Chris Cornell: Grunge Legends Pay Tribute
Casey Curry/AP
Since news of Chris Cornell’s death broke early yesterday morning, friends and bandmates have begun to pay tribute. Now remembrances from his peers in the world-conquering ’90s grunge scene are beginning to speak up.
Alternative Nation reports that former Pearl Jam drummer Matt Chamberlain, who drummed for Soundgarden on a recent tour and played on Cornell’s final solo record, posted a message to Facebook:
I’m really going to miss Chris Cornell …He was a very gentle soul and a genius musician.. I had the hairs on the back of my neck stand up nightly from his otherworldly singing back in 2014 when i toured with Soundgarden. I also played drums on his last solo record, we had such a great time cracking jokes and making music… I feel very lucky to have played music with him.. R.I.P. and condolences to his beautiful family…
Other figures from the Seattle scene including Courtney Love, Mark Lanegan, Tad Doyle, Barrett Martin, Alice In Chains, Mudhoney, and Sub Pop Records posted reactions to social media. Find their tributes below.
We’re shocked and heartbroken at the news about Chris Cornell. Our thoughts are with his family and the Soundgarden team. pic.twitter.com/zX4Y5TdD4s
— Sub Pop Records (@subpop) May 18, 2017
We are heartbroken. pic.twitter.com/hs5rYFIp0k
— Alice in Chains (@AliceInChains) May 19, 2017
RIP Chris Cornell. Damn
— mark lanegan (@marklanegan) May 18, 2017
We send our most heart felt and sincere love and comfort to our brothers and family and fans of Soundgarden.
— Tad Doyle (@TadDoyle_Tad) May 18, 2017
FUCK!!!
— Mudhoney (@mudhoney) May 19, 2017
UPDATE: Pearl Jam’s official account tweeted out another good picture of Chris Cornell with a dog.
— Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) May 20, 2017
UPDATE 2: AlternativeNation reports that Soundgarden/Pearl Jam/Temple Of The Dog drummer Matt Cameron has posted a brief message on Facebook. “My dark knight is gone,” he wrote. “Thank you for the incredible outpouring of kindness and love.”
Pearl Jam/Temple of the Dog guitarist Mike McCready has also commented, discussing Cornell’s death in an article in The Seattle Times. “Chris Cornell painted in song the darkness and beauty of life in Seattle,” he said. “Chris means a lot to me today, as he trusted me to play on Temple. He handed me a dream in getting to actually play on beautiful songs. Informed how I would play on Pearl Jam records in the future, I believe. Gave me the break into the music business I’d wanted since I was 11. He was a friend I will miss. I miss you, brother.”
