October 16, 2017
Maryam Khoshaba Rich
This has been one of the hardest losses of life I’ve had to deal with, the first was losing my mom in Jan of 2000 and I was only 18 years old. I may have not known Chris personally but his music touched my heart and soul and I am truly so sad that he is gone. I know there’s nothing I can say to you Vicky and your beautiful babies to make it any better. I have struggled and will never get over losing my mother, that pain just doesn’t go away no matter how many years have gone by. Also to be diagnosed with the same rare heart condition she had when I was 27 was just more tragedy to deal with. I have 2 daughters to live for and take care of and Vicky I just wanted to send my love to you and your family and to keep hanging on. I couldn’t even imagine losing my husband and I would be lost without him here. I will pray for you and your family each day I am alive and Chris will never be forgotten. I loved his music and will listen to it always. It’s just so hard to listen without me breaking down and cry. He will be in all our hearts forever! May he rest in peace!
Maryam
Wes Bourne
Dear Chris
I can’t express anymore what so many others already have. But I will say you are my friend that I never met. I miss you more and more everyday. I can only imagine how Vicky and your children miss you. You will live on forever in heart. Here is my favorite photo I took of you at The Borgata a few years ago….I’m forever grateful to have shared this Earth with you. The rest I will keep to myself.
All my love to you, Vicky and your children. Peace…
Wes
October 6, 2017
Fantastic Negrito
The Impact of Chris Cornell
When I first met Chris he said to me, “Man I saw you on Youtube, you were playing in the street, and I just stayed up all night watching your stuff.” Someone had sent him a link to Fantastic Negrito. Mutual parties connected us and my name surfaced as a potential tour opener on his “Higher Truth” tour. I was kind of hoping I would not get the gig because I thought I was too roots, blues and edgy to be paired with the Rock God, Chris Cornell. But credit to him, he thought if you listen to Soundgarden and strip it down, you can find roots music there too. He had the vision and just knew. He was right.
The first time I opened for Chris was in Oslo. I was nervous because people were sitting down. After my set, I went to the side of the stage and watched Chris. His body language taught me there was a way to do it, and then I realized I could do it. I can to play to people sitting down now because of Chris. He was my teacher in many ways. He was also my biggest supporter. The biggest lesson Chris Cornell taught me was that no matter what position you are in, being a loving, giving person was most important. Aside from him being one of the best vocalists rock music has ever had he was such a loving and giving person. He didn’t act like some big star. He’d come knock on my door each night and see how I was doing. I started calling him Christmas Cornell. Every time he would call me it would be something amazing. We went to Europe, I thanked him and told him how special it was. Then he’d call me and ask if I wanted to come open on the American run. After the third time, when he called to open for Temple of the Dog, I immediately thought?—“Christmas Cornell”. I’m the only band that only opened for Temple of the Dog, it’s unbelievable and it was such an amazing experience. He’d always say, “you’re a force.” He had a heart of gold. I would go to shake his hand and he would hug me.
Fantastic Negrito
from Artist Waves
Jewel
I was eight. My brother who was a teenager was watching the music video to “Black Hole Sun” and I liked it because in my mind it looked like a cartoon to me.
I didn’t really listen to Chris’ music until I was in high school and Audioslave was at the height of its popularity. I was hooked. Here was this gorgeous man whose voice was like an angel, a warrior screaming in the middle of the night, life and death. He wrote like an Irish poet. He could capture the darkness in a way that was prophetic, elegant and so far beyond what I could process. That’s what made him great. That’s what made him sad.
I’m currently going through deep personal heartache and his music brings me a new wave of comfort and pain, in a way that it didn’t before. His death now adds a layer of I don’t know…something not of this world.
When I listen to my favorite song of Chris’ “I am the Highway” the beginning chords sound like what one’s spirit when it goes on from the physical life to the afterlife. I can’t put it into words, maybe it shouldn’t be put into words because its too powerful to articulate.
Thank you for your music Chris. It means so much to me.
Love you Chris and love to your family. XoXo
Jewel
Krista DiPaolo
Vicky, if I was granted a wish that would give Chris back to you and your family but would mean no more music, I’d take the wish! I can’t imagine how you are feeling. I didn’t know Chris personally but his music means so much to me. I still feel so very sad about his passing. Please know so many of us care and are rooting for you and your family. Much love to you now and always!
Krista
Ward Halford
I bought Higher Truth just a few weeks before Mom was in town from Seattle visiting us here in Denver on Christmas…her health was not good and our family ‘knew’ this was going to be her last Christmas.
(Some background – she had lived in London and was married for about 20 years, and after losing her husband she moved back to Seattle about 4 years prior to this, so I didn’t see her much of that period)
I’d been playing the Higher Truth tons, and when driving Mom to her appointments she’d start swaying and moving her arms to the music. She liked the acoustic guitar most, but I don’t think she recognized his voice; I know she heard of Soundgarden but I had to explain to her who Chris was. It was great for her to enjoy this music with me as we didn’t have very many bands in common at all 🙂 Higher Truth has so much meaning to me now, in so many amazing and beautiful songs. It’s tough not to call that his best work. That music is Chris – honest, deep, beautiful, and of course that voice.
It was tough getting through Higher Truth since she passed, which was a year ago Monday, the date of the Eclipse coincidentally. Also coincidentally, Chris’ passing May 18 is the same date as Mt. St. Helens eruption 1980 which I remember well…growing up in Seattle I lived in Lynnwood and we heard the eruption. These days, dates, what I was doing, are now embedded.
Growing up in Seattle, I graduated high school in 1985; so that was a few years before ‘grunge’ was starting to make some noise. I really didn’t like much of that music but I did like Pearl Jam, and then I heard Temple of the Dog and this is when I started discovering Chris. The greatest Soundgarden music came soon after, and that was everything!! At work, driving around the city, Soundgarden was IT! Then when they disbanded – came unexpected to me – and I felt that was sort of it; I had soon after moved to Denver, and to that point had never seen Soundgarden perform live.
Then there was Audioslave. I really connected to this music; lots of meaning within lots of songs, some tough times, some good for me, but I loved all three CD’s from start to finish. But I never saw them perform live either.
I did start picking up Chris’ solo CD’s, and really do love his solo work best, now older and looking back…but Scream really brought my attention. That voice, and really amazing songwriting…
And…FINALLY I got to see Chris live on the Scream tour, I want to say February 2010, it was at the Paramount Theater Denver. I was completely blown away. His long arms out wide welcoming everyone right from the start, I want to say he was just wearing a white tee and jeans. He made that connection from the moment he stepped onto that stage and kept it through the entire show. I’ve seen a lot of shows in my almost 50 years, and this one stands near the top.
And then Soundgarden of course comes back and tours, and this again stands near the top for me – Red Rocks! They sounded better than I imagined. It was SO loud, but not too loud – it’s Red Rocks (this was the first show I saw there in the 20+ years being in Denver) – it was amazing. Chris sounded great. That voice, and ripping guitar – unforgettable. I also did catch the King Animal tour in north Denver which also was amazing – it was great hearing the new music. The photo attached is from that show, summer of 2013 I believe.
So I think I started following Chris on Facebook around the time Scream released. It did seem like Chris tried to stay somewhat private, but sometimes seeing pictures of your family – I’m sure I saw Lili, Toni, Chris, of course yourself Vicky. He brought us (fans) in just a bit to his personal life, and then he kept that connection going. I always looked in, waiting to hear of whats coming next musically, but really enjoyed seeing him happy with his family. To Toni, what an amazing performance we saw a few weeks back. Beautiful.
I can’t even imagine how hard it must have been for him to be away on tour and trying to balance family. I only work a regular work week and have a hard enough time. The morning of May 18 I was downstairs, girlfriend upstairs, just waking up. I heard her saying something about Soundgarden and a death. Right away I knew it was Chris, I don’t know why. But I opened my phone to see the story and tears poured out. I knew about his past, I have one too, life things aren’t always easy. And my first thought was all those photos with all of you, his family, and – I was just devastated – and knowing how heartbroken you all must have been. It was heartbreaking for me, just a fan. Unimaginable.
I wish all of you many prayers in your healing. It doesn’t come quick and the pain never disappears. I hope you all remember the love and amazing things Chris brought you in his life, especially during your tough times. Next trip to SoCal I will be visiting the site.
So many thanks for all the stories, tributes and memories that you all have shared on FB; but especially thank you for allowing us, his fans, to share here and learn more about Chris, and bring our stories to you.
He is a voice of a generation – my generation. I’ll never forget.
-Ward Halford
September 28, 2017
Juliana Moreira Leite
I took this picture in 1999. Kelly (one of my best friends) and I stood in line outside Tower Records for 6 hours to be up front (see, we were 90s grunge kids…). The first song he sang was Sunshower. His voice was so powerful. He was so beautiful inside&out. Chris, I know all your graces someday will flower in a sweet sunshower. Thank you, man.
Juliana
Stanton Payne
Vicky and family,
Thank you so much for sharing Chris Cornell with the world through his music, philanthropy, humanitarianism and legacy. As I was growing up, he has been a huge inspiration to me lyrically because many of his songs from Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, Audioslave and his solo works relate to what I experience through my life up to this present day. I grew up in a small college town in Vermont where we have college radio stations and independently owned commercial radio stations nearby. I discovered Soundgarden in circa fall 1989/winter 1990 mostly by listening to college radio stations. I recall hanging out at one of my local college radio station, WRMC which is at Middlebury College because it was a few floors above the food service where my dad worked. The DJ’s were nice enough to let me hang out with them and give me a few promo cassettes and CD’s they no longer needed. They had early Soundgarden on vinyl in their archives including the promo for Louder Than Live. Since I only had Louder Than Love on cassette at the time, the DJ’s let me tape the Fopp EP, Ultramega O.K., Flower EP and Louder Than Live onto my blank cassette for my own personal use. Unfortunately, I somehow lost that radio recording of Louder Than Live and I was so disappointed. WRMC have also helped me broaden my musical horizon as I was getting into decent bands and artists.
All through my high school and college years, I have been constantly been listening to mostly college radio and independently owned radio stations because they have better playlists. I have always been collecting cassettes, CD’s and vinyl. I now have every releases spanning Chris Cornell’s entire career on almost every available format. I have only attended very few concerts because many major ones are too far away from home. I have had several missed opportunities of seeing Soundgarden and Audioslave in concert.
The only time I got to see Chris Cornell in concert was during the second leg of the Songbook tour in 2011. I recall begging on Twitter for Chris to come to Burlington, Vermont because the Flynn Center for Performing Arts was a perfect venue for a solo acoustic show. I was stoked when Chris Cornell added the Burlington, Vermont date to the tour. I immediately purchased presale tickets to that show. I scored seats in the third row. My girlfriend and I had goosebumps during the show which was phenomenal. Chris shared several stories and hilarious jokes in between songs. He had a wicked sense of humor. If I recall correctly, Chris really loved his fans in Vermont and during the encore, it was like he didn’t want to leave. Sadly, that was the last major concert I attended and the only time I got to see Chris. Chis is like a “brother” to me because of his lyrical inspiration in my life. I love him and miss him very much. I promise to keep his legacy alive by sharing his music with the younger generation and future generations to come.
Again, thank you so much for sharing Chris Cornell with the world. I wish you and your family nothing but the best.
Best Regards,
Stanton Payne
Tricia Cortez
I still listen to your songs, all of them, and even now, in the moment I hear them, I find myself in awe of the words and your voice… the haunting melodies… the amazing high pitch screams… the delicious deep tones… just the sound of you… the sound that when I hear it I have no doubt who it is coming from. I can still get those strong sometimes emotional feelings as if I’m hearing the song for the very first time. This. This is part of the reason why I will forever love you CC. Your music is embedded in my soul. The sound of your voice is embedded in my soul. I can’t say that about many other artists. I love and enjoy all kinds of music. But… this is soul connections. Somehow I feel connected to you. You were so beautiful and I know you’re even more beautiful now if that’s even possible. I didn’t know you personally but your music and your voice are some of my best friends. Thank you for that. Thank you for being you. Always in my heart.
As a side note… I lost my brother just recently to depression and alcoholism. He told me all the time how much he loved you and your music. I think I could probably say that what I just wrote was also coming from him. He’s with you now on the other side. Somehow I find that comforting. He adored you.
Tricia
