Chris Cornell – Performing with Soundgarden at Carolina Rebellion – May 5, 2017 (photo courtesy of Robert Forte)Rock music legend Chris Cornell passed away at the age of 52 last night several hours after Soundgarden’s performance at the Fox Theater in Detroit, Michigan.
According to the band’s publicist, Brian Bumbery of BB Gun Press, the lead singer’s passing was both “sudden” and “unexpected” and came as shock to Cornell’s wife and family.
Cornell originally rose to prominence in the mid-1980’s as the front man for one of the most transcendent bands to emerge from the depths of Seattle’s grunge movement Soundgarden.
Alongside guitarist Kim Thayil, drummer Matt Cameron and original bassist Hiro Yamamoto, who was later replaced by Ben Shepherd, Cornell and Soundgarden would go on to achieve internationally super stardom buoyed by several multi-platinum albums as well as Grammy Awards for their hits “Black Hole Sun” and “Spoonman.”
Soundgarden originally disbanded in 1997 due to ongoing turmoil within the band, however, the quintet mended fences and regrouped with one another in 2012, ultimately releasing what is to date, their final studio recording, King Animal.
Prior to Soundgarden becoming a house hold name Cornell formed one of the most revered rock super groups in music history, Temple of the Dog.
The band was formed in the wake of the death of close friend and Mother Love Bone vocalist Andy Wood. Temple of the Dog featured Cornell, Soundgarden drummer Cameron, as well as Pearl Jam members Mike McCready, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament.
Cornell began his solo career with the release of the critically well received Euphoria Mourning in 1999 and he’d go on to release four additional solo albums with 2015’s “Higher Truth” being his most recent effort.
In 2001 Cornell would go on to form yet another super group, Audioslave, which was essentially a collaboration between Cornell and rap-rock group Rage Against the Machine.
Audioslave released three full length albums and were the recipient of three Grammy nominations before Cornell permanently left the band in 2007 citing “irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences.”
The cause of Cornell’s death at this time remains unknown, however, the Detroit Police Department is currently investigating it as a possible suicide.
Cornell never kept it a secret that he battled personal substance abuse and depression issues for many years. Whether or not those issues played any role in his untimely death remains unclear.
The front-man went through rehab back in 2003 openly talking about his overcoming “the drudgery and depression” admitting once, “you have to want to not do that crap anymore or will never stop and it will just kill you.”
Cornell later in life would become an advocate for vulnerable children, forming The Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation in 2012 that worked alongside other organizations to help raise awareness and support for those facing homelessness, poverty, abuse and neglect.
On many occasions Cornell referenced his marriage to second wife, Vicky and their three children, daughters Toni and Lillian as well as his son Christopher, as the driving forces behind his quest to win his battle against any and all of his personal demons.
There is a lyric in the Soundgarden classic, “Black Hole Sun” that goes, “No one sings like you anymore.”
The sun may have set on Cornell’s life but it goes without question that his music and his influence as an artist will continue to shine brighter than any star we can look up into the sky to gaze upon.
No one sings like you anymore Chris, no one. God Speed.
