Tim Commerford
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tim Commerford | ||
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 Commerford on stage playing for Audioslave.
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Timothy Commerford | |
| Born | February 26, 1968 | |
| Origin | Irvine, California | |
| Genre(s) | Rock, Alternative, Rap Rock | |
| Occupation(s) | Bassist-Singer | |
| Instrument(s) | Electric Bass, Vocals |
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| Years active | 1990 - Present | |
| Label(s) | Interscope Epic Records |
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| Associated acts |
Audioslave Rage Against the Machine |
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Tim Commerford, also known as Timmy C., Tim Bob, Simmering T, Y.tim.K, TIM.COM, and tim.COM, (born February 26, 1968 in Irvine, California), was the bassist for Rage Against the Machine and is currently bassist for Audioslave. He has also done backing vocals for both bands.
In his family, he is the youngest of five children. His father was an aerospace engineer, and worked on the Space Shuttle. His mother was a mathematician. Commerford's father divorced and remarried, while his mother moved to Sacramento, California to live with his sister, until she died of brain cancer when Commerford was 20 years old.
Zack de la Rocha and Commerford became friends in elementary school when Commerford showed de la Rocha how to steal food from the school's cafeteria.
Commerford has numerous tattoos, including a design covering his back, arms, chest and left leg. His first tattoo was a plain black band around his arm to remember his mother by.
Commerford is a fan of jazz, and is an obsessive mountain biker, even going so far as to thank all of his bikes in the liner notes for The Battle of Los Angeles.
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[edit] The 2000 MTV Video Music Awards
The award for Best Rock Video was being presented and Rage Against the Machine, among many others, were nominated for it. In the end, the award went to Limp Bizkit. As vocalist Fred Durst, was making his acceptance speech, Commerford climbed up part of the set and rocked it back and forth, threatening to jump. Durst had just finished saying "It's a big surprise to be in one of the world's most hated rock bands, and to be getting an award right now", when his bandmates pointed Commerford out to him. He continued, saying "and we've got a mad man", then began to egg Commerford on, saying "Stage dive, dude" and "Take a dive". By this time the crowd had started a small "Jump!" chant. Fred then began saying the typical thank-yous when Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland said "Thanks to that guy right there!" while pointing to Commerford. Fred replied with, "Yeah, this guy should be getting the award—he's rock and roll." Limp Bizkit continued with their thank-yous, with DJ Lethal even saying "Everybody is a winner tonight". Durst finally said "And this guy's a pussy cause he won't jump". The show soon went into a commercial break. Both Commerford and his body guard were sentenced to a night in jail, though he later stated the stunt was intended as a joke. It is rumored that the incident led to the break-up of Rage Against the Machine, despite Rage vocalist Zack de la Rocha's citation of creative differences as the main reason for his departure from the band.
[edit] PMRC protest
To promote the first album and its core message of social justice and equality, the band went on tour, playing at Lollapalooza II and as support for Suicidal Tendencies in Europe.
In the book Rage Against the Machine, Commerford is quoted as saying,
| “ | Want me to be perfectly frank? The size of my penis — that's what was going through my mind in Philadelphia. It looked like I'd just stepped out of the ocean. I swear to God, it's bigger than that. So I was thinking: I wish I'd worn boxer shorts before instead of briefs, because briefs kinda like constrict me. I took them off and it was this ... half-roll of nickels. | „ |
[edit] Equipment
- These are the Basses and Amplifiers that Tim Commerford used/uses throughout his career:
Tim Commerford live with Audioslave (2005)
Rage Against The Machine Basses
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- Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray Bass: This was Tim’s first bass used in Rage Against The Machine. He used it to record their first album, and it is seen in the Bombtrack video. Commerford took the pickguard off it. The bass was Natural and it had a maple neck.Picture
- 70's Modified Fender Jazz Bass: It was Tim’s main bass in Rage Against The Machine, until it was smashed in 2000 at the MTV Music awards and the end of R.A.T.M’s performance. The bass was Natural and it had a maple Fender P-Bass neck. It was tuned to E-A-D-G. Commerford modified it by putting hand picked pick-ups on it; with one unique white pick-up, and Tim also took the pickguard off it. Tim also put a custom thumb rest between the two jazz pickups, which is longer and thinner than the stock Fender ones.
- Rickenbacker Bass: This bass was used ocassionly by Tim. The colour of this bass and the type of neck on it is unknown. This bass was possibly used to record some songs in the album Evil Empire.
- Modified Fender Jazz Bass: This bass was used live in the Evil Empire era. The bass was black and it had a maple Fender P-Bass neck. It had a white pickguard on it. Commerford modified it by putting hand picked pick-ups on it. Tim also put a custom thumb rest between the two jazz pickups, which is longer and thinner than the stock Fender ones.
- 70's Modified Fender Jazz Bass: This was Tim’s favoured bass in Rage Against The Machine, after he purchased it in 1996. The bass was Vintage Blonde and it had a Tortoise Shell pickguard. It had a maple neck with 9 Black Block frets. It was tuned to B-E-A-D. Commerford modified it by putting hand picked pick-ups on it. Tim also put a custom thumb rest between the two jazz pickups, which is longer and thinner than the stock Fender ones. This bass was used in Rage Against The Machine’s final concert, and was also used to record Audioslave’s first album. Picture
Audioslave Basses
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- Modified Fender Jazz Bass: This bass was Tim’s first Audioslave bass. The bass is black and it had a maple Fender P-Bass neck. It had a custom chrome/mirror pickguard on it. Commerford modified it by putting hand picked pick-ups on it. Tim also put a custom thumb rest between the two jazz pickups, which is longer and thinner than the stock Fender ones. It can be seen in the “Cochise” video.
- Modified Fender Jazz Bass: This is one of Tim’s main basses. The bass is white and it had a rosewood Fender P-Bass neck. It had a Tortoise Shell pickguard on it. It is tuned to B-E-A-D. Commerford modified it by putting hand picked pick-ups on it. Tim also put a custom thumb rest between the two jazz pickups, which is longer and thinner than the stock Fender ones.
- Modified Fender Jazz Bass: This is one of Tim’s main basses. The bass is a sunburst colour and it had a rosewood Fender P-Bass neck. It is tuned to B-E-A-D. Commerford modified it by putting hand picked pick-ups on it and putting a black pickguard on it. Tim also put a custom thumb rest between the two jazz pickups, which is longer and thinner than the stock Fender ones. Picture
- Modified Fender Jazz Bass: This is one of Tim’s main basses. The bass is black and it had a maple Fender P-Bass neck. It had a Tortoise Shell pickguard on it. Commerford modified it by putting hand picked pick-ups on it. Tim also put a custom thumb rest between the two jazz pickups, which is longer and thinner than the stock Fender ones.
- Modified Fender Jazz Bass: This is one of Tim’s main basses. The bass is Natural and it had a rosewood Fender P-Bass neck. Commerford modified it by putting hand picked pick-ups on it and Tim also put custom Tortoise Shell pickguard on it. It is used in most live shows. Tim also put a custom thumb rest between the two jazz pickups, which is longer and thinner than the stock Fender ones.
- 70’s Modified Fender Jazz Bass: This is a bass owned by Tim, but never played. The bass is a Red twin-necked Fender Jazz, with rosewood necks with 9 Black Block frets ('51 P-bass style necks). It also has a custom black pickguard.
Amplifiers and Effects
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- Three Ampeg SVT-II Pro Heads Picture
- Three Ampeg SVT Cabinets (One 8x10, and Two 4x10's)Picture
- Marshall Guv'nor Distortion Pedal Picture
- Homemade Distortion or Overdrive Pedal
- Boss DD-3 Digital Delay Pedal Picture
- Jim Dunlop Crybaby 105Q Bass Wah Pedal
- Boss OC-2 Octave Pedal Pedal Picture
- Homemade or Custom Volume Pedal
- Possibly a MXR Flanger Pedal
[edit] Trivia
- When Tim was 15, Zack turned him on to playing bass and Tim found an outlet in music.
- Commerford was also a huge fan of Cypress Hill and NWA
- While living with his father when young, Tim claimed that he was abused by him.
- Tim is married to his longtime girlfriend, Aleece, an AIDS activist and medical professional.
- His hobbies include mountain biking and rock climbing.
- Has a son, Xavier, who appeared with him in the 2003 Audioslave video, 'Like A Stone'.
- Staged a nude protest on stage with other members of Rage Against The Machine against the PMRC's censorship policies at Lollapalooza in 1992.
- After his infamous climb to the top of the podium at the 2000 MTV VMA's, he went into battle with the 30 security guards who tried to apprehend him, tossing them around the stage like a "popcorn machine".
[edit] Personal quotes
- "You can talk the talk, but walking the walk is when you hand the check down to the grass roots organization."
| Audioslave |
| Chris Cornell | Tom Morello | Tim Commerford | Brad Wilk |
| Discography |
|---|
| Studio albums: Audioslave | Out of Exile | Revelations |
| Live, DVDs, and Compilations: Audioslave | Live in Cuba |
| Singles: "Cochise" | "Like a Stone" | "Show Me How To Live" | "I Am The Highway" | "What You Are" | "Be Yourself" | "Your Time Has Come" | "Doesn't Remind Me" | "Out of Exile" | "Original Fire" | "Revelations" |
| Related articles |
| Rage Against the Machine | Soundgarden | Interscope Records | Epic Records | Axis of Justice |
| Rage Against the Machine |
| Band members |
|---|
| Tim Commerford | Tom Morello | Zack de la Rocha | Brad Wilk |
| Discography |
| Albums: Rage Against the Machine | Evil Empire | Live & Rare | The Battle of Los Angeles | Renegades | Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium |
| Videography |
| Videos and DVDs: Rage Against the Machine | The Battle of Mexico City | Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium |
