This news is a few weeks old now, but I must have been hiding under a rock because I missed it. A media release was posted on Chris Cornell's myspace page announcing that Cornell has quit Audioslave. WOOHOO!

Cornell is permanently departing super-group Audioslave stating, "Due to irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences, I am permanently leaving the band Audioslave. I wish the other three members nothing but the best in all of their future endeavors."

Coinciding with this announcement was the news that Cornell will be releasing a solo album on the 1 May! The album will include the title song from the Casino Royale movie "You know my name", as well as a cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean".

Personally, I'm glad he has ditched Audioslave, as generally, I feel he was wasted in that band. This is the guy that was ranked 12th in MTV's "22 Greatest Voices in Music" survey, ahead of legends such as David Bowie, Steven Tyler and Bruce Springsteen. Hopefully is solo album leaves Audioslave well and truly behind. I guess we'll wait and see.