Tim Commerford

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Timothy Commerford<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early lifeEdit

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>

CareerEdit

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Rage Against the Machine (1991–2000)Edit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In 1991, following the break-up of the band Lock Up featuring guitarist Tom Morello, the band's drummer, Jon Knox, encouraged Commerford and Zack de la Rocha to jam with Tom Morello. Tom soon called drummer Brad Wilk, who had unsuccessfully auditioned for Lock Up. This line-up went on to form Rage Against the Machine. After frequenting the L.A. club circuit, Rage Against the Machine signed a record deal with Epic Records in 1992. That same year, the band released their self-titled debut. They achieved a phenomenal amount of mainstream success and released three more studio albums.

Commerford's appearances on Rage Against the Machine's studio records have been marked with a running joke where his credits on the record were under nicknames, such as "Y Tim K" or "Tim.com".

On September 7, 2000, Commerford climbed atop onstage scaffolding during the MTV Music Video Awards, and disrupted the proceedings when Limp Bizkit won an award. Commerford was arrested that evening, and a disgruntled de la Rocha quit the band soon after.

Audioslave (2001–2007)Edit

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File:Tim Commerford Montreux Jazz Festival 2005.jpg

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> On February 15, 2007, Chris Cornell officially announced his departure from Audioslave, thus disbanding the group.

Rage Against the Machine reunion (2007–2011)Edit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} On April 29, 2007, Rage Against the Machine reunited at the Coachella Music Festival, and later played additional shows in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and England throughout 2007-2011.

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

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">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=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>

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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=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">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Prophets of Rage (2016–2019)Edit

In 2016, Commerford reunited with Tom Morello and Brad Wilk, and was joined by Chuck D and B-Real to form supergroup Prophets of Rage. They play covers from their Rage Against the Machine, Public Enemy and Cypress Hill material, and new material as well.

Other contributionsEdit

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 lifeEdit

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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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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>

EquipmentEdit

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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> MusicMan released several custom Artist Series basses in 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He previously used Fender Jazz Basses with Fender Precision Bass necks and Lakland basses.<ref name="fender.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>