Chris Cornell, who formed Soundgarden in 1984 and later fronted Audioslave, has died age 52. In a statement to Associated Press his representative, Brian Bumbery, called the death “sudden and unexpected” and said the family would be working with the medical examiner to determine the cause. Cornell had been touring with Soundgarden with more dates lined up for the rest of the month. He was tweeting about the shows just hours before his death on Wednesday night in Detroit.
You may remember Cornell for Soundgarden, their pioneering influence on the Seattle music scene in the 80s and 90s and becoming first grunge band to sign to a major label. You may remember him as the driving energy of supergroup Audioslave and being the only vocalist who isn’t Zack de la Rocha with the force to match whatever madness Tom Morello was performing on guitar. Or, you may remember him for providing the theme for Casino Royale and thereby shifting its tradition from “epic ballad” to “high-powered rock smasher”. Whatever your association, press play and turn it up loud.
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