Show Me How to Live

On *Show Me How to Live*, Audioslave explored distinctive sonic textures that helped define their sound. Tom Morello’s guitar, for example, features a very distinctive phasing and fluttering effect, achieved by using the tremolo picking technique on the highest-pitched string, combining his Dunlop Cry Baby pedal with a ring modulator. For his part, Chris Cornell brought an unusual vocal tone, repeatedly slapping his throat with the palm of his hand while modulating his pitch, all set against powerful guitar and drum riffs at a tempo of around 90 BPM. The band found inspiration for the lyrics in Mary Shelley’s novel *Frankenstein*, reflecting that influence in phrases like “nail in my head,” which can be heard in the chorus. This focus on organic sounds was a hallmark of the band, as the members took pride in not using samples in their recordings, relying solely on the sounds of their instruments and voices.

The song’s music video draws on scenes from the 1971 film *Vanishing Point*, in which a white 1970 Dodge Challenger takes center stage in car chases between Denver and San Francisco. The video synchronizes clips of a radio DJ—played by Cleavon Little—dancing and singing 1970s music with the Audioslave song. Other parts were recreated with the band members, with Cornell behind the wheel of the car and the group performing for a small audience in the Nevada desert. The video was filmed in Los Angeles, California, produced by Allan Wachs and directed by AV Club. “Show Me How to Live” was the third single from the band’s self-titled debut album, *Audioslave*, released in 2003, although the album had come out in late 2002. The song, written by Brad Wilk, Chris Cornell, Tim Commerford, and Tom Morello, and produced by Rick Rubin, reached No. 2 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and No. 4 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Audioslave formed in Los Angeles, California, in 2001, bringing together Chris Cornell, formerly of Soundgarden, and the musicians from Rage Against the Machine: Tom Morello, Tim Commerford, and Brad Wilk. It was Rick Rubin who suggested Cornell as the lead singer, highlighting his talent with Soundgarden’s song “Slaves & Bulldozers.”