With the dissolution of famed Seattle Grunge pioneers SOUNDGARDEN rumours emerged in late 2000 that acclaimed vocalist CHRIS CORNELL was tipped to replace the departed Zack De La Rocha in RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE. Whilst many cited an obvious conflict of styles as well as record company contractual obligations as being prime reasons this purported union could not transpire, it was revealed by early summer 2001 the two parties had in fact been working in the studio for quite some time. As it transpired, Cornell, at the suggestion of producer Rick Rubin, had stopped work on his projected second solo album to forge a creative union with guitarist Tom Morello, bass player Timmy Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk. Rubin had enticed the erstwhile RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE triptych into Cornell's favour by playing them SOUNDGARDEN's 'Slaves and Bulldozers' to demonstrate his abilities.

Much to the band members annoyance demo recordings, cut at the HEART owned Seattle Bad Animals studio, were leaked and widely circulated on the internet. In early 2002 the union with Chris Cornell was announced officially as CIVILIAN, the band also being scheduled for an appearance on the U.S. leg of the 'Ozzfest' tour but these plans were subsequently scrapped. Subsequently Cornell revealed he had been tackling alcohol related issues at this time.

By July word arrived that the Cornell / Rage band project, now dubbed as AUDIOSLAVE, was back on the cards again, apparently difficulties between two separate camps in both label and management areas- the RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE personnel's business affairs handled by Peter Mensch and Cliff Burnstein's Q-Prime concern with Cornell being managed by Jim Guerinot's Rebel Waltz, having scuppered the original proposition. This unique arrangement would result in a first in recording history as Epic and Interscope brokered a deal to share AUDIOSLAVE, the debut record released on Epic whilst Interscope took over for the second album 'Out Of Exile'.

The band's title switch to AUDIOSLAVE was not without complications though. An unsigned band out of Liverpool in the UK were already operating under the same handle and press reports from their management revealed a $30'000 deal taking place in order for both groups to use the name concurrently.

When launched in November the 'Audioslave' debut shifted over 162,000 copies in its first week of sale, breaking into the US Billboard top ten. An unreleased album track, 'The Ooh Song', was made available to fans who inserted the album into their CD-ROM drive via by the band's website. As the album scored a gold sales award for half a million copies sold, AUDIOSLAVE announced a lengthy run of North American shows commencing on February 21st at the Fillmore in Denver, Colorado. Following international dates the band formed up part of the rejuvenated Lollapalooza touring festival commencing 3rd July, the first since 1997, partnered on the road alongside JANE'S ADDICTION, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, JURASSIC 5 and THE DONNAS.

In July of 2004 guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk allied themselves with SYSTEM OF A DOWN singer Serj Tankian for a one off set at the 'Axis of justice' non-profit show at the Avalon in Hollywood, California. AUDIOSLAVE announced 2005 US touring commencing 14th April in Las Vegas to promote the second, Rick Rubin produced outing 'Out Of Exile'. Support artist for these gigs would be singer / songwriter JONNY POLONSKY. The opening show's set list provided fans with a healthy dose of past glories, including versions of 'Sleep Now In The Fire' and 'Killing In The Name' by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and SOUNDGARDEN's 'Spoonman', 'Outshined' and 'Black Hole Sun'.

AUDIOSLAVE carved its own niche in Rock n' Roll history by giving the first open air concert by a U.S. rock band in Cuba, performing on 6th May at La Tribuna in Havana alongside Cuban artists. German gigs in June saw AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD as support. Coinciding with these European shows would be the release of the 'Be Yourself' single. Novelly, the band issued a 7" picture disc variant which featured photographs of 15 winning fans who had entered a competition to be "immortalised in Rock history".

'Out Of Exile', issued in early June, racked up over 260,000 first week sales in North America to land at number 1 on the Billboard album charts. The band lined up on 2nd July alongside a mammoth cast of high profile acts to participate in Bob Geldof's poverty awareness global 'Live 8' concerts, AUDIOSLAVE appearing at the German show held at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate. US dates throughout October and November, including a prestigious New York Madison Square Garden headline, saw SEETHER as support.

In July 2006 it was announced that Chris Cornell, in collaboration with composer David Arnold, had recorded a song entitled 'You Know My Name', for the James Bond movie theme 'Casino Royale'. This action prompted rumours of AUDIOSLAVE's impending demise, quickly shot down by band members. In September AUDIOSLAVE's third album 'Revelations' sold 142,000 copies in the United States during its first week of release to hit number 2 on the Billboard album charts.

Cornell quit AUDIOSLAVE by way of a press statement in February 15th 2007, announcing "Due to irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences, I am permanently leaving the band Audioslave. I wish the other three members nothing but the best in all of their future endeavors". Morello, Commerford and Wilk had only just previously announced reformation live work for RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE.