September 22, 2017
Kevin
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
Paula Hadden
I am one of Chris Cornell’s oldest fans at age 68. I dearly love his music and the person that I believe he was. His presence touched too many people to ever count with all the talent, love and caring for all people that he showed us. My heart goes out to his family. Thank you Vicky, for sharing your love for this fine man with the world. It means so much that you thank us for our love for your dear husband. God bless you all.
Paula
Joe Adame
First of all, I want to give my sincerest condolences to the family. My heart is with all of you. I have had many musical heroes in my life. Chris Cornell was one of them. He is perhaps the only singer/songwriter this guitar head ever really connected with.
It all started with my Mom’s collection of Beatles movies and old records. I used to listen to the Beatle Years with J.J. Jackson on Sunday mornings on our classic rock station when I was only 7 years old. (I remember Chris saying that John Lennon was like a father to him in the Live in Cuba documentary.) Later on, most of my musical heroes were masters of the guitar; particularly the Stratocaster. Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, John Frusciante, and many others inspired me and made me beg my mom for a guitar for years before I actually got one.
I think I always had depression but it was more noticeable in my early teens and onward. It wasn’t just angst and teenage hormones. I dove into music in order to save myself but none of the lyrics really resonated with me because it was mainly blues and songs fueled by drugs and other things I didn’t quite understand. Haha!! To this day, I still have depression and recently problems with anxiety. I have taken Prozac and Xanax for a while now.
During my freshman year of high school, I was casually listening to the radio on my way to school then this helicopter sound grew louder and louder. I realized it was the radio and the helicopter sound was actually Tom Morello tapping on his strings with a pencil and a delay effect. I turned it up and immediately heard a voice that shook me to my core. It was the song “Cochise.” In that moment I felt some kind of primal urge that I wanted to rock out to. I felt this deep connection with everything in the song; especially the 10 second long scream near the end. A few weeks later I bought the album and became a huge fan. This time it wasn’t the guitar that drew me in, it was the lyrics and melody. Despite my love for Tom Morello I could care less at the time who was playing guitar. That was the first time that ever happened to me. In adolescence you begin to understand different themes in life and Chris Cornell was the one who gave me my first guided tour. I connected with the album because of my depression but also my grandparents’ failing health. I would get comfort from songs like “Like a Stone, What You Are, and I Am the Highway.” “Like a Stone” always reminded me of my grandfather because he was such a loner and kept his emotional cards close to his chest, a lot like his grandson.
I listened to the album religiously and as soon as Out of Exile came out I went out and bought it with whatever little money I had. (I remember my mom yelling at me on the phone because I spent my money on music instead of whatever the hell I was supposed to spend it on. Fun times!) I was a junior in high school by then. I had to buy at least three other copies of that CD and two copies of the “Live in Cuba” DVD because I scratched the disks so bad from so much use they were unreadable. I think I watched the documentary from “Live in Cuba” more than the actual concert. I was fascinated with Havana. I loved that I got to see it trough their eyes. They are the reason I want to go to Cuba and explore it for myself.
My grandmother died in January of 2007 during my freshman year of college. I was devastated because my grandparents raised me along with my mother. I was extremely close to them. I found solace in Chris’s voice and lyrics. Not only from my Audioslave albums but from Soundgarden and Temple of the Dog albums as well. As I grew older I began to understand the lyrics more and it was as if he had written those songs for me as a way to express myself when I couldn’t find the words. He was my champion in that regard. Because of Chris I began working on songwriting and not just guitar playing. I love the way he would use the Sun as a central theme, for example. I felt less alone in the world and more understood throughout the years not because I talked to parents, or teachers, or friends but because of Chris. His words are what I turned to a few years later when my grandfather died and more recently as it has been hard to find a suitable career.
I was in disbelief when I woke up to the news back in May. Then that disbelief turned to sorrow. It was like in his songs when the pain would block out the sun. I feel in these troubled times we need a champion like Chris more than ever. But I take solace in the fact that wherever he’s at, he’s at peace. His beautiful spirit will live on forever in the hearts and minds that loved him. I never met him or knew him but I have a feeling he knew me. His songs were like stories of my life. Stories that I didn’t have the words for.
Thank you for everything, Chris. May you rest in peace.
Joe Adame
Jc Lopez
I met Chris Cornell in Miami , Florida on my birthday 10/29/2015. I was able to chat with him for about 15 minutes at the meet and greet. He was the sweetest most gentle artist I ever met and I have met quite a few. CC’s music has helped me get over low moments in my life, breakups, depression, etc. We chatted about music and his foundation with Vicky which he was very passionate about. I was trying to remain calm and avoid acting like a fan boy in front of him, but I was able to tell him that my Favorite song was “Blow up the outside world” due to its lyrical content which I was able to relate with.
I was so overwhelmed with him signing my memorabilia and taking pics that I forgot to tell him that it was my birthday. Needless to say it was already one of my best memorable birthdays ever, but it would only get better. The show began and everyone at the venue was in awe and admiration, the crowd kept on giving him standing ovations after almost every song.
Chris is well known to talk to the audience during his solo shows, and today was not the exception as he began to introduce the next song he told a brief story which made my night. Quoting Chris, “Earlier tonight I met a fan and this is his favorite song” as he began strumming the guitar to the chords of Blow Up The Outside World. Unforgettable moment for me as a long time fan.
JC Lopez
Michael Young
The Chris Cornell I’ll Remember
May 18th, 2017: Waking up to the news of Chris Cornell’s passing today was difficult for me. Emotional thoughts and memories washed over and through me like sets of uncontrollable waves. One memory stuck out…
October 2015: We’re hanging out near the famous Paramount Theater in Denver where Chris Cornell had just performed a show on his 2015 Higher Truth solo tour. After the show, we’re chatting with people we’d met earlier in the evening and out walks Chris Cornell. Big smile on his face, he instantly begins connecting with the group of fans that recognized him and displayed thrilling smiles in return.
Chris took the time for a few fan photos, signed autographs and simply talked with people for several minutes, just hanging out with the group… even pointing over at me and saying “Hey! That’s an awesome Pearl Jam T-shirt”, all while having a big smile on his face.
There will no doubt be books written about his magical golden voice, his musical influence, all the great shows, etc…
The Chris Cornell I’ll remember? That smiling, happy guy on that chilly autumn night in Denver.
He knew he touched so many.
That’s the Chris Cornell I’ll remember.
I had the honor and privilege of photographing Chris at several of his Higher Truth tour shows. The photos say more than my words can express…please see original article at ArtistWaves.com.
Juliana Tancler
I’m listening to Chris’ music since I was 11 years old. I’m 35 years old now. I loved his shy style. I always said that if I were a rockstar I would be like him, because he was kind and lovely to his fans in his reserved way. He was so sensible and had the most beautiful voice I’ve ever heard.
When I listened to his songs I felt understood. I’ve always identified with his style.
My biggest regret was not come to his concert here in Brazil, on my birthday, because of lack of money. He’s one of my favorite singers and I love him so much. I think his was so perfect and good for this world and that’s why he’s gone too soon.
This phrase of a Brazilian singer (Dinho Preto) describes perfectly what I feel about him:
“When you love the songs of someone, you listening and reading so much about it, and you end up thinking that, somehow, that person is close to you. That we would be good friends if we had met.” No one sings like you, anymore, Chris. Thank you so much for made my life better. “If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you.”
Juliana
São Paulo/SP – Brazil.
September 21, 2017
Cherish McGowan
My brother Josh was a huge fan of Chris. When Audioslave was formed, he could not contain his excitement. He excitedly made me a CD of their first album. As it turned out, it was the last CD he ever made, as he passed in a car accident not long after. I listened to that CD over and over again. Sometimes when I felt like I couldn’t breathe, I would play it and let the tears fall, as I listened to Chris and his feral, powerful, beautiful, unmatched vocals, and felt like he was speaking directly to me. I felt like he could feel my pain.
Soon after, my mother, not able to handle the death of her son, died by suicide. Once again, Chris was my savior. I listened to Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog, and found an unexpected comfort once again in his voice, his words, his … magic. I felt like he just got it – got life – got ME.
Through the years, there were other times that I found comfort with Chris’s music – the breakup of my marriage, the loss of a job, a deep depression that seemingly wanted to swallow me whole. Sometimes, and I do not say this lightly, his music is one of the only things that got me through. Chris was otherworldly.
I was driving to work when I heard on the radio about the loss of Chris. I cried out in my car, “No!!!” I frantically switched stations, trying to prove that it was not real, that it was some kind of a hoax. I hit play on the CD that was in the player, because I knew what it was. Audioslave. I sat in the parking lot at work and played ‘Like a Stone’, twice, as the tears fell. I went inside and sat at my desk for the entire morning, reading articles online and looking at pictures of Chris. And I cried some more. In fact, I cried for weeks, and even now writing this, the tears are falling.
Chris helped me. He comforted me. He took the most painful times of my life and showed me that someone else out there got it. They understood. I will be forever grateful to him.
I will forever grieve that that beautiful man is no longer with us. But in a way, he still is. He always will be. He made a difference in my life. He saved me.
Thank you for sharing him with us.
With much love,
Cherish
Mandy Red Crow
Chris was my all time favorite singer. I followed him through both his and my life. He grew up with me. Every single band he was in was incredible. He made music.
I was there every time he came to Alberta. He came with AUDIOSLAVE on October 2,2005. I was front row with my late brother GJ. We moshed n sang with him the whole night. My late brother loved him. His voice and now he can visit him in heaven and talk about how much we loved his music.
Our favorite song was and still is I AM THE HIGHWAY…. And UNTIL WE FALL…he also came solo to Banff, AB. I recently went to visit him at Hollywood Forever put flowers and said how much he meant to me. He is my Elvis. He was my idol. I loved him so much. I’m a huge fan and never been a fanatic to anyone or any band but his bands. My favorite is Soundgarden, Temple of the dog and especially AUDIOSLAVE.. As well as his Part Of Me song was good twist. He will always be missed. Love you Christopher John Boyle.
Mandy Red Crow
Carol Olson
Dear Cornell family, I want to extend my personal condolences to you. You have endured a terrible thing and I have been keeping you in my mind and praying for you since I first heard about Chris.
I was fortunate to see him in concert 9 years ago with my 2 brothers, on my birthday! It was a great concert and I’ll never forget it. I’ve listened to Chris since his Soundgarden days and continued listening during his Audioslave albums and solo career. I often had my own time of “Chris Cornell appreciation day” when I’d listen to all of his albums one right after the other. My favorite album of his is Euphoria Morning. On days that I need to find words and a voice to express how I’m feeling, I listen to Chris. He had the ability to relay much more than just words, and I will never forget his voice. It was so beautiful, a wonderfully vast range, and such expression for both tenderness, anger and compassion.
My favorite song of his solo career was “Preaching the end of the world”. Just the start of that song–wondering if anyone else feels the same way as me, just hooks me in. every time. Taking his voice from very quiet to loud and longing, from his gut, it felt to me. I often feel that way but he put it into music, so I can listen to it any time I want or need to. And for that I will be forever grateful.
I want you to know that I’ll always love his music and voice, and I will think of you, his family, often too, and hope that you are ok. I have been happy to learn of the charitable foundation he started; that’s no surprise to me! Please take care and know that you do not go through this time alone. Thank you for this chance to communicate with you!–love Carol
Matias Moreno
I made the Carry On Tattoo 3 years ago. This March, I decided to finish the message with the sign of the man who gave sense to it. Not only because of his second solo CD, but also for himself. A perfect example for all the right things. It doesn’t matter if you think of a father… a musician… a composer… a singer… a guitar player… a person… a man… Chris is an example for any of these. He will be with me forever. His songs… his lyrics… his thoughts… his sign… his message saying Carry On.
Matias
