think I sing above and out of my normal range. I sorta force it. I sort of push it up there. I don't know why. I just started out just kinda doing that.

R: Well I mean don't second guess your voice. Because I saw this recently, Cornell's voice is voted number 12 in Mtv's greatest voices in music. That's pretty high up there.

C: Yeah that's great.

R: Now I think if it was rock it would be top three.

C: You think so? Then who would be, who would be number two and one? Just out of curiosity.

R: I'll blow down the list. So Chris Cornell at number 12, Michael Jackson number 11, Tupac number 10

C: Well you know he could really belt.

R: Celine Dion number 9, Bjork number 8 beautiful voice

C: Good for her.

R: Number 7 Kurt Cobain, Alanis Morisette number 6.

C: Really?

R: Christina Aguilera number 5.

C: Mmhmm. She's good.

R: The veteran Paul Houston number 4. Bono. Whitney Houston number 3. I bet you're a fan of this guy, number 3 Freddy Mercury.

C: Yeah, he's fantastic.

R: And then number one: Mariah Carey.

C: Like punk Mariah Carey right out of there. Forget. I mean come on. And and this is my one beef. I'm in great company I'm thrilled with that. But why is there no Paul McCartney in there?

R: You think Paul McCartney has one of the best voices around?

C: Absolutely. I think Paul McCartney is like he's probably arguably the best rock singer of all time. Like think about it. A guy who could sing Yesterday and then turn around and sing Helter Skelter. That. My whole career benefited from that. Because because of him I was able to get away with that.

R: It's interesting you say that. Because I've heard you're a Beatles fan and I'm a huge Beatles fan. And I don't think he gets enough credit for his voice.

C: Well you know the guy is sorta thought of as being half of an amazing songwriting partnership. Um. And like the most legendary and successful and influential rock band of all time. So he gets all these other accolades. Plus he was the good-looking one. He's absurdly talented. He gets all the other stuff. He's one of the best bass players of all time rock. So people forget about the fact that if you just wanted to concentrate on how great of singer he is. It’s unbelievable.

I never got to meet him and he's one of those kinda people I never want to meet him. He might drool or something and I'll be disappointed.

R: Or you can't express enough how much, well I'm sure he knows how much his music has touched people.

C: I don't see how he couldn't. And I don't think there's too many people... he's got to have a kind of glazed over look the hundreds of times a day somebody says that he's the most important person in their life musically. Um. And it's always weird to say that to someone.

R: Well. Chris Cornell, you probably have that effect on people. Have you ever met a fan that you can see in their eyes how much you mean to them?

C: It happens, you know. A lot. And there's no way that ever really feels either normal or comfortable for either person.

R: Right.

C: But of course that makes me feel great.

R: I mean, just to sit here and talk about it, you have one of the most recognizable voices and I think the best rock voice right now. And if we were to say of all time for rock voices and you had asked earlier if we said top three who would be one or two. You know probably some of the guys from the 70s or whatever like zeppelin or queen or whatever. But you would be right up there.

C: Oh absolutely. I think that Freddie Mercury is always going to be somewhere around the number one position. It's still kinda shocking when I see footage of how great he was.

R: What do you think of Paul Rogers from Bad Company doing the stuff now?

C: I haven't heard it. I've only just heard that he does it. It's hard to imagine I've got to say. I think Paul Rogers is a great singer. Free is one of my favorite bands of all time. And to think that the guy was like 19 years old singing like that is pretty phenomenal. To be that soulful. He comes from a part of England that's very much that way, very soulful. But I can't its very different this operatic flamboyance I think that doesn't come from him. So I can't really imagine it.

R: Right I don’t think he's trying to mimic the style. I saw something on VH1 where they performed and he just kinda does it Paul Roger way but you know and the Queen thing.

C: Right.

R: When you mix two voices together, you really didn't mention any of your contemporaries, and when you mix two voices together and it's not always a good thing, but nothing sounds better than you and Eddie in the Temple of the Dog stuff.

C: That happened really by chance. Where uh I had written Hunger Strike and I had two vocal parts and when you're recording in the studio it's no problem you just do them both. And it was the 10th song I wrote for the record just so we would have 10. It wasn't really a full song. It had one verse and a bunch of choruses. And I was just kinda gonna do it in the studio. And we were rehearsing it when Eddie was just starting to work with those guys and Pearl Jam was just forming. And he heard me struggling to do the low part. I'm going hungry, I'm going hungry. And thought he would help out and he came up shyly and started singing the low parts. And immediately I thought god this guys voice is much better on these parts. His voice is much better for these verses. So why don't I'll sing one then you sing one and even though it’s the same words its two different guys so its two verses right. Then we got a whole song. And he sounded amazing. So when he was in the studio singing it he sang backgrounds on some of the other songs. And it was great. He just walked right in. And he didn't even have a lot of studio experience I don't think then. And it was clear. He just like got up to the mic and did it. It was done. He didn't even need to learn.

R: I was gonna say that's even more interesting to this music history lesson to think of you if you had to coach him vocally.

C: Yeah, that wasn't necessary. He wasn't one of those guys. He was just great. From day one. I saw the first Pearl Jam show ever. And I was like oh my god.

R: How many people where there?

C: Um like a hundred fifty.

R: How many people would love to say that, that they saw the first Pearl Jam show or the first Soundgarden show?

C: It was um.... Well I don't think, god I know how many were at the first Soundgarden show... it was more like about 15.

R: Well that's the reality of it. You're just starting out. Nobody knows your music.

C: Nah. I used to have to like dodge ashtrays and things. We were a band that sorta came through an indy punk scene where to have any references to Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin was not good. And so we were kinda unanimously hated by a lot people at first. Then that kinda turned around when people got kinda honest and said well you know what I kinda do like that thing.

R: I'm so glad you said that. I remember in the 90s it wasn't cool to say you like Zeppelin or Black Sabbath. And now people are like yeah Kasmir is my favorite songs of all time.

C: Yeah. And I feel like Black Sabbath is embraced by every genre of music. A guy from a boy band will say it’s his favorite band. And then you know a guy from a punk band will say it’s his favorite band.

I think Black Sabbath particularly the bass player seemed to influence a lot of punk bass players when I was a kid. And I was always kinda shocked by that. As a guy he played with his fingers an aggressive kinda scary style. And a lot of punk musicians were influenced by him.

They've become a sort of become this legendary bullet proof credibility band. That when I was probably 16 or 17 it wasn't cool to be into them. When punk was first happening it was like you know you're old school. You're a guy who lives in a cave and goes to Who concerts and you're not cool. And then it came in a circle. Which I think that happens. That's normal

R: Yeah all music is cyclical. The third Audioslave record Revelations coming out September 5th. And that's got a little bit different sound to it. Even Tom Morello described it as Led Zeppelin meets Earth Wind and Fire. Do you kinda go along those same lines?

C: I don't know enough about Earth Wind and Fire so...

R: Chris Cornell was a former drummer. And there's some funk in this one. And I love Brad Wilk is one of the solid in the pocket lock down drummers there is. Did he have to change his style for this record? Did he have fun making it?

C: I don't think any of us did. I think what really we just steered into it a little bit. It’s just something we do naturally. Which I think a lot of alt rock bands don’t. Um. Now that sort of R&B funk in a rock band usually is embarrassing. And for some reason we do it all right. We do it sort of naturally. We just kinda went more in that direction than we normally would. And uh. A song like Original Fire is sorta old school stomp and it’s something that Brad does great.

R: Kinda like the stomp stuff on Gasoline, one of my favorite songs.

C: Yeah exactly. Yeah and this is actually the fastest we’ve ever made a record. Brad just kinda ripped through the whole record.

R: We’re kinda sad that you didn’t come to our beautiful city and make the record. We heard that normally Brendan sets up shop here in town and I guess you guys did it out in LA this time.

C: Well uh. Actually the song. Uh there’s two songs that were recorded in Atlanta. One of them is called Sound of a Gun and one of them is called One and the Same. So when you get the record and hear those songs you’ll know they were recorded there when we were on tour.

R: Cool.

C: If we work with him again, I imagine we probably will record there. Because so far we’ve made three records and all of them have been in LA. And I think it would be interesting to make a record where none of us are at home. Because those three guys live there and I live I’m there when we’re working otherwise I’m in Paris. But it would be nice I think for kinda all of us to be away from home.

R: Yeah we were excited to hear you were working with Brendan O Brien and did he play any instruments? Cuz he normally because he’s a musician as well and normally plays in a lot of records he produces.

C: Well on Original Fire you’ll hear the background harmonies on the choruses, that is Brendon O Brien.

R: Excellent. A little shout out to Brendan. Now also we heard in the news the other day that you’re going to contribute some solo stuff to the new James Bond film Casino Royale.

C: Yeah. When this record was done in like 5 weeks, the AS record, so it just kinda afforded me a lot of extra time. So I just started writing songs. I did a song for a movie called Bug that’s based on a play that going to be out I think around the same time the Bond film. I just recorded that at home.

And then I got a call that they were interested in me doing a song for the Bond movie like the title song. Um and first I wasn’t that into it.

R: It’s a lot of pressure there. People like to scrutinize the people that step up to the plate and do those.

C: Yeah. And it’s a mixed bag of company. You’ve got your Paul McCartney and Tom Jones which are on the good side and you’ve got Uh Huh and

R: Madonna, Duran Duran

C: Duran Duran. So I had mixed feelings about it and wasn’t so into it. But then I heard that Daniel Craig was going to be the new James Bond. And then I was curious. He was in the movie Munich and the movie Layer Cake. He’s not this winking swaggering super good-looking guy. And I thought I’ve got to see what that’s like. So I went and got to view some footage they had already edited. It’s super aggressive, super like straightforward really intense with emotional depth. It doesn’t have anything to do with any previous Bond films. It kinda pulls the rug out from under the image. It’s very, it’s very 2006.

R: They probably needed to do that to keep the franchise alive.

C: I think so. You know, I think the last movie was actually the most successful of all of them. But I also think it was going into the territory of unbelievable scenarios and an almost superhuman guy that gets through it action film genre style. This is not like that. This is more like in the direction of bare bones aggressive movie thriller like a Bourne Identity or something.

R: That’s cool.

C: And so I saw that and I thought I wanna be the guy singing that song that changes the way everybody in the world thinks about this franchise and character.

R: I can’t wait to hear it then. We’re talking to Chris Cornell, Audioslave. You ever make the mistake, you ever grab Tom Morello’s guitar by accident and throw the strap around ya and realize it’s the wrong Les Paul when it’s hanging around your nipples.

C: Well if I just grab a Les Paul when we’re rehearsing and put it on then it’s got to be his. Because I don’t I have an acoustic guitar when we’re there. If I want to show someone a part I came up with. Otherwise I don’t touch one.

But I have picked up his guitar before. And it’s definitely a necktie for me.

R: Tom Morello, Tom Morello is a ten guitarist but I have to take a half point deduction for style for wearing his guitar strap too high.

C: But you know what? Since its so unhip and he boldly just brings it on stage. With the guitar hiked up and leaps around like a gazelle. I think you gotta give him. I think it’s a plus.

R: You think we go 10 and a half?

C: I think its bonus points.

R: At the end of the day, there’s a lot of guitarists that sound great there’s few that have their own distinct sound. He’s definitely one of them.

C: Yeah it’s rare nowadays. I hear new bands that I love. But um. New rock bands that tend to sound great because they’re sorta going backwards. And it isn’t that often particularly with drummers or guitar players where you hear it and you know who it is. Usually nowadays you have to hear the song and maybe the singer and you kinda know. It didn’t use to be that way. It like. In the world of guitar or drums. Like the Police is a great example. The drummer didn’t sound like anybody else. The guitar didn’t sound like anybody else. You know who it was even if you didn’t hear Sting singing yet. Van Halen was like that. The drums sounded Van Halen unlike anything else. You know as soon as you hear it that it’s a Van Halen song. Same with the guitar.

And that’s kinda gone away. I think reaching backwards is great. I’m a fan of vintage rock music you know. And I think Audioslave is definitely a rock band that kinda ventures backward into classic rock a lot. But what happened to people really expressing themselves entirely individually?

R: I don’t know. You get producers that try to bottle one particular sound and say this is so and so. We’ll make everyone sound like this. And as far as voices go there’s too many people that talk sing. There aren’t soulful people that sing and stretch out some lyrics some words and lyrics. It’s all about choppy word word word. That’s how you stand out. You’re one of the few these days.

C: Well I consider myself lucky for being born was I was really you know. It’s like. By the time I was 9 or 10 and really started to get into rock music. Which had been 1974 1973. From that period on into the 80s I got to listen to everything that was like 60s and 70s tall the way up into punk music. The palate of things to draw from that starting to play on the radio and that your older brothers had and your friends older brothers had was huge. And there was a lot of real singers. There was a blue-eyed soul period there. Where white guys singing soulful rock music without huge range, kinda in the middle like the guy from Chicago who shot himself uh Clayton Thomas. That kind of fat really soulful aggressive singing and in a soul direction but still being rock.

To be fair a lot of the young guys coming out in bands they don’t have that kind of without having to have to dig it up, they don’t have those influences readily available. It’s not on the radio so much.

R: Yeah. I was a fan of Elvis Costello’s for a very long time. And I know on the last tour you covered Peace Love and Understanding. Were you a big fan of Elvis’s?

C: Yeah. He’s kinda all I listened to for about 2 years. I’m the someone who if I get into somebody I buy their whole entire catalogue and that’s all I’ll listen to for awhile until I get completely sick of it. And he had such a vast catalogue and he was putting out new records when I was getting into him. Which a lot of the bands previous to that had broken up or people were dead so it was at a time just before Soundgarden and I wasn’t really into anything heavy at all. As a songwriter and a lyricist I’m sure whether you notice it or not I’m influenced by Elvis Costello a lot.

R: We will see you out on the road for sure.

C: Excellent.

R: You know Chris you got to do more interviews. You’re fascinating.

C: Oh thank you.

R: I’m serious this is the first time we’ve had the chance to really talk to you. So maybe when you’re in Atlanta you can come up to the studio.

C: Sure. That would be great.

R: Audioslave the new CD Revelations out September 5th. Chris Cornell, thank you very much and we’ll see you soon.

C: My pleasure.

Probably not completely correct. But I spent a good few hours on it. Why? I have no clue, really.

X-posted to lots of places.

Some Chris interview to share

2006-07-30T06:37:54Z

99x.com

http://www.99x.com/

(Click on CHRIS CORNELL’S ONLY ATLANTA INTERVIEW ON 99X >> LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW >> Chris Cornell with Axel & Leslie)

A Download interview (need Real Player)

http://www.live105.com/audio/cornell.ram

KROQ 106.7

http://www.kroq.com/

(Click on ON-DEMAND >> Is Audioslave breaking up? Chris Cornell sets the record straight: Part One | Part Two | Part Three)

I just love listening to his voice. *sigh*

New member.

2006-07-26T17:06:55Z

Hey! My name's Mike and I'm from Manchester, England. My favourite song by Audioslave would have to be What You Are, as it's an awesome song and also the lyrics apply/applied to me. That's all I can think of, just dropped by to say hi.

Love

Mike

xXx

Finally announced!

2006-06-20T00:15:12Z

Audioslave will release the third album of its four-year existence early this fall. "Revelations" is due Sept. 5 via Epic, as part of the band's unusual arrangement under which its music is released on a rotating basis by that label as well as Interscope.

First single "Original Fire" will hit U.S. rock radio outlets July 18. The 12-track album was produced by Brendan O'Brien and is the follow-up to 2005's "Out of Exile," which debuted at No. 1 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 1.1 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Audioslave has yet to unveil tour plans in support of "Revelations."

Here is the track list for "Revelations":

"Revelations"
"One And The Same"
"Sound of a Gun"
"Until We Fall"
"Original Fire"
"Broken City"
"Somedays"
"Shape of Things To Come"
"Jewel of the Summertime"
"Wide Awake"
"Nothing Left To Say But Goodbye"
"Moth"

Source: http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002690444

Chris's 'goddess' necklace

2006-05-10T15:07:53Z

Okay this had bothered me for some time. And now that I have decent images of it, I can stake my claim. Heh heh.

Anyways, I know Chris was brought up Catholic and is more or less anti-religion now (not anti-spiritual, just not so much for the big organized religion thing). Which makes sense to me.

What doesn't is him wearing a goddess necklace. Never really struck me as the kind to practice the wiccan ways. But then again I've not met him in person, so maybe he does have a wiccan vibe.

I know Chris rarely does anything without some reason behind it. Does anyone know the reasoning being his goddess necklace? And it's not that I want one, because I already have one. I just wonder why he wears it.

Images from 'Preaching to the end of the world' (aka the video where Chris flirts with the camera);

x-posted

Chris's hand in Cuba

2006-04-12T21:42:54Z

Ever since I watched Live in Cuba, I've wondered what the hell was on Chris's hand. I've posed the question in a few places. And no one really seems to know. I've managed to get a few decent caps of whatever is on his hand, so I thought maybe if I shared those, someone else could maybe tell me what it is. I think part of it says 'Al fresco' but I'm not 100% on that.

X-posted in a couple of comms

Soulful Audioslave

2006-04-06T02:12:53Z

Published in Rolling Stone

Audioslave Reveal Their Soul Side
Chris Cornell dips into R&B, family life on "Revelations"
For Audioslave's third album, due in June, singer Chris Cornell wanted to explore a vocal style he feels closest to but has never touched on before: R&B. "I love rock music, but my favorite singers are not in rock bands," Cornell confesses. "They're Stevie Wonder, Mavis Staples, the Chamber Brothers." So on Audioslave's latest effort, appropriately dubbed Revelations, Cornell decided to follow the soul sound.

He really pushed his boundaries on the "groove-oriented" song "Broken City." "It reminds me of The World Is a Ghetto[-era] War," Cornell says. "My vocal cadence is different, my approach to the vocal is different. And with this band, we have the ability to go into more of a soul/R&B direction and have it be authentic. It's exciting."

But never mind the Chamber Brothers -- Cornell's new role as a family man has had just as great an influence on his songwriting and his life. "As I'm getting older and I have children and my life is definitely settling down more, I'm really about family," he says while getting ready to play a West Hollywood benefit for the Stuart House, a group that helps sexually abused children and their families. "When I'm not in the studio making records with Audioslave, I'm at home with my wife and my kids," he continues. "So there are a lot of songs where I mention them -- where maybe the subject is about something else, but they're in there. My family is my chief concern."

Though still only just over a year old, Cornell's daughter has already made her opinion of Audioslave's music known. "My baby girl Toni listens to [last year]'s Out of Exile religiously, every day, dances to it in the kitchen. And if you take out that CD and put in something else, she'll whine and say no," Cornell says with a laugh. "We finished the new record just now, and the very first time I put it on she was like, 'This is not the record I know.' Everybody's a critic."

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9520537/audioslave_reveal_their_soul_side?rnd=1144289375451&has-player=true&version=6.0.12.1483

NEW AUDIOSLAVE COMMUNITY

2006-04-03T21:58:38Z

Hey everyone,

My name is Ryan (aka gageagainstthemachine, from many 'slave related forums). I, personally, am really tired of how slow and dead livejournal is for Audioslave fans. We lack a quality community where people discuss Audioslave regularly. So here is what I propose...

THE AUDIOSLAVE FAN FORUM LJ COMMUNITY

In co-operation with the wildly successful fan forum, I would like to introduce you to the newest Audioslave community on Livejournal.com. To date, we have very few members but this doesn't worry me.

I was the 9th member of Audioslaved.com and I observed first hand how humble beginnings can turn into a thriving place where thousands of fans come to discuss everthing 'slaved!

So, check us out! Join what I promise to be the BEST Audioslave community on livejournal!

http://community.livejournal.com/audioslaved_com/

Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Four, Completely platonically

2006-01-12T00:30:08Z

Type of work: Chapters of an unending fic (at least it's unending right now)
Genre: Romance, fan fiction
Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Four, Completely platonically
Author: dreamsinfiction
Fandom: Chris Cornell of Audioslave
Rating: PG-13
Warning: mild swearing
Summary: Two friends spend the night together
Disclaimer: There's a reason it's fiction, my dears. ;-)

NOTICE: This is the final chapter that I will post to the community. All further chapters will be posted in my journal only. So if you want to keep reading, friend me. :D dreamsinfiction (Just wanted to give people a taste of it. Sorry if it bugged anyone.)

Links to Previous Chapters:
Chapter One, Ice Cream
Chapter Two, Waves
Chapter Three, A Breath Away

With her head in his lap, Alyssa yawned. She couldn't beleive she was still awake after eating and watching two movies already, especially with as comfortable as she was laying on the couch. Her heavy eyelids kept threatening to drop close, her interest no longer focused on the images on the screen, but rather on keeping her eyes open.

"Chris," she began, interrupted by another yawn, "you need to take me home."

He looked down at her as she pivoted to meet his eyes, "I'd rather you stay here. I don't want to be in the house alone tonight."

Alyssa sighed, "Well.... I suppose so. You're just lucky I don't have anywhere to be early in the morning tomorrow."

Chris chuckled, "If you did, we could just stay up all night. We're halfway there."

Her eyes darted to the clock. With her tiredness she was unable to focus on the face of it long enough to actually decipher it.

"What time is it?" she asked.

"One a.m.," he responded.

Her head pivoted again to look at him, "I need to go to bed. Or I'll fall asleep here. And as comfortable as I am right now, I know I would regret it when I woke up."

Chris reached for the remote as Alyssa slowly sat up. After he turned off the movie and tv, he stood, pulling the sleepy girl up with him. She yawned audibly again, leaning against him slightly as they left the entertainment room. Pass the kids' rooms they walked. Alyssa pulled away from Chris to head to the guest room, but his hand went around her waist, keeping her next to him.

"Chris....." she whined, droopy eyes going to his.

"Sleep with me," he requested.

"Oh no," Alyssa instantly replied. "Even if you and Vicky are over, I'm not sleeping with you, Chris. We're friends. That's it."

"Please? Completely platonically," he claimed. "I am just tired of sleeping in a bed alone. There's a marked difference when there's a body in the room, in the bed with you. I sleep better."

"No," she replied, still pulling against him. "I'll sleep across the hall. Or you take me home. That's your choice."

His green eyes pleaded with her. He even pouted some, which garnered only a chuckle from Alyssa, not her sympathy. His hand found hers, using that to keep her from moving any further away than she already was trying to.

"Please? Just for a little bit. Until I fall asleep," he stated. "Then you can sleep wherever you want."

Her eyes wavered in the gaze between them. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, biting it softly.

"Fine. Until you fall asleep. Then I'm leaving. And I'm not getting under the bedcovers," she relented.

He flashed her a grin, "Thank you."

Hand held by his, Alyssa was pulled into his room. A sadness passed over her upon entrance, as she had helped Vicky with the decor. She hadn't been great friends with Vicky, but they had been amiable with each other. When he released her hand, Alyssa noticed she didn't smell a trace of Vicky at all.

"Chris? When was the last time she slept in here?" she asked softly.

He shrugged, "Some time ago."

"Oh," Alyssa replied, glancing about. "Can I have a shirt or something to sleep in

"Of course," he answered, already opening his closet.

Fishing out a shirt, Chris tossed it towards her. The gray tee fell to the carpet near her feet. As Alyssa stood from picking it up, her eyes collided with Chris's watchful stare.

"Turn around," she stated.

"What? Why?" he asked.

"Because you don't get to watch me change. Either that or I'm going in the bathroom, which you're blocking," she pointed out.

"I— fine," he replied, turning around, his arms folded across his chest.

Alyssa would have loved a shower, especially as she still felt kinda icky from their play in the ocean. However it was late and she knew it would wake her up. So she quickly pulled her clothing off, leaving it in a pile easy to find not far from the door. Pulling Chris's shirt on, she wiggled some, wishing it would have stretched further down. As it was, it barely covered her ass.

"Okay. Now you get into bed so I can lay down," she instructed.

"Bossy one, aren't you?" he turned around with a smile on his face.

"Only when I'm tired. Bed. Now," she pointed at it.

Chris shed his own layers, crawling into his bed wearing only his boxers, not that Alyssa cared much. Once he was situated, she turned off the light and made her way to the bed. Not entirely sure where it was in the darkness, she fell forward onto it when her shins hit the bed. She heard Chris chuckle for a moment, before feeling her obvious glare and silencing himself. Slinking up the bed until she found him, Alyssa laid down.

"Thank you, Lyss," he commented softly. "For everything today."

"You're very welcome," she muttered, wiggling to get comfortable.

"Do you remember the day we met?" Chris asked.

"Mmmmhmmm," she replied lazily, struggling to stay awake. "I was working at the deli.... my third day there.... the first time I was allowed to use the meat slicer.... nearly sliced off my finger when you entered...."

"Really?" there was a teasing tone in his voice.

"Mmmmhmmmm," Alyssa barely managed to reply before sleep overcame her.

A smile twitched at the corners of Alyssa's mouth as she slowly worked her way to waking up. One eye fluttered open briefly, before closing again. She hadn't felt so warm and cuddly in a long time. Which somehow didn't make sense in her mind, especially since it felt like there was an arm draped over her and the blanket.

Forcing her eyes open fully, she turned slightly. Her contented smile froze. Sometime after she had fallen asleep, Chris had apparently turned over and covered her with the blanket, his arm remaining draped over her. Which meant she was wrapped nicely in the blanket and his embrace, separated from contact by that blanket. She smirked slightly. So close yet so far away.

"Morning, beautiful," his gruff morning voice uttered. "Sleep well?"

She nodded, her smile genuine again, "Really well. You?"

His hand moved off her stomach and pushed hair from her eyes, "Better than I have in some time. Thank you."

"You don't have to thank me for everything, Chris," Alyssa stated. "Seriously.

"Sure I do."

"No you don't," she argued, starting to wiggle on the bed. "I think I'm going to steal some clothes and go shower. Then maybe breakfast?"

Chris didn't let her out of his embrace just yet, "Whatever you want.... in a minute. I just want to lay here with you for a few more moments."

Though Alyssa really wasn't entirely comfortable, she let her eyes close again. Without realizing it, she snuggled closer to him. In that warm embrace with her eyes closed, Alyssa couldn't help but start to drift off to sleep once again....

Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Three, A breath away

2006-01-10T22:47:15Z

Type of work: Chapters of an unending fic (at least it's unending right now)
Genre: Romance, fan fiction
Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Three, A breath away
Author: dreamsinfiction
Rating: PG-13
Warning: mild swearing
Summary: Just because the sun is setting, doesn't mean the day is really over....
Disclaimer: There's a reason it's fiction, my dears. ;-)

Links to Previous Chapters:
Chapter One, Ice Cream
Chapter Two, Waves

For the longest time they laid on the beach, the waves slowly retreating from their toes. They talked of all sorts of things, past, present, future. Alyssa could not remember the last time she and Chris had such a heart-to-heart conversation. Probably not since the day he chose to clean himself up, go sober. She had not realized how much she had missed him, missed what they were doing. Never before had she even thought she was jealous of Vicky or even of Susan. But as she laid on the beach, the sun making its slow journey to dip below the horizon, Alyssa realized she was happiest when she had Chris all to herself, no distractions.

"Lyssa?" he asked softly, reaching over to poke her softly in the belly. "You've gone quiet on me. What are you thinking about?"

She turned on her side again, her eyes going to his, "You. Me. Us."

Chris didn't reply for a moment, clearly trying to decipher what those three words meant.

"I've enjoyed today immensely, Chris. I hadn't realized how much I missed you, the real you, the you who's right next to me right now," Alyssa admitted. "The one who isn't afraid to tell me anything and listens when I bare my soul as well. I've missed this and I didn't know that until now. We've both been so caught up in our lives...... I missed you."

He smiled crookedly, reaching forward to tuck her hair out of her face, "I've missed this too."

His hand slowly traced down her jawline, before losing contact with her. She chuckled and moved to sit up.

"But we've been out here so long. I'm hungry and thirsty. What other plans do you have for me tonight?" Alyssa asked.

Sitting up as well, Chris moved to stand, offering both of his hands down to pull Alyssa up, "Let's go grab a movie and dinner?"

"Only if we're watching it at your house. I'm not going out in public in sand and salt caked clothing," she claimed, hopping a little as he pulled her up.

"Fine by me," he smiled, obviously not wanting to let her hands go.

Her lips parted slowly and she ran her tongue over them. Their eyes never parted. Smiling crookedly, Alyssa shook her head.

"Come on, Chris. Let's go," she pulled her hands out of his and turned to find their shoes.

Chris's arms wrapped around her from behind. For a moment he just hugged her before reaching for his shoes in her hands.

"Wasn't about to let you run off with them," he teased as he pulled away to put his shoes on.

"As if I was going to ride off on your hog myself," she rolled her eyes in response.

"I'm sure you would. You just pretend to not want to drive it so that I will be unsuspecting when you steal it. I know you, Lyssa," he flashed her a grin as he finished fastening his shoes. "You're just hiding the truth. You love that bike as much as I do."

"Oh whatever. Quit your talking and let's go get some dinner!"

It was one thing to bring movies home on the bike. It was completely another thing to balance takeout food. Alyssa had to convince Chris to tuck the takeout containers in the bike, because she certainly wasn't going to hold it all the way back to his house.

Her eyes looked instantly for Vicky's car when they pulled into the driveway. It was gone, which didn't surprise Alyssa all that much. And she relaxed at the realization as well. She hadn't wanted to get involved in anything with Vicky that day, especially as she already knew she would take Chris's side in anything.

With the bike parked, Alyssa tucked her helmet away and retrieved the movies. Chris could carry the food. Together they entered the house. There was a tension in the house, even though no one was there at all. Alyssa chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, before Chris sent her a reassuring smile.

"The house isn't going to blow up, Lyssa," he teased.

"Still," she argued. "It does however explain the tension I'd been feeling lately."

"Yeah," Chris replied, heading into the kitchen.

A pregnant silence fell between them as Chris pulled plates, cultery, and glasses from their respective places. Alyssa took over filling the glasses while he worked on removing the food from the takeout containers and warming it for a moment in the microwave. She watched his back, seeing the tension that she felt return upon entering the house. Without even a thought she moved behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Things will be fine, Chris. I know it," she breathed. "Just take a deep breath."

He did as instructed, one hand reaching up to pat her arms, "I know, Lyssa. I do. It's just..."

"Things will be fine," she repeated. "Let's go watch a movie."

Her arms loosened as he turned to face her. His fingers touched her face softly and he leaned closer. A breath away from changing their relationship with an innocent kiss, the microwave sounded. Alyssa grabbed the opportunity to push away and grab their drinks and movies, heading out of the kitchen. Chris sighed and followed her out, two plates in his hands.

Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Two, Waves

2006-01-09T06:33:52Z

Type of work: Chapters of an unending fic (at least it's unending right now)
Genre: Romance
Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter Two, Waves
Author: dreamsinfiction
Rating: PG-13
Warning: mild swearing
Summary: A simple conversation....?
Disclaimer: There's a reason it's fiction, my dears. ;-)

A moment later they were back on the road, Alyssa's arms wrapped around his waist. She closed her eyes this time, trying to let the feeling of the breeze on her face and the road under carry away the feeling in the pit of her stomach. Chris was going to drop a bomb on her. She knew it. Just as she had known before he told her he was divorcing his first wife. Just as she had known he was asking Vicky to marry him. Just as she had known about the pregnancies. He was going to drop a bomb. She couldn't avoid it. She only hoped she survived it.

Because of that it was no surprise to her that they ended up leaving the city behind. For the next time she opened her eyes they were on the highway, headed to a fairly seclude beach she and Chris would go to get away from everything. Usually they had his family in tow or some of the bandmates. In fact she couldn't recall going there alone before....

The Harley rumbled to a stop. Alyssa hesitated getting off the bike. But he patted her hand reassuredly, bringing her back to life and causing her arms to slip from around him. Leaving the helmets stowed, she was a bit surprised when Chris took her hand to lead her down to the beach. Silent they still remained, the tension tying her stomach into more knots.

"Chris, just tell me already," she declared, her sandals filling with sand as he lead her closer to the water.

He shook his head, stopping to sit. As his hand still clutched hers, Alyssa had no choice but to sit next to him. His thumb rubbed the back of her hand as his green eyes focused on the waves crashing in front of them.

Alyssa's own gaze only briefly touched the ocean before settling back upon Chris's face. It was only after a few moments of watching him, that she noticed the sadness underneath everything. And it wasn't an easy sadness, but rather something more profound. The knot in her stomach turned upside down.

"My marriage is failing," he finally stated, barely loud enough to hear over the waves. "And there isn't a damn thing I can do about it."

When his green eyes flicked to hers, Alyssa noted the clear emotions in them for the first time. It was almost as if he had finally lifted a veil for her to look beyond.

"I'm sure that can't be true. You just have to re-adjust the relationship now that there's another baby in the house," she assured him.

"I thought that might be the case as well, but this has been going on long before Nicholas's birth," Chris admitted. "We.... She hasn't let me touch her since... since he was conceived I think, actually. And that was the first time she allowed me to touch her after Toni was born."

Her mouth dropped open at that admission, "You mean... you guys... haven't... wow, Chris. I had no idea."

"Our lives revolve around the children, which I'm fine with. But when the kids aren't around.... there should be some us time, shouldn't there?" he stated. "When the kids aren't around, Vicky goes off into her own world. Sometimes I try to follow, but that usually leads to a door shutting in my face."

Alyssa turned slightly, to face him better, her back facing the waves now. Her other hand grasped his and both squeezed slightly.

"We'll find you the best counselour out there, Chris. This is saveable," she declared.

He shook his head, breaking eye contact for a moment, "It's not. This morning...... this morning before I talked with you... she said those words...."

"What words?" she found herself asking before even thinking it.

"She wants out, Lyss. She wants out," his eyes went back to hers, struggling to not fill with tears. "I really thought this would... work."

Alyssa released his left hand. That hand reached up and touched his cheek softly. His eyes closed, leaning into her touch for a moment.

"I...."

"Shhhh," Alyssa breathed. "You don't have to say a thing, Chris."

Another word wasn't uttered. Instead he pulled her into his lap and buried his face on her shoulder as her arms wrapped around him. She knew he was crying, as she knew she was one of the few who ever saw his tears. Her hands gently rubbed his back, letting him know with her touch alone that it was all right to mourn the loss of his relationship with his wife.

For a few minutes they sat like that. Or maybe longer, she couldn't tell time any more. Ever so slowly, Chris pulled away from her. His green eyes met hers. Alyssa raised her hands to wipe his tears from his cheeks before leaning in and pressing her forehead to his.

"Everything will be all right, Chris. I promise you," she muttered.

"I believe you," he uttered in return. "Always true to me you've been."

She wanted to ask all of the detail questions, whether it was a separation or a divorce, would they have joint custody of the kids, had he actually signed the pre-nup Alyssa had pushed for? But she didn't. It wasn't the time for that. Chris needed to settle his emotions about the affair first.

"Lyss?" he breathed, pulling away from her a bit, so their eyes locked better.

"Yes?"

"Would you..... thank you. Thank you for being...you," Chris stated.

She didn't press the question. Instead she smiled softly at him and hugged him again.

"Anytime, Chris. You know I would do anything for you," she stated, her smile growing some. "Afterall I left my beloved Seattle to come here with you."

A little bit of the twinkle came back to his eyes, "Oh because sunshine is so awful to you."

Alyssa chuckled, "Damn straight it is! I'd take my drizzly days over smog and bad traffic any day."

Chris shook his head, "You didn't have to come."

"Oh? Where would you be if I hadn't? Hmm?" she raised a brow. "Besides it was just chance that I happened to enroll in UCLA. Chance, my dear friend."

"Sure it was," he retorted, his eyes brightening a little more. "I'm glad you came anyways. You've been my.... salvation, Lyss."

"Oh that I can't handle," she teased, getting out of his lap. "Best friend, sure. Salvation, not at all."

"You have no choice in the matter. It's already done and over," Chris declared. "And I owe you for it."

"Yeah?" she grinned, kicking off her sandals. "Then prove to me how this beach is better than my piers in Seattle."

"Is that a challenge?" he arched a brow as he got to his feet, removing his shoes as well.

"Damn straight it is," Alyssa grinned.

"Accepted."

Without another word he lunged towards her. Alyssa hadn't really expected that and so Chris's arms easily encircled her. Chuckling slightly, he lifted her and practically flung Alyssa over his shoulder. She squealed, knowing his intentions even before he took a few steps towards the water.

"You wouldn't!?" she gasped, wiggling on his shoulder.

"Wouldn't I?" retorted Chris.

A few more steps and the waves were lapping at Chris's toes. Before too long the seawater darkened his pants. And then without further adieu, he dropped the squirming brunette into the surf. She squealed and struggled to get to her feet. A glare was exchanged and a moment later, she was chasing him back towards the beach.

Tripping on seaweed, Alysse flew forward, tackling Chris to the sand, unexpected by either of them. He coughed as she moved off him, allowing him to turn over. His frown was replaced by a large grin at that point.

"You know this isn't finished, right?" he questioned, turning on his side so he faced her, the waves tickling their toes.

"It never is."

Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter One, Ice Cream

2006-01-08T23:36:25Z

Type of work: Chapters of an unending fic (at least it's unending right now)
Genre: Romance
Title: Yesterday to Tomorrow: Chapter One, Ice Cream
Author: dreamsinfiction
Rating: PG-13
Warning: mild swearing
Summary: Longtime best friends share ice cream
Disclaimer: There's a reason it's fiction, my dears. ;-)

Stepping out of the shadows of the palm tree, Alyssa adjusted her sunglasses on her nose and glanced about. As was typical, the weather was pleasantly warm, though a little too warm for her. She often missed the rain of Seattle, but LA had its charms, or so she was reminded often. She hadn't really chosen to come to LA, more it chose her to come to it. Things seemed to be working out all right, she guessed. It wasn't her home.

Tucking an escaped chocolate curl behind her right ear, she scanned the park once more. That was the park they were to meet at, wasn't it? But he was never late. Not once in the decade they had known each other had he ever been late, which in itself was odd. Other men were habitually late all through her life, even her father. But the one man with whom she had maintained an odd friendship with since she was fifteen, had never once let her down.

So what was keeping him today? His wife? His daughter? His work?

Reaching in her purse for her cell phone, Alyssa hit his number without even a glance at the touchpad. As she raised the phone to her ear, a familiar ringtone sounded behind her. A grin quickly filled her face as she ended the call.

"Dammit, Lyssa! Not even enough patience to let me sneak up on you!" he cursed as she turned around, though he was smiling.

"Well what do you expect, Chris? You've never been late before," she replied with a straight face.

He glanced at his watch, "And by my watch, I've still got five minutes."

"What? No," Alyssa retorted, pulling his wrist towards her to glance at his watch. "Damn. You're right. Guess I walked faster than I thought."

"That excited for babysitting duty?" he arched a brow, bringing Alyssa's eyes to his.

She frowned, "That's what today is about? Babysitting? We never do anything fun anymore. Besides I don't see Toni anywhere."

He turned around as if looking frantically about for his daughter, "Oh no. I've lost her. Vicky will kill me!"

"You lost your daughter?" Alyssa repeated in a flat voice. "I'm so not buying that, Chris."

He flashed her a grin, "Good. Because she's with her mother."

"Then who am I babysitting?"

"You really have to ask?" Chris countered.

Alyssa shook her head, "What are we really doing, Chris?"

Instead of answering her, he winked and started to head back in the direction he had come. She had no choice but to fall instep with him. Across the grass they walked, Chris maintaining a silence no matter what Alyssa attempted. He simply shook his head to her questions and nodded when she attempted other means at getting the information from him.

Reaching the other side of the park, Alyssa smiled, her brown eyes falling on his Harley. Of course. They were going on a ride. Oh how long it had been since they had done anything like that at all.

"I'm not really dressed to go on a ride, Chris," she pointed out, glancing down at her sandle-clad feet.

"Nonsense," he quickly looked her over. "You should know by now I come prepared when I come with a surprise. We've only known each other for what? five years?"

"Ten," she corrected.

He stopped in his tracks and turned to her, handing her a helmet, "You mean we met when you were in high school? What the fuck was a 32 year old doing hanging out with a 15 year old?"

Alyssa shook her head as she pulled the helmet on. They had had this conversation many times during their friendship. Both knew she hadn't disclosed her age when getting that job at the deli across from where Soundgarden spent a lot of time jamming. Both knew she had looked about 18 when they met, if not older. And both knew age had never made a difference to them, no matter how much it had bothered their families, friends, and significant others. They'd become best friends and somehow managed to maintain that friendship to that day, against everyone's expectations and desires.

Already on the bike, Chris waited patiently, looking at her, "Are you coming? Or am I stuck eating ice cream alone?"

"Ice cream!" Alyssa squealed, jumping on behind him. "You should have mentioned ice cream in the beginning."

He chuckled, the rumblings of his chuckle overridden by the rumblings of the started Harley. Within moments they were on the busy street, Alyssa's chin on his shoulder to watch the traffic as well. Sure they often travelled that way, but she was always uneasy about it. Not because of Chris, but the rest of the drivers on the roads. But as always he weaved just fine through traffic and soon they were at the ice cream parlour. Alyssa slid off with ease, waiting for Chris to do the same before handing her helmet over.

Entering the parlour he asked, "Cone?"

"You have to ask?" she teased.

He flashed her a grin before stepping up to the counter to order while Alyssa moved to a wait at a table. When he approached with the sweet, she smiled crookedly and stood, knowing they would have to eat it outside or she would be frozen inside and out.

"So what's the occassion?" she asked as they sat on a bench outside the parlour.

"There has to be an occassion for me to treat you to ice cream?" he retorted, watching as she licked her cone.

"Without the wife and kids along? Yes," Alyssa replied simply.

There was a dark flash of something in his eyes. But instead of replying immediately, explaing whatever it is she briefly saw, he stuck a spoon in his mouth. Alyssa frowned and focused on licking her ice cream cone for a few minutes, just until it was pass the point it would drip.

"What's really up, Chris?" she asked.

"You didn't want nuts this time, did you?" he evaded.

"Chris," she warned.

He shook his head, "Nothing. Can I not want to spend time with a friend and not get harassed about it?"

Alyssa bit her lip at his tone and looked away. She wasn't interested in the ice cream any more and therefore just held the cone statically in her hand. His sigh reached her ears but still she didn't turn to look at him. Combing over what they had said to each other on the phone before deciding to meet at the park, she tried to piece together the hints into something solid.

"We're going back into the studio next week. You should come along," he attempted conversation.

"Sure," she replied, eyes leaving the tree across the street they had focused on, to meet his eyes. "Whatever you want, Chris."

He reached over and took the little touched cone out of her hands and deposited it in the trash can near him, "Let's go some place we can talk."