CHRIS CORNELL Says Response To His Newest Material Has Been 'Phenomenal'

Aidin Vaziri of Gibson.com recently conducted an interview with former SOUNDGARDEN/AUDIOSLAVE singer Chris Cornell. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

On why he decided to work with producer/songwriter Timbaland instead of Steve Albini:

Cornell: "I felt like I sort of established the concept that I'm going to be doing whatever it is I'm going to be doing after I made the TEMPLE OF THE DOG album. That was the moment I had all these songs that didn't fit with my band and suddenly there was this opportunity to go in with these other people who I had known for years and record that album. I was scared. I was afraid of the concept because I knew the band I had was special, but I didn't know what it would mean if I was going to create some music with some other people. It ended up being that album. From that point on, because it was such a great experience and it could have easily not happened, I decided to always be open and aware and focused on any concept of collaboration. That's how AUDIOSLAVE happened. I did it; I'm really glad I did it. The Timbaland album was the same thing."

On why playing SOUNDGARDEN's rocket-fueled metal on the reunion circuit doesn't appeal to him:

Cornell: "That, to me, is similar to playing the back of Chinese restaurant. My heart needs to feel good while I'm playing a song. In order to play old songs from my history, I need to be able to also play songs from the present and songs that will literally turn into the future in a moment's notice. That does work for me."

On why he doesn't care what you think of "Scream":

Cornell: "My strongest belief has always been that as long as I'm inspired by it, other people will be. I feel that now. The creative process of making the album and going out and performing it is what's important. I don't think anything is as challenging as that process, or as exciting regardless of what happens after the fact. I'm on the road playing a catalog that goes back to 1990. The response to my newest material from some of my oldest fans is phenomenal, at least in terms of what's happening in front of me. It's an unbelievably satisfying experience because there's so much musical diversity onstage. I have more fun doing it now than I ever had in my life."

Read the entire interview at Gibson.com.