Tim Commerford of Rage Against the Machine

Tim Commerford was born in 1968 to a an aerospace engineer father and a mathematican mother. His dad worked on NASA's space shuttles. Tim is the youngest of 5 children. He grew up in Orange County, California.While attending grade school in his hometown, Irvine, Tim met Zach de la Rocha. Tragically, Tim's mother was diagnosed with cancer when he was a small child. His father divorced her while she was ill and she was compelled to live with Tim's sister in Sacremento. His father then remarried, leaving the family in tatters. Tim lived with his father and has said that he was abused as a child. When Tim was 15, Zach turned him on to playing bass and Tim found an outlet in music. A huge hip hop fan and jazz fan, Tim counted Cypress Hill and NWA among his early influences. When Zach crossed paths with Harvard educated guitar virtuoso Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk, the quartet formed the legendary rap metal outfit, Rage Against The Machine. With their in-your-face politics and bombastic songs, RATM enjoyed and successful career. Commerford established himself as a tour de force and won the respect of his peers. His innovative cross-genre style placed him in a league of his own. The group released 4 studio albums (Rage Against The Machine, Evil Empire, The Battle of Los Angeles and Renegades) and earned two Grammy awards before disbanding in 2000 when Zach left the band to pursue a solo career. At Rick Rubin's suggestion the remaining members of RATM jammed with former Soundgarden frontman and soloist Chris Cornell. The result was so explosive that they decided to form a new band, Audioslave, and released their debut album in November of 2002. Though Audioslave has been dubbed "the supergroup of the millenium", they see themselves more as a "garage band". Audioslave are enjoying a solid platinum status and a 13 week reign at the top spot on Billboard's Rock chart. With his success in both Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave, Tim is proof positive that lightening does strike twice. Tim is married to his longtime girlfriend, Aleece, an AIDS activist and medical professional. The couple have a son, Xavier.

Spouse
Aleece Dimas (2001 - present) 1 child

Trade Mark

Has a black ink tattoo that covers 65% of his body and includes 2 swirls on his posterior.

Fender bass guitars

Trivia

Has won two Grammies and is considered one of the tightest bass players around.

Writes poetry, draws and plays upright bass in his spare time.

His hobbies include mountain biking and rock climbing.

Is also known as Simmering Tim, Timmy C, YtimK and Tim Bob.

Has a son, Xavier, who appeared with him in the 2003 Audioslave video, 'Like A Stone'.

Plays bass guitar in Audioslave with former Soungarden frontman Chris Cornell and former Rage Against The Machine members Brad Wilk and Tom Morello.

Staged a nude protest on stage with other members of Rage Against The Machine against the PMRC's censorship policies at Lollapalooza in 1992

A huge football fan, Tim enjoys playing flag football and during his RATM years spent many hiati at football camp

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".

His warlord ancestor, Fulco de Comerforte, hailed from Normandy, France but settled in Ireland during the Norman invasion in 1169.

His warlord ancestor, Fulco de Commerforte, hailed from Normandy, France but settled in Ireland during the Norman invasion in 1169.

When "Rage Against The Machine" lost the MTV award for best music video in 2001, he infamously climbed up and wrecked the stage.

Lives in Malibu, California.

Is a Vegan and cycling enthusiast.

Personal Quotes

You can talk the talk, but walking the walk is when you hand the check down to the grass roots organization.