SONiC Remembers Chris Cornell

On May 18, 2017 Chris Cornell performed with his band Soundgarden one final time before returning to his hotel room and taking his own life. He was 52.

In the years that has past, many questions have been raised surrounding his death. An autopsy report found both prescribed and not prescribed drugs in his system at the time of his death. Cornell is remembered by his wife and two children.

Cornell’s music career began in 1984 when he formed Soundgarden with guitarist Kim Thayill and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. They found their first taste of success in 1988 when MTV began playing the video of their single ‘Flower’.

In 1991 Cornell formed Temple of the Dog with future members of Pearl Jam. The band’s only album is regarded as a seminal moment in the grunge movement.

By 1994, Soundgarden broke into the mainstream. They released Superunknown, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts and went five times platinum. It won two Grammys for Hard Rock Song (Black Hole Sun) and for Heavy Metal Song (Spoonman).

Following the release of Superunknown, internal band conflict erupted resulting in a break up that lasted until 2010. Cornell then formed the supergroup Audioslave with Rage Against the Machine members Tom Morello, Brad Wilk and Tim Commerford.

After three Audioslave albums, Cornell left to pursue a solo career. In 2006 he released ‘You Know My Name’, the theme for the James Bond movie Casino Royale. The single won several awards and received a Grammy nomination.

On May 18, 2017, Cornell performed for the last time with Soundgarden before returning to his hotel room and taking his own life. Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Cage the Elephant, Chester Bennington and more paid tribute to Cornell following his death. He was laid to rest at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. His wife, Vicki Cornell, established a non-profit foundation, the Chris Cornell Music Therapy Program, in Seattle to help children and their families overcome the effects of trauma through music.

In 2018, a commemorative statue honouring Cornell was placed outside the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle.

Listen to SONiC Remembers Chris Cornell below.