Chris Cornell interview by ed condran, the oregonianl

During interviews through the years, Chris Cornell has expressed a desire to take sonic chances. The former Soundgardener put himself out on a limb with his third solo album, "Scream."

Cornell will showcase the dance-rock songs from his collaboration with uber-producer Timbaland (Pussycat Dolls, Justin Timberlake) on Wednesday at the Crystal Ballroom. Cornell chatted about his surprising work mate, others he'd like to record with and why he has yet to reunite with Soundgarden.

Q: Not to be Rick Rubin, but Sonic Youth: great guitar band, powerful drummer, which could use an actual singer ...

It would be amazing. I would never have to pick up a guitar again. I would become a geek. I'm like that. I'm very inquisitive. I remember the first time I was onstage with Tom Morello back in the Audioslave days. "What exactly is going on here?" was going through my head when I was watching him. I went to a Sonic Youth show in Seattle one time and I watched the guitar tech and (guitarist) Thurston (Moore) loading out, and I was counting the guitars. They had stacks of them. None of them were expensive. They had stacks of them because they had so many tunings. That had an impact on me. Sonic Youth are there for you. There are no rules.

To quote Weezer's Rivers Cuomo, "Timbaland knows the way to reach the top of the charts/Maybe if I work with him I can perfect my art." Did you perfect your art?

Perfecting art makes no sense to me. The lyric from Weezer is weird because they were a geeky, quirky rock band I liked at first, but when "Beverly Hills" came out, I thought, "How could they have gone down so much?" I don't know why people hear lyrics like that and believe it. If you look at statistics, Weezer knows the way to the charts probably better than any assembled band out there, including U2.

The "Scream" cover features you smashing a guitar. Is that your photographic statement saying you're breaking away from rock, or is it just to look cool?

This is an unapologetic statement that it's not going to be a big, guitar rock record. But I've made a few records that are not big guitar records. It's not like I'm AC/DC and I'm making "Scream." There's a certain amount of tongue-in-cheek to it.

The response to your disc has been mixed.

I'm getting a lot of super-hip DJ culture saying, "What you're doing is what we believe is where music is going." What I hate to mention is that some of the guys (DJs) are half my age (laughs). On one hand, I'm getting, "You're Judas," and the other, "You're really ahead of the curve." This record doesn't sound like anything else.

Timbaland says this is the best work he's ever done, which is fascinating considering his resume.

Timbaland does a lot of production with singles that go straight to the charts. When he worked with me we had no destination for songs. We never talked about the charts, which is something I never did. "Black Hole Sun" wasn't discussed as a single.

You're overdue to reunite with Soundgarden.

Overdue is a good sign. We're breaking the mold (laughs). I'm busy and having a great time. That's the reason I'm not doing it. Also, no one has called me up and asked me to do this. I couldn't do it if I wanted to, but you never know what will happen.

originally available as an online feature here



	chris cornell taking risks by ed condran, the oregonian, april 2008
	During interviews through the years, Chris Cornell has expressed a desire to take sonic chances. The former Soundgardener put himself out on a limb with his third solo album, "Scream." Cornell will showcase the dance-rock songs from his collaboration with uber-producer Timbaland (Pussycat Dolls, Justin Timberlake) on Wednesday at the Crystal Ballroom. Cornell chatted about his surprising work mate, others he'd like to record with and why he has yet to reunite with Soundgarden. Q: Not to be Rick Rubin, but Sonic Youth: great guitar band, powerful drummer, which could use an actual singer ... It would be amazing. I would never have to pick up a guitar again. I would become a geek. I'm like that. I'm very inquisitive. I remember the first time I was onstage with Tom Morello back in the Audioslave days. "What exactly is going on here?" was going through my head when I was watching him. I went to a Sonic Youth show in Seattle one time and I watched the guitar tech and (guitarist) Thurston (Moore) loading out, and I was counting the guitars. They had stacks of them. None of them were expensive. They had stacks of them because they had so many tunings. That had an impact on me. Sonic Youth are there for you. There are no rules. To quote Weezer's Rivers Cuomo, "Timbaland knows the way to reach the top of the charts/Maybe if I work with him I can perfect my art." Did you perfect your art? Perfecting art makes no sense to me. The lyric from Weezer is weird because they were a geeky, quirky rock band I liked at first, but when "Beverly Hills" came out, I thought, "How could they have gone down so much?" I don't know why people hear lyrics like that and believe it. If you look at statistics, Weezer knows the way to the charts probably better than any assembled band out there, including U2. The "Scream" cover features you smashing a guitar. Is that your photographic statement saying you're breaking away from rock, or is it just to look cool? This is an unapologetic statement that it's not going to be a big, guitar rock record. But I've made a few records that are not big guitar records. It's not like I'm AC/DC and I'm making "Scream." There's a certain amount of tongue-in-cheek to it. The response to your disc has been mixed. I'm getting a lot of super-hip DJ culture saying, "What you're doing is what we believe is where music is going." What I hate to mention is that some of the guys (DJs) are half my age (laughs). On one hand, I'm getting, "You're Judas," and the other, "You're really ahead of the curve." This record doesn't sound like anything else. Timbaland says this is the best work he's ever done, which is fascinating considering his resume. Timbaland does a lot of production with singles that go straight to the charts. When he worked with me we had no destination for songs. We never talked about the charts, which is something I never did. "Black Hole Sun" wasn't discussed as a single. You're overdue to reunite with Soundgarden. Overdue is a good sign. We're breaking the mold (laughs). I'm busy and having a great time. That's the reason I'm not doing it. Also, no one has called me up and asked me to do this. I couldn't do it if I wanted to, but you never know what will happen. originally available as an online feature here
	Chris Cornell Fan Page © Clare O'Brien 2009

by ed condran, the oregonian, april 2008