Tim Commerford , bassist for Rage Against the Machine , has revealed he is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.
The revelation came during an interview with Spin magazine , in which the musician said he received the diagnosis in May of this year, shortly before going on tour with Rage Against the Machine.
The bassist said he had only told his bandmates and girlfriend about his illness. He said he was inspired to make his problems public after seeing a Duran Duran on TV and learning that musician Andy Taylor is also undergoing treatment for the same disease.
“I was with my girlfriend, we were watching the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony on TV. Duran Durante was there and I was just thinking, 'Wow, I knew all those songs when I was little.' I saw them on stage and I was thinking, 'Where's Andy Taylor, why is there another guy there?!' Then I found out, 'Andy Taylor has stage 4 prostate cancer and he didn't make it.'”.
“My life is kind of like that too… A lot of people have [prostate cancer]. A lot of people wonder, ‘Where do I go from here?’ Therapy isn’t enough. You need to talk to people who are going through it. I’ve always been proud of my physique and of taking care of myself. But it’s the kind of thing you either get lucky or you don’t. I hope someone reads this and thinks, ‘Damn, I need to get checked out,’ when they hear about me.”.
Commerford also spoke about the impact of the disease on his mental health: “Whatever happens, I wonder if it’s happening because I have cancer, and prostate cancer is very, very, very difficult because it’s linked to your sexuality. It’s hard to disconnect from that, and when you’re forced into that situation, it’s a brutal psychological journey.”.
New project 7D7D
Earlier this month, Commerford announced a new alternative rock band called 7D7D and released their first single, “Capitalism”.
The new band consists of drummer Mathias Wakrat and guitarist Jonny Polonsky . Tim had previously worked with Mathias in the band Wakrat and with Jonny in Big Nose . The latter band also included his Rage Against the Machine colleague, Brad Milk .
“Capitalism” begins with a more energetic rhythm, with Wakrat's drums. Soon after, tension builds with Polonsky's guitars. And finally, Commerford's bass and vocals emerge. Although it seems positive at first, the lyrics contradict the energy of the music. The track speaks about social inequalities, as can also be seen in the interspersed images of the music video, which can be watched at the end of this article.
Listen to the song:
