Whatever Happened To:...#28: Audioslave

 Audioslave was a very popular "supergroup" consisting of Rage Against the Machine members Tom Morello, Brad Wilk, and Tim Commerford, and Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell. The group released three albums and had a steady international following. They were only around for less than a decade, but Audioslave made their mark on the hard rock and metal scenes.

After singer Zack de la Rocha left Rage Against the Machine in 2000, the other members of the group decided to continue recording and performing together. Producer Rick Rubin suggested Cornell, who was without a primary band following Soundgarden's breakup several years earlier. The four artists got along very well and recorded songs in 2001 with Rubin acting as producer.

Chris Cornell briefly left the group before their first concert or tour. Difficulties with management were cited for the departure. The band, Audioslave, was finally revealed in September 2002 and their self-titled debut album was released 2 months later. It was their most successful release, selling more than 6 million copies in just 4 years. Their first live performance was on the roof of New York's Ed Sullivan Theater for the David Letterman show that November.

"Cochise," "Like A Stone" and "Show Me How To Live" were the first three Audioslave singles. The group toured heavily in 2003 and was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards in 2004. The band spent most of that year working on new music and generally taking a break from performing. "Be Yourself" and "Your Time Has Come" were issued as singles before their sophomore effort, Out of Exile, debuted in May 2005. Audioslave embarked on a club tour that year and performed many more shows nationally and internationally, including a memorable concert in Havana Cuba that was recorded for a DVD release.

The group returned to the studio in the summer of 2005, with the goal of releasing their third album in June 2006. Cornell dismissed rumors that he was leaving Audioslave again but did admit that he was working on a solo record. Revelations wasn't issued until September 2006, and it was the band's least successful studio recording. Chris wanted to focus on his solo album and give the public more time to listen to Audioslave's new disc, which explains why the band didn't resume touring until 2007.

Rage Against the Machine had a one-time reunion concert in January 2007. A month later, Cornell announced his final exit from Audioslave. Tom Morello speculated a few years later that unreleased Audioslave material could surface at some point. However, no new songs have been issued since their last studio album. In January 2017, Audioslave reunited for the last time to protest Donald J. Trump's presidential inauguration. The death of Cornell 4 months later made any future reunions highly unlikely.

I don't know if any previously released Audioslave tracks will ever see the light of day, but it might just be possible on an anniversary of the group's formation or maybe on an anniversary of their first record release. Until then, I guess I'll just have to be content with the songs and the memories that I've associated with them.

That's all for this week. Next time, I'll write about the supergroup Velvet Revolver. Until then, have a great weekend, everyone!

Whatever Happened To...#27: Greenwheel

Greenwheel was a one-hit-wonder. I was surprised several years ago when I walked into the local JCPenney's department store and heard their hit "Breathe" covered by Melissa Etheridge playing over the speakers. They didn't last long, but they're still one of those groups I wish I had seen live in concert before they called it quits. 

The group was formed by St. Charles Missouri high schoolers Doug Randall (drummer), bassist Brandon Armstrong, Ryan Jordan (guitarist/vocalist), and guitarists Andrew Dwiggins and Marc Wanniger.  They went by Hindsight and Soma Holiday before settling on Greenwheel.

Greenwheel soon signed a deal with Island Records and released their only full-length album, Soma Holiday, in 2002. The Hello and Bridges for Burning EPs were issued in 2000 and 2006, respectively. Their song "Shelter" was included in the soundtrack for the first Spider-Man movie. 

The band toured with Rubyhorse, Default, Our Lady Peace, Hoobastank, Injected, and other contemporaries in 2001 and 2002 to support their recordings. Greenwheel ended their association with Island in 2004, not long after recording new music. The terms of their separation forbade them from releasing those songs on another label, but they were able to distribute them to their fans on their website and burn copies of those tracks which were made available at their concerts for no charge.

Wanniger and Randall left the group in 2005, and Drew Bailey soon took over behind the kit. A new band named Go Van Gogh subsisting of all of Greenwheel's members surfaced in 2007. They released an album entitled Ruby and the Starlight Ballroom that year and even performed with Greenwheel the following year. However, nothing has been heard from Greenwheel for more than a decade.

I had a copy of their Soma Holiday album somewhere, but I haven't seen it in years. I assumed that I lost or misplaced it, so I'll have to get another copy sometime. They were a unique group that we probably won't see again anytime soon.

Well, that's all for now. Next, I'll start a small series on former supergroups. I'll kick that micro series off with Audioslave. Until then, have a great week, everyone. 

Whatever Happened To...#26: Dark New Day

 Dark New Day was one of a few supergroups that debuted during the first decade of the 21st century. They released a few albums and played a few shows. However, other commitments kept them from becoming a band that would survive on its own for an extended period of time.

The group was formed by Will Hunt, Corey and Clint Lowery, Brett Hestla, and Troy McLawhorn. They were initially known as Dark Blue. Their debut album Twelve Year Silence was released under the Dark New Day moniker in 2005. 

Dark New Days performed at several shows in support of Chevelle before Hunt filled in for Tommy Lee at a few Motley Crue concerts. The group's first EP, Black Porch (Acoustic Sessions), was released in 2006. They continued on, even as Hunt went on the road with Vince Neil and his solo band and Clint Lowery became a touring guitarist for Korn in 2007. Both and Hunt would eventually be recruited to fill openings in the band Evanescence. 

Clint returned to Sevendust permanently in 2008, shortly after their Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow album was released. Dark New Days put three new tracks on their MySpace page that summer and B.C. Kochmit joined their group following Clint and McLawhorn's departure. Kochmit and Corey Lowery went on to form a new band called Violent Plan in 2009. They would soon move from that short-lived band to create Eye Empire (which proved to be another group with a brief lifespan). Hunt moved on to play drums for Black Label Society and Crossfade.

An album called New Tradition debuted in 2012. It also contained tracks first heard on the Hail Mary album, issued on CD the following year. Hail Mary had been recorded several years prior, but both albums were still well-received by their loyal fans. 

Even though most of their music was released well after many of the band members had already gone their separate ways, I have to applaud Dark New Day for daring to try something new and go outside the scope of the members' previous efforts with other bands. It's very unlikely that we'll hear new music from them or see them reunite any time soon, but I've learned to never say never. 

Well, that's all for now. Next up is Greenwheel, one of those "if you blinked, you probably missed them" type of groups. Until then, have a great weekend, everyone!

Whatever Happened To...#25: Drain STH

 Drain STH was an all female Swedish metal band. I never got to see them live in concert, but I got to know them from some of their radio singles, like "Simon Says" which was issued on a compilation CD that was a free bonus with another album I bought several years ago. Their lifespan was short, but they put out memorable music during their lifespan.

The group began in 1993 and simply went by Drain at the time. They signed a contract in 1994 with MVG Records. American concert-goers made The band known as Drain STH (STH standing for Stockholm). They released an EP entitled Serve the Shame in 1995 and the full-length albums Horror Wrestling and Freaks of Nature in 1996 and 1999, respectively. Drain STH made an international name for themselves by appearing at the 1997 and 1999 Ozzfests and touring with metal contemporaries including Godsmack, Megadeth, Type O Negative, and many others. 

Unfortunately, the group disbanded in 2000. Drummer Martina Axen, bassist Anna Kjellberg, singer (and current wife of Black Sabbath guitarist Tommy Iommi) Maria Sjoholm, and guitarist Flavia Canel have since moved on to other musical projects. It seems rather unlikely that Drain STH will ever re-form, but it's nice to think about possible reunions and enjoy their music in the meantime. 

Well, that's all for now. Next time, I'll write about Dark New Day, a supergroup that consisted of members of Sevendust, Stereomud, Creed and other groups. Until then, have a great weekend, everyone!