A Complete Explanation Of Everything

Review: Audioslave - Live in Cuba DVD

So, following on, fresh from the break up of the band this month. It seemed like a good moment to take in the Live in Cuba DVD. Audioslave had just put the finishing touches to their second record, Out of Exile, when they became the first American rock band to play Havana. They produced one further record about a year down the line, the relatively unheralded, Revelations, and so, posthumously, this is probably what the fans are going to have to look to for their memories of Audioslave.

Certainly, the Chris Cornell variant anyway, there is a possibility that the former RATM members might take up arms with a different singer but I pray to whatever, the gods of rock'n'roll, that doesn't happen.

There's a decent setlist on this DVD and an accompanying documentary of the trip that was aired in a fairly clipped format on MTV a few years back. As expected, this trip highlighted all that was fraught at the centre of Audioslave. An easy musical marraige between a great rhythm section and one of rock's greatest vocal exponents, talent to burn on the songwriting front too.

But clearly, Cornell was never comfortable or at ease with the political leanings of the former RATM members. Morello was probably the instigator of the trip, allowed by the US Treasury on the grounds of cultural exchange. Morello still fronts up Axis of Justice with Serj Tankian from System of A Down, it's a fairly typical liberal leaning humanitarian, let's make things better by publicising things and asking nicely type of organisation.

With some hip members I guess.

Anyway, the 'Slave arrive in Cuba and they are taken to the equivalent of the glorious people's lightbulb factory, which in Cuba is a school of music predictably enough. A great time is had by all and the lads pledge to sent guitar and bass strings where they are most needed and in short supply because of the US continuing embargo on Cuba.

Frankly, Cornell looks like he's wandering around in a daze, conflicted between genuine sympathy and distaste for any form of political action. The other members are like worried parents, quick to neutralise the apparent political implications for fear of upsetting Cornell. It's all about the music they agree rather hastily at the press conference. Nothing else on the agenda here.

To the gig itself.

Cornell's voice takes a while to warm up but the band are in hot shit form and two / three songs in, everything is clicking. There's a small acoustic set which is apparently clipped out but we return with the band backing up on Chris on I am the Highway, which alongside Cochise and Like A Stone will probably be the songs, Audioslave are remembered for.

In essence, they were always punching with one hand tied behind their back. Cornell's unwillingness to examine the political, and the accommodating nature of the other three meant it was simpler to just head down the classic rock route. There were moments, probably more so on Out of Exile where things were clicking into place but the breakup singled this week was hardly unexpected.

In fact, I'd say it was surprising three records and a trip to Cuba even got done.

All the ingredients may have looked right and on paper, this band had such serious potential, it was kinda scary. But whatever way they attempted to blend it, it never came to a point where the whole became more than the sum of the parts.

Audioslave will be best remembered as a live band and this DVD is as good a place as anywhere to catch 'em. There are even nods to the old bands with Sleep now in the Fire (RATM) and Outshined (Soundgarden) getting airings.

But for now, Rage / Soundgarden / Audioslave have all left the scene, leaving it up to us, as Cornell would say:

"Go on and save yourself,

Take it out on me"