Tim Commerford

Timothy Commerford<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (born February 26, 1968) is an American musician, best known as the bassist and backing vocalist for rock band Rage Against the Machine and supergroups Audioslave and Prophets of Rage. Since 2013 and 2015, respectively, he has also been the lead singer and bassist of the bands Future User and Wakrat.

He was ranked eighth on Paste magazine's list of "20 Underrated Bass Guitarists" in 2014.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early life

Commerford was born on February 26, 1968, in Irvine, California.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Growing up, he was a fan of Rush, Gene Simmons, Sid Vicious, Steve Harris, and Geddy Lee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

Audioslave (2001–2007)

Commerford performing with Audioslave at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2005

After de la Rocha left Rage Against the Machine, music producer Rick Rubin suggested the three remaining members of Rage get together with then-former Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell, and "see what happens".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The newly formed Audioslave later released their eponymous debut album in November 2002,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> which would attain triple platinum status.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Future User, Wakrat and 7D7D (2014–present)

Commerford co-founded the band Future User, together with Jordan Tarlow (keys), Jon Knox (drums) and producer Brendan O'Brien (guitars). Commerford plays bass and is the vocalist of the band. Commerford hid several months under the S.W.I.M persona on the first music videos, before unmasking himself in the "Mountain Lion" video.<ref name="Radio.com 2015-01-27">Template:Cite web</ref> The "Mountain Lion" video featured road racing cyclist Lance Armstrong, a close friend of Commerford,<ref name="People 2015-01-27">Template:Cite news</ref> while a skateboarding Commerford appears to inject himself with a steroid.<ref name="Rolling Stone 2015-01-27">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="USA Today 2015-01-27">Template:Cite news</ref>

Tim Commerford Performing at Red Rocks in 2016

In 2015, he formed "punk and hardcore-influenced band", named Wakrat. The band also features drummer Mathias Wakrat and guitarist Laurent Grangeon. The band debuted their first single, "Knucklehead", in September 2015.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2022, Commerford launched a new project, 7D7D, with Mathias Wakrat and Jonny Polonsky. The group debuted their first single, "Capitalism", in November.<ref name="7D7D">Template:Cite web</ref>

Other contributions

Commerford and drummer Brad Wilk contributed to Maynard James Keenan's side project Puscifer and his album "V" Is for Vagina on the track "Momma Sed". Both have taken part in the production of Dave Grohl's 2013 Sound City soundtrack, with the track "Time Slowing Down". In 2010, Commerford was interviewed and appeared in the documentary Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Personal life

In 2001, Commerford married his longtime girlfriend, Aleece Dimas. They have two sons together. In November 2018, the couple announced they were divorcing, finalizing their divorce five years later in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Commerford is a self-described "conspiracy theorist". In a Rolling Stone interview in 2015, he claimed that the Moon landing was faked and he confronted Buzz Aldrin about it at a John Cusack movie premiere. In the same interview, Commerford also stated that he does not believe ISIS is real and cast doubt upon the ISIS beheading videos:<ref name="rs-interview-wakrat"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In December 2022, Commerford revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier in the year, and had undergone surgery prior to going on tour with Rage Against the Machine that summer.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Artistry

Technique

Commerford plays bass with his fingers and prefers not to use a pick, explaining, "I don't play with a pick at all. Chris Squire is the only pick player that I like. I don't even consider using a pick on the bass as bass playing; that's more like playing guitar on the bass. But (Squire) had that that kind of pick/thumb together that made this just unbelievable sound. Like 'Roundabout,' the bass sound on that is still one of my favorite bass sounds of all time, just the tone of it. But fingers are the only way to fly for me, man."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Equipment

Commerford has been using various Music Man StingRay basses since 2016, a brand he has liked since his beginnings with Rage Against The Machine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> MusicMan released several custom Artist Series basses in 2021 and 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He previously used Fender Jazz Basses with Fender Precision Bass necks and Lakland basses.<ref name="fender.com">Template:Cite web</ref>

Discography

Rage Against the Machine Template:Main

• Rage Against the Machine (1992)
• Evil Empire (1996)
• Live & Rare (1998)
• The Battle of Los Angeles (1999)
• Renegades (2000)
• Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium (2003)

Audioslave Template:Main

• Audioslave (2002)
• Out of Exile (2005)
• Revelations (2006)

Future User

• SteroidsOrHeroin (2015)

Wakrat

• Wakrat (2016)

Prophets of Rage

• Prophets of Rage (2017)

External links

• Template:Discogs artist
• Official Facebook page