Audioslave reform to protest ‘dystopian nightmare’ Donald Trump at Anti-Inaugural Ball
After a decade apart, Audioslave are reuniting to play an Anti-Inaugural Ball protesting at President-elect Donald Trump.
Held at the same time as Trump’s inauguration this Friday (20th January), the show at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles is being hosted by rap rock supergroup Prophets of Rage featuring Rage Against The Machine/Audioslave’s Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk alongside Public Enemy’s Chuck D and turntablist DJ Lord, and Cypress Hill’s B-Real.
The event will be mark the first time Chris Cornell has played with the Rage Against The Machine trio in almost 11 years.
According to Audioslave’s representatives in a statement to Pitchfork, the band will play a full set at the show. It’s currently unclear whether the reformation is a one-off.
Explaining the purpose of the show, outspoken Trump critic Tom Morello said: “The Anti-Inaugural Ball is a celebration of resistance. Resistance to racism. Resistance to sexism. Resistance to homophobia. Resistance to bullying. Resistance to environmental devastation. Resistance to fascism. Resistance to Donald Trump.
“We are staring down the barrel of a dystopian nightmare unless we act NOW, unless we fight back NOW. We intend to create "No Trump Zones" across the country; in our homes, our schools, our places of work, and our concert stages. Bad Presidents make for great music. Join us as we get loud and stand together to defend our rights, our country, and our planet.”
Other performers at the ball include Vic Mensa, Jackson Browne, Jack Black, and the Los Angeles Freedom Choir.
Donald Trump himself has struggled to get any noteable stars to play his inauguration with even a Bruce Springsteen tribute band called the B-Street Band dropping out of the gala this week.
Formed in 2001, Audioslave released three chart-smashing studio albums together before Chris Cornell quit the group in 2007 leading to their disbandment.
They had been due to play Coachella Festival in April 2007 but in February of that year, Cornell announced his departure, saying: "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 endeavours."
> Tickets: https://t.co/Fb8jNAvGSL pic.twitter.com/EqRhz6JRRI > > — Prophets of Rage (@prophetsofrage) January 18, 2017