On Black Friday final month, Rage In opposition to the Machine bassist Tim Commerford unveiled his newest aspect venture, 7D7D, with the trio’s first single “Capitalism.” The music’s upbeat music offers the proper paradox to the anti-capitalist message on the coronary heart of its lyrics. “I wish to make music that isn’t political, however I simply can’t,” he tells me. “I don’t know why, however I simply can’t.”
The often stoic Commerford beams about how totally different the band’s music is in comparison with something he’s performed beforehand, with its bizarre time signatures and complicated instrumentation, together with the usage of harp and saxophone (“I believe the guitar goes the way in which of the saxophone in the way in which that it’s not going to be the principle instrument in a band anymore,” he says).
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Along with working with 7D7D, which additionally consists of his longtime buddies Jonny Polonsky and Mathias Wakrat and is signed to Ben Harper’s Mad Bunny label, Commerford spent his summer season on the street with Rage In opposition to the Machine for the primary time in 11 years. The long-delayed tour dazzled followers throughout North America, proving that the band’s songs imply simply as a lot as when initially launched practically three a long time in the past. The Rage tour practically fell aside after just some days, when singer Zack de la Rocha tore his Achilles tendon throughout a present in Chicago. De la Rocha completed the itinerary by performing whereas seated, however what the general public didn’t know was that Commerford was additionally battling a major problem of his personal.
“I’ve been coping with some fairly critical sh**,” Commerford tells me. “Proper earlier than I used to be about to go on tour with Rage, I had my prostate eliminated, and I’ve prostate most cancers.” With the assist of his girlfriend and two sons, the 54-year-old musician, who’s the embodiment of a chiseled rock star, instantly confronted the hardest battle of his life.
“I’ve been somebody that’s taken a variety of pleasure in being in form and caring for myself,” he says. “But it surely’s one thing the place both you’re both fortunate or not.”
Earlier than our dialog, the one individuals who knew of Commerford’s situation have been his household, bandmates and a tight-knit circle of shut buddies.
Along with his most cancers, the musician mentioned his pleasure about launching 7D7D, touring with Rage and remaining optimistic.
SPIN: How have you ever saved a constructive outlook?
Tim Commerford: You could find your self in a state of affairs like I’m in the place it’s like, fuck, my complete life modified. With every little thing that occurs to me now, I’m wondering, am I feeling this fashion as a result of I’ve most cancers? Am I shedding my hair as a result of I’ve most cancers? No matter it’s, it makes me marvel if it’s taking place as a result of I’ve most cancers. And prostate most cancers is a really, very, very robust one as a result of it’s linked to your sexuality. It’s onerous to disconnect from that and while you’re compelled into that state of affairs, it’s a brutal psychological journey. I’ve been looking for assist teams, and it’s onerous to search out individuals and onerous to speak about it. The struggling a part of it, the bodily struggling after the surgical procedure, I’ve by no means felt ache fairly like that. I’ve metallic plates in my head and cadaver elements in my physique. I’ve performed a variety of injury via sports activities and mountain biking and this form of factor and I’ve at all times felt like I had a very excessive tolerance for ache, and that sh** introduced me to my knees. After the ache went away, I nonetheless haven’t actually been capable of stand up, regardless that I’m understanding and doing sh**, however psychologically, the injury is extreme. It’s very onerous for me to not break down and get emotional.
It’s brave of you to share your story.
Thanks. I wasn’t planning on going right here with you till final evening. I’ve been struggling and it’s onerous. It may not sound like a lot, however to get via a dialog and never choke up and get emotional is a win for me. It’s just a little victory. However then over the past 24 hours, I’ve been serious about it extra, and a bizarre factor occurred. I used to be with my girlfriend and we have been watching the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame ceremony on TV. Duran Duran was on and I used to be like, ‘Ah, fuck, I used to be taught these songs once I was a child. I noticed them on stage and questioned, the place’s Andy Taylor and why have they got this different man in right here?! Then it was like, ‘Andy Taylor is affected by stage 4 prostate most cancers and is unable to make it.’ My life is form of like that. There are lots of people who’ve it. There are lots of people who’re like, ‘The place do you go?’ You’ll be able to’t discuss to a therapist. You’ll be able to solely actually discuss to somebody who’s going via it.
I simply bought my six-month check, and it got here again at zero. I used to be like, ‘Fuck yeah!’ That’s one of the best I can really feel for the remainder of my life. Each day I get nearer to that check is like, ‘Fuck man, is that this going to be the time when the quantity goes to go up and I’m going to the following factor, no matter that’s?’ I already went via some ache and sh**. And I’m persevering with to undergo like, some loopy sh**.
How did you discover out you have been sick?
I went to get life insurance coverage however my PSA numbers have been up. I couldn’t get it. They wouldn’t insure me. At first, the quantity was very low — like one-point-something. I watched it over the course of a 12 months and a half, and it saved elevating additional. Ultimately, they did a biopsy and came upon I had most cancers, so that they took my prostate out. I had been considering, properly, as a result of they’re watching it and let it get up to now, possibly it’s not that large of a deal. I blame myself. I ought to have mentioned, ‘my numbers are elevated and what does that basically imply?’ I ought to have taken it extra significantly. I ought to have appeared into alternate remedy as a substitute of getting sucked into probably the most disgusting, capitalistic machine on the face of the planet: the medical institution.
Now I’m within the state of affairs that I’m in, which is, maintain your breath for six months. It’s not an excellent one and never one which I’m comfortable about. I’m simply making an attempt to seize ahold of the reins. It’s gonna be a protracted journey, I hope. My dad died in his early 70s from most cancers and my mother died from most cancers in her 40s. Cut up the distinction to 65 and I’ve bought 10 years. I’m making an attempt to get to the 100-song mark — I’ve some targets now. Songwriting has grow to be a catharsis for me. Again to the unique query, how do I discover the time? That’s all I’ve bought, is time
How have been you capable of exit and play arenas with Rage this summer season?
Two months earlier than the tour, I had surgical procedure and my docs mentioned I wasn’t going to be prepared. That was brutal. I’d be on stage taking a look at my amp in tears. You then simply sort of flip round and suck it up. Due to Zack’s damage, we had deliberate these little video interstitials that got here in between blocks of songs. We have been meant to go on stage, play some songs, go off stage, and on to the interstitials for a couple of minutes. It was seamless. Then he bought harm and we couldn’t go away the stage. So throughout the interstitials, we’re simply sitting there. That was surreal. I’d typically sit down and attempt to not take into consideration sure issues. It was bizarre. I saved it to myself all through the touring we did and it was brutal.
Did your bandmates know?
Yeah.
Primarily based on the movies from these exhibits, the performances, and the critiques, nobody would ever have suspected something was fallacious.
That’s the way in which it went down. You’ll be able to nonetheless be in nice form. After I bought my bodily, my physician mentioned I used to be in one of the best form of any 50-year-old he’d ever seen there. There’s loads of individuals which are in nice form which have most cancers. And I’m hoping to proceed so long as I might be that. I work out religiously, and I attempt my hardest to remain in form. I’m nonetheless very happy with who I’m. After I first bought identified, it fucked with me on that stage. However now I’m beginning to really feel this stage of, ‘I’m going to be the fittest motherfucker with most cancers that’s 54 that you simply’ve ever fucking seen in your life.’
That’s one of the best and solely manner to have a look at it.
Simply attempt to see how good I can do in opposition to that adversary, ? The darkish passenger. It’s robust, man, however I’ve a terrific assist system. I’m buddies with Lance Armstrong, and he gave me some nice recommendation that in all probability goes to increase my life.
The glass is half-full. That’s the fantastic thing about songwriting and bass enjoying. When my mother was sick, that’s once I realized the way to play bass. After I was on stage with Rage, there have been instances that I wasn’t serious about most cancers for moments. After I play in 7D7D with Mathias within the studio, I don’t care what we’re doing. I’m going right into a trance, and I simply fully overlook about it. And it’s so stunning. After I get up within the morning, it’s like, ‘Oh, it’s a brand new day. Dope!’ Then it’s like, ‘Oh fuck, I’ve most cancers’ and you’ll’t cease it. It places a darkish cloud on the day. After I go jam with Mathias, I simply tune out and it feels so good. Music has at all times been there within the hardest of instances.
It’s simple to inform with the vitality of the primary singles.
I bought performed into the fucking greatest offender on planet Earth. You’ll be able to have a look at a rustic of Individuals the place lots of people don’t have insurance coverage. After which you may try a number of the billionaires. And to me, that’s it. It’s not a joke. It makes me very, very, very indignant. I really feel offended by it on a excessive stage.
However what made the Rage tour so pressing was the charity aspect the band established. Few bands are as open about the place its charitable donations go.
It was a phenomenal factor. There are a variety of issues that occurred on that tour that have been wonderful. That display … earlier than we went on that tour, I used to be considering, ‘Fuck that display. Let’s simply play with a fucking backdrop.’ Then Zack bought harm and it turned a really useful gizmo. In Canada, it mentioned how indigenous ladies usually tend to be raped than different ladies. We had the information and figures up on the stage. It was a strong instrument.
How did 7D7D spark that artistic fireplace in you?
I wrote a file’s price of fabric. Mathias and I needed to write down 10 songs. Mathias’ neighbor is Ben Harper and he bought into it. That really was empowering, as a result of right here’s a man that comes from a special style, however one which I nonetheless respect, and he likes it. It was like, ‘Cool! Not everybody goes to hate it.’ Possibly I’ll be capable to play golf equipment someday. I simply need to have the ability to get to love a spot in my life the place I can go play golf equipment and folks would possibly come to the membership to see us play.
What number of songs do you have got prepared?
We haven’t hit 20, however we’re shut. I’m going to get Logic and discover ways to use it. Then simply get 100 songs performed. I wish to be like, ‘Fuck yeah, I wrote 100 songs.’ I simply go in [to record] with nothing and get impressed by Mathias’ weird-ass drumming and construct on the spot. Like, we needs to be leaving right here with a music that’s performed. Tom Morello is the king of that. Once we bought along with Rage to write down our demo tape [in 1992], we have been like, ‘Fuck that. We’re making a file.’
Primarily based on every little thing you’re going via, it looks like this razor-sharp focus is providing you with a constructive sense of goal.
It feels that manner. The whole lot occurs for a motive, and that’s what I at all times inform myself. That’s what lots of people say, however I actually imagine that. It’s been onerous for me to think about most cancers and getting something good out of it. However there’s this little gentle on the finish of the tunnel that I’m seeing proper now the place I really feel like I can get some actually strong goodness from it in different areas. I hope there’s one one who reads this and is like, ‘Fuck, I have to get checked out’ after they discover out about it. It’s going to be OK as a result of they came upon about it, and for me, that’s ok.
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