In 1992, I had a page cut out of a magazine hanging on my wall with a picture of Chris Cornell onstage with Soundgarden, and the caption, “It takes a big heart and a healthy set of lungs to be the voice of a generation.”
This one hurts a lot.
Chris Cornell pretty much got me through high school. That he took his own life after giving hope and solace to me, and people like me, for thirty years…it’s just, it’s is a fathomless loss.
I saw Chris perform with Temple of the Dog in Los Angeles in November. He was magnetic and playful and sounded unbelievable. I didn’t expect him to sound as good as he did post-50, and post so many years on the road and everything else. It was kind of breathtaking.
My heart breaks for his many bandmates, and his family, especially his kids. 18 months ago, he performed Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song” with his daughter Toni, and it’s wonderful, but highlights what a loss today represents.
When I started Sci-Fi Romance, people asked me what we sounded like, and I always told them, “You ever hear that time Johnny Cash covered Soundgarden? Like that.”
I have performed one of Chris’ songs — Temple of the Dog’s “Wooden Jesus.” But nobody can sing like he did, so I changed it up. Doing a shitty cover where I tried to ape a legendary voice didn’t seem like any fit way to pay respect.
Peace, Chris. You are missed already.