Rage, Cornell Unite in Unique Deal

After months of speculation about the future of Rage Against the Machine following the exit of frontman Zack de la Rocha last year, the group has a new singer--and a new sound. Former Soundgarden leader Chris Cornell has officially signed on with the remaining Rage members--guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk.

The new band--still unnamed--will depart from the strident, politically minded rap-rock that made Rage one of the classic bands in Los Angeles rock history, turning instead to a song orientation with a hard-rock edge. Rage manager Peter Mensch and Cornell manager Jim Guerinot confirm that the musicians have written 20 songs together and will begin recording an album next week with producer Rick Rubin.

Cornell, whose solo career faltered after he left Soundgarden in 1997, started jamming with the three Rage members not long after De la Rocha left, and the combination quickly jelled into something that Mensch stresses is not a one-time side project.

“Until the boat founders on the shoals, this is as permanent as anything,” he says.

As intriguing as the new musical arrangements are the business orchestrations behind the scenes, as the collaboration leads to unique alliances between label and management powerhouses.

Epic Records, to which the Rage members are signed, and Interscope Records, which has Cornell under contract, are said to be working out what is believed to be an unprecedented sharing agreement. Although labels’ representatives would not comment, the plan apparently being favored would give Epic the release of the band’s debut, with the group’s second on Interscope. An alternative option reportedly had been to give one label U.S. rights and the other international.

“That’s what I’m told they’re thinking about--album one on Epic, album two on Interscope,” says Mensch.

Just as tricky are the management maneuvers. While neither party would discuss details, it appears that they will jointly handle the group, creating an odd-couple relationship. New York titan Q Prime, co-run by Mensch and Cliff Burnstein, is perhaps rock’s most powerful management firm, with a roster including Metallica, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tool and Stone Temple Pilots. Guerinot is one of the most respected managers in the business, maintaining a small stable--the Offspring, No Doubt, Social Distortion and Cornell--and running the operation from laid-back Laguna Beach.

Whatever differences may emerge, both managers share great enthusiasm for the venture.

“Both of these groups of individual artists are more excited about this than at any other point in their career,” says Guerinot. “I’ve never seen Chris so excited and that’s echoed from Brad, Tom and Tim. They think this is the best work of their careers. The rest of this [business] stuff is just noise that will be worked out. I can’t tell you what it was like hearing them together.”

Says Mensch, “I’m thrilled to [expletive] bits.”

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PAY AT THE PUMP: Just because records aren’t made from vinyl anymore doesn’t mean that the current round of petroleum inflation won’t affect the music business. At the grass-roots level, in particular, the skyrocketing cost of gasoline is taking its toll on indie bands that drive around the country on tour--already on a thin (if any) profit margin.

Take Flickerstick, a Texas group that is competing on the MTV rock survivor show “Bands on the Run.” Singer Brandin Lea says the group is about to embark on a monthlong tour of Eastern and Midwestern states with an itinerary covering nearly 10,000 miles.

The band’s van, pulling an equipment trailer, gets not much more than 10 miles a gallon. So with gas having risen to averages of more than $2, this trip will cost the band at least $650 more than it would have just months ago.

“We can’t do anything but sell as much merchandise as possible along the way to make extra money to compensate,” Lea says.

Independent music-oriented Internet venture Loudenergy ( www.loudenergy.com ) is trying to draw attention to the crisis (and to itself, of course) with a contest in which musicians submit original songs “that reflect personal distress, rage or just plain silliness” about the petroleum situation. Dubbing the venture Musicians With Gas Problems, the dot-com is offering a top prize of $1,000. Submissions, accepted until July 21, will be played on the Web site’s audio channel, with winners to be announced Aug. 6.

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CAT SCRATCH FEVER: There was probably no better place to experience ‘80s headbanging than the Cathouse, the Hollywood club run by Riki Rachtman. Guns ‘N Roses played there in 1986, Alice Cooper performed in ‘89, and in 1991, moving into the grunge era, it hosted a key performance by the largely unknown Pearl Jam.

After spending most of the ‘90s out of the club scene, Rachtman is relaunching the club at the former site of the Martini Lounge on Santa Monica Boulevard. The opening party will be June 5, with entertainment to be announced. Details will be available on www.cathouseclub.com .