Christmas day 2002. I was a teenager who had grown bored of the family gathering and had disappeared to my room and logged onto messenger. I would have a conversation that would literally change my life. My schoolfriend told me about a CD he had received that he thought was right up my street.

Audioslave’s debut album.

The following day I used some of the money I received from family members and bought the album. I was blown away by the vocalist and within a few weeks I had amassed the entire back catalogue of this amazing voice.

Chris Cornell.

In the 15 years that have followed he became my musical icon.

I was lucky enough to see him live 5 times. Twice with Audioslave in 2005, a solo show in 2007 and 2 further occasions on the Songbook tours in 2012 and just last year.

He always put on an incredible show.

Over the last 7 years I have been working on a large scale tattoo including the covers of albums that remind me of specific times in my life. Audioslave (when I met the girl who would become my wife) and Badmotorfinger (an album I “rediscovered” in the lead up to our wedding day) adorn my arm already and Higher Truth is my next planned addition to mark the birth of my second son.

I will cherish the music he has gifted the world and my children will be brought up on it.

Goodbye Chris, my hero.

Kevin. Glasgow, Scotland