Chris Cornell Covers Michael Jackson

On his second solo album, 'Carry On,' due June 5, former Audioslave frontman Chris Cornell tackles Michael Jackson's 'Billy Jean.' "It's sort of gospel-y, blues-y," Cornell tells Spinner. "I've done it a couple of times live as well where it's just acoustic and really enjoyed it."

Prior to 'Revelations,' Audioslave's last effort, the singer spoke on multiple occasions about his love of soul, including inspiration from the likes of Sam Cooke and Aretha Franklin. Among the new songs that felt the effect is 'Safe and Sound,' a song he says changed a lot in the recording. "I didn't hear it as an R&B track," he says. "It was sort of, in my head, more moody, melodic, Pink Floyd-ish. I thought it was going to be more psychedelic. And as I was doing the demo at home and started singing it, it came out [R&B]."

Which was just fine with him. "I didn't argue with it," he says laughing.