Audioslave

Two-time Grammy winner, singer-songwriter and voice of a generation, Chris Cornell, announced today the release date of his 13th career album, "Carry On", in stores May 1 on Suretone/Interscope. Steered by Grammy Award-winning British super-producer Steve Lillywhite (U2, ROLLING STONES, MORRISSEY, DAVE MATTHEWS BAND), "Carry On" is a mature and content departure from the artist who brought us SOUNDGARDEN, AUDIOSLAVE and TEMPLE OF THE DOG. Additionally Cornell is permanently departing super-group AUDIOSLAVE stating, "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."

The new album's fourteen tracks offer the bluesy and soulful "Safe and Sound", psychedelic "Scar On The Sky", country-flavored "Finally Forever", paeans to persistence in "Disappearing Act" and a slow-grind cover of MICHAEL JACKSON's "Billy Jean" that gives the familiar song a completely new feeling More personal selections include "Ghost", "Arms Around Your Love" and "She'll Never Be Your Man" and alt-rock experimentations "Killing Birds", the anthemic "Silence the Voices"). Fans of SOUNDGARDEN and AUDIOSLAVE will appreciate the harder edge of "No Such Thing" and "Poison Eye" and the redemptive "Your Soul Today".

"Carry On" will also include the Top 10 European smash hit "You Know My Name", the main title song for the current James Bond theatrical release, "Casino Royale", appearing for the first time on a full-length release. Cornell wrote and recorded the track with long-time James Bond composer David Arnold for the film.

With this collection of songs, it is evident that Cornell was inspired by songwriters from Elvis Costello to Tom Waits. Cornell says that his own lyrical approach leans on stream-of-consciousness, "getting out of my own way," to allow themes to naturally arise, whether topical or biographical. "The most exciting thing is to let yourself expose your true, vulnerable feelings, which is what resonates with people most," he explains. As far as his vocal style, he points to such R&B singers as Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin for showing masterfully how emotion can best be conveyed, even in subtle phrasing, also praising Bob Marley's expressive range and Tom Waits' use of his voice as an instrument.

Ranked 12th in MTV's Greatest Voices in Music survey, ahead of such icons as David Bowie, Steven Tyler and Bruce Springsteen, Cornell has been called "the single most dynamic rock and roll force produced by the Grunge Revolution of the early '90s As the frontman for SOUNDGARDEN, he marshaled five studio albums including the groundbreaking "Superunknown", which sold more than three million copies and earned two Grammy Awards. His songwriting continued to develop with the mid-SOUNDGARDEN side-project, critically acclaimed, eponymously-titled release "Temple of the Dog", a collective of PEARL JAM and SOUNDGARDEN members who formed in tribute to late MOTHER LOVE BONE singer Andrew Wood. More recently his tenure as frontman for the rock super-group AUDIOSLAVE, continued his multi-platinum success and produced the hit singles "Like a Stone" and "Cochise" in the millennium.

In addition to his work in the music world, Chris Cornell served as the face of the 2006 John Varvatos ad campaign and became a restaurateur with the opening of Black Calavados (BC) in Paris, where he splits his time.

Chris Cornell spoke to MTV.com earlier this afternoon about his decision to leave AUDIOSLAVE after releasing three albums with the group. According to Cornell, he had been thinking about quitting since the band finished recording its last effort, "Revelations".

"It was clear to all of us we needed some time apart, and what that produces is anybody's guess," he told MTV.com. "In my case, it produced a very prolific writing period, and getting back into writing songs on my own, liking what that means — which is sort of a freedom and time to just experiment with music to a degree I kind of like more — and making records that have everything I like about music in them. AUDIOSLAVE was a very fresh collaboration because it was very much like a young band, where you all write together in a room. But my experience, in terms of songwriting and record-creating, is not like a 19-year-old guy in a rock band. For me to be satisfied, I think I need to be able to be on my own, in the long run."

When asked about SOUNDGARDEN possibly reuniting, Cornell said it was doubtful. "I haven't received any phone calls from anyone in SOUNDGARDEN about a reunion since we broke up, nor have I called anyone," he said. "We were happy with how it ended. There was no unfinished business. SOUNDGARDEN wasn't a band where we broke up and everyone was like, 'I'm never f---ing talking to you again.' It wasn't like that. We've all talked to each other many times since then. It's something we don't feel we need to do."