September 21, 2017
Craig Wilkinson
The best of the many times that my idol and I were in the same space. Absolutely amazing to see his two little people rocking out on stage. RIP Chris, your music will forever influence my life.
Craig
The best of the many times that my idol and I were in the same space. Absolutely amazing to see his two little people rocking out on stage. RIP Chris, your music will forever influence my life.
Craig
Thank you so much for sharing your love and grief as you mourn.
Honestly I didn’t know Chris’ music very much, for varying reasons. Soundgarden wasn’t my style though my formative music years were during the peak of grunge. But maybe it was hearing his solo work on the “Singles” soundtrack, or years later when I saw videos of Chris with an acoustic guitar on solo tours, sometime in there I saw him anew and…
And I was moved. His voice. His way of singing. His heart. God, he was perfect. As you already know. Seeing him stripped down acoustic doing covers… God, it was meant to be. There was something I wish I could be. I wanted to hear him sing more. And more.
And seeing your posts since he walked on—as is said of dying in Native American traditions—since he walked on I’ve seen through your posts what a loving husband and father he was. I saw his joy and love of life. That voice I heard in his singing wasn’t accidental, but came from a deep and loving heart beneath.
I was inspired again. The way he loved his family, the way he loved life and breathed and enjoyed and savored it… again I find that I want to live and love like that.
The more I listen to him and learn about him, the more I am inspired and moved. I pray for your peace as you grieve and somehow, go on.
Thank you so much for sharing your hearts with us fans out here. Thank you for sharing Chris with us. I’m looking forward to seeing you all together again and meeting him. And hearing him sing again.
Ramone Romero
Osaka, Japan
It’s difficult for me to put into words how I feel after the loss of Chris Cornell. I have been listening to Chris’ music for many years, from Soundgarden to Audioslave I have loved it all, but something changed when Chris began to do acoustic. For the first time I realized how enormously talented he truly was. I always loved him, but this was different. It was like he was laying his heart and soul on the table for all of us to feel. And we did feel it. When Chris sang it felt like he ripped a piece of my soul out of me.
Two years ago I learned that Chris was coming to Phoenix, where I lived at the time, to perform an accoustic session for his album Higher Truth. I saw Soundgarden open up for Skid Row in the 80’s but that was before I really knew who Chris was and I was too into hair bands to realize I would regret not keeping that memory alive. So this was my first chance to really see Chris. However, when I tried to buy the tickets it was sold out! I was so disappointed. But I held out hope and decided to keep checking back to see if any came available. A few days before the show two came available, but they were separated, meaning my husband and I would have to sit apart, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see him and I thank God every single day since his passing that I went. I’ve been to hundreds of concerts and that was the absolute best. Forget the flashing lights and fireworks that most artists have to display to keep our attention. This was just Chris and his accoustic guitar and it was phenominal. After that performance I realized that Chris was the most important thing to happen to music in my generation. He could take a song meant for another artist to sing and make it seem like it was always meant for him. I listen to his music on a daily basis, just as I did before his death, and each day it takes me in a little bit deeper. Each day I feel like I know Chris a little bit more. I keep searching the web trying to find songs he made that I haven’t found yet, and sometimes I find one and it feels like Christmas! Yesterday it was a Beatles cover that made my heart sing. There’s no other artist that can make me feel this way.
I remember the morning of his death very vividly. I was asleep when my husband came in to wake me up and share the horrible news. He knew it would be too difficult for me to hear or see what happened. I was in shock and devastation and I actually haven’t gotten over it. I know I’m just a fan, but I truly had a special place in my heart for Chris that I don’t generally feel for other musicians or stars in general. He and his music really meant something to me. I felt like I knew Chris and I felt like this didn’t make any logical sense to me. It still doesn’t. We were supposed to see Soundgarden perform in Denver just 5 days later and my phone calendar was letting me know “5 days til Soundgarden!”. I never got to see them, and that just poured a little more salt into the gaping wound I had about this tragedy. I was so close to seeing him perform at least one last time.
I remember often thinking that Vicky was the luckiest woman in the world because I could tell how much Chris loved her and his children and what a good man he was. Now that he has passed and I have been reading every single thing that his friends have written about him I can see that my inclination was right, he was a wonderful man, husband and father and I want to say to Vicky that you are still the luckiest woman in the world that you got to experience the love of that amazing human being, even for a short while. And I know it seems like it wasn’t long enough, and for that my heart breaks for you. I know he’s still with you and you feel it. ??
To Toni, Christopher and Lily; I lost my father the same way you did, and I was also young and I want you to know I feel your pain. I know it hurts more than words, and it always will. But know that your dad loved you all immensely and he will always be by your side. His legacy will live on through all of you in one way or another. ??
I will never forget Chris, his legacy, or his music and I know I’m not alone. He was one of a kind and he is greatly missed by me and many other fans throughout this world. I can only hope that he’s up in Heaven singing beautiful songs to my father and grandmother and sharing his gift in the world beyond. I know he is.
Love, Cheresa Wynne
When I was in high school, I really felt like an outsider. As many of us do. I was a lost soul and I was searching for who I was, and what that really meant. I remember hearing Temple of the Dog for the first time. It opened my heart and soul. I fell in love with music! I memorized every riff, note and lyric. Then I discovered Soundgarden. My whole world opened. I wish I could say thank you. Thank you, Chris for being there and understanding! My heart broke the day I learned he was gone. Only 4 days from seeing Soundgarden live… A piece of my soul is gone with him.
To Vicky and his children, my heart and deepest condolences go out to you. I know it feels impossible to get through this. We are all here sending you love. Thank you for giving us your Chris. He will always be missed.
Kerry Ann
I’m Ivana from Argentina. Chris’ music got me and my husband together. He confessed his love for me through the song “Sunshower” and since the first time we listened to it together we could never be apart.
Chris’ music has also helped us develop a philosophical questioning of the world. His lyrics have made us think and rethink pretty deep aspects of life such as faith and religion, freedom and independence, solidarity and dignity, respect for others and love in all its possible shapes.
He is (I still refuse to use any other conjugation of that verb) one of the most intelligent and sensitive men Rock music has ever met. There’s no voice like his, a voice capable of shaking any person’s least conscious thoughts and deepest feelings.
I personally have no words that will ever be able to fully thank him for making all of us grow and simply become better people.
I followed Chris from middle school (1992 when I first heard Outshined) to the present. I remember that when Superunknown came out, that was it. No one else would ever be better. Superunknown was the soundtrack to my teen years.
It tore me up when Soundgarden broke up, but I followed Chris’s career through a fan site. I was standing in line to be the first person to buy Euphoria Morning when it was released. Then I heard rumors of what eould be Audioslave. The first Audioslave album was the background to my time deployed in the Army. It was beautiful. More albums would follow but not quite with that same impact.
When Soundgarden reformed, it felt like a part of me was reborn. In 2014, I learned that a long term effect from a disease I had as a kid was causing major heart problems. As I went in for a heart catheterization to find out how bad it was, I was singing Mailman. For the next two weeks, as I anxiously awaited open heart surgery, I played “Live to Rise” over and over. I went into open heart surgery nervous about all of the unknowns, worried that a complication that could not be foreseen would end me. My favorite song, Like Suicide, brought me comfort, as I listened to it and sang it to myself just before the doctors knocked me out. I remember thinking these may be my last conscious moments of life, and that song was what I wanted to hear. I pulled through, and was excited to hear later about Chris’s last solo album.
I was fortunate to finally see Soundgarden live in Memphis on May 7th. I made the comment to my brother that this was a bucket list item for me. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to see Chris live.
Though we are all still in shock, and I still don’t accept he’s gone, I offer my deepest condolences to his family- blood, relatives, fellow musicians and fans alike.
Loud Love… RIP to the GREATEST musician of our lifetime!
Sam
Dear Chris, I want to thank you for all the years of your life you gave of your voice,your songwriting and your music. You are a hero to me. A voice like no other. The inspiration you have given me for my music in writing lyrics along with the music you created will be carried in my heart forever. I believe in God and know you are at peace. You left this world on my 61st birthday. Yes, I can say what a shitty birthday but it was an awakening for me. Even though I have never met you, we shared something deeply in common. The disease of addiction. My wife had been trying for 2 years to get me off the Ativan. I was a hardcore alcoholic & drug addict for over 40 years of my life. In 2008 I turned it all over but had these lingerings I needed to shake. Well, they’ve been shook. I am sorry you left so quickly. I believe it was a horrible accident, as I have a similar exercise band. Nonetheless, it doesn’t make it easier.Your wife and 3 children, family, band brothers and friends will always be held in all our prayers of healing and the eternal comfort of God’s love.
Godspeed Brother, Mark C.
My earliest memory in life was when I was about two years old, in our backyard in Seattle Washington. I was playing in the pool and my mom was laying out in a lawn chair. Hunger Strike was blasting in the background. My dad was working on his car close by and turned to me and said “Are you goin hungry sweetie?” Chris’s voice and that song always take me back to a very happy time in my life. Chris continued to be the background music throughout my entire childhood, teen years, and eventually adult life.
I was always so thankful that such amazing music played a big part in my life, thanks to my parents who had such a deep love for that early 90s Seattle scene, they were living in the heart of it after all. 9 months ago I surprised my mom with tickets to Temple of the Dog in Seattle on November 20th. It was one of the best nights of my entire life. It was so special for both of us, and to be able to share that night together is something I’ll never forget. We laughed, we cried, and we sang our hearts out until the very end when he sang our favorite song, All Night Thing which he dedicated to his beautiful wife who couldn’t be there that evening. After we got home, I couldn’t stop thinking about how inspired and touched I felt by that evening and finally getting to see someone live whom I idolized so much.
I had always loved to sing but I decided to go buy a guitar and start taking lessons the following week, and it has changed my life forever. Now I sit here, 25 years old, and I have finally found my passion. It has brought so much joy to my life. The very first song I learned on guitar was I Am The Highway. In a way, I feel like Chris helped me find the music in me… and although there are so many things I could thank him for, I feel like that one might mean the most to him…it sure as hell means the most to me. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about the impact his beautiful gift had on my life, and I will miss him forever. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Chris. And to his family, I offer my deepest condolences. You are all in my thoughts, and I wish you all the love and healing my heart can offer.
Love Always,
Makenzi
I’ve been a photographer for about 23 years, specialising in live music. Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell were the reason I chose to specialise in live music.
I live in Australia and sadly many of my favorite bands don’t come here for tours. So when Soundgarden toured with the Soundwave festival I finally got my chance to photograph them, after 15 years of waiting.
I’ll never forget the moment myself and fellow photographers walked through the pit area towards the stage. The atmosphere was electric and we felt like Gods, here to capture our hero.
I captured some of the best shots of my career that night and Chris was amazing. He just had it all: the voice, the moves, the connection with the band. It was a dream come true.
A few months later I had the chance to see his solo show. I’ve seen dozens of artists over the years, but Chris was the first and only artist that has moved me to tears during a performance.
I wanted to take my younger brother to the show, but he suffers anxiety and chose to miss out. I recall begging him to come and saying to him that it was a once in a life time chance, as we didn’t know when he’d tour again. How those words now feel like a dreadful premonition.
As a photographer I get to capture dozens of artists, but nothing has made me more proud than being able to capture Chris. His loss was the first artist I ever truly cried over. And I cried for days.
Thank you Chris for inspiring a young teenage girl to follow her dreams and become what I got a chance to become. Thank you for the lyrics that inspired me and lifted me out of dark times. For your voice, that was the voice of my generation.
Thank you.
Amanda
Chris Cornell, to me, is music excellence personified. Obviously everyone loves and remembers his voice and how incredible it was, but I feel like people often overlooked how untouchable his songwriting was. His artistic range and complex musicality will never be matched. From the melt your face attitude of Badmotorfinger to the sensitive and emotional Euphoria Mourning, from the hard rock/funk combo on Audioslave’s Revelations to the mature, wise, and beautiful Higher Truth, Chris Cornell did everything and anything he wanted, and with the upmost dignity and grace.
I’m only 20 years old so I missed a lot of Chris’ career but for the last 5 years of my life he, and his music have meant more to me than I could ever imagine. I have heard every song, watched every interview, and read every article. My life has revolved around this mans music for years now and he means so much to me. Which is strange because I never got the chance to actually meet him.
I did however get to see him live in concert. September 20th 2015 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles for his Higher Truth tour. It was absolutely incredible. My father and I have never really bonded over much but Chris Cornell’s music is one of the few things that we both love. He drove me and my best friend 6 hours to go see Chris that night, which ended up being the best night of my life. Chris opened up with Before We Disappear which just so happens to be my favorite song from Higher Truth. The second he started singing I lost it. I started crying. I’ve never had such an emotional reaction from music before. He gave me chills dozens of times that night. Hearing that voice in person with my own ears was surreal. It just further proved that Chris Cornell was the best ever. No fancy lights or effects, no dancers or fireworks, just a man pouring his heart out on stage with nothing but his acoustic guitar. I’ve never been happier than I was then. He was funny, charming, silly, and incredibly talented and all of those qualities were shown to me that night. Hearing him talk about where the song “Josephine” came from, and hearing him talk about his wife Vicky (who was in the audience) really showed me how much he loves her. That stuck with me. This man had it all, fame, money, and success, but all he wanted to do was talk about his wife and kids.
Chris Cornell is a hero of mine. A huge inspiration not only musically but as a human being. I always dreamt about having lunch with him sometime. I just wanted to talk to him. Not about how much he means to me or how talented he is. I just wanted to talk about life and listen to him ramble about how much he loves his family. He was so fascinating to me and he still is.
I miss him every day and I still get emotional sometimes just thinking about him. He helped me through the hardest times of my life. He inspired me to become a better musician and a better person and I could never thank him enough.
I wish I had a picture of him and I together that I could share, I wish I had the chance to meet him but I know I’m not alone in thinking that. So here’s my favorite picture of him, because he just looks so happy.
Jason
