In Memoriam
Chris Cornell
July 20, 1964 – May 18, 2017 · aged 52
Grunge · Alternative Rock · Hard Rock
Christopher John Boyle possessed one of the most staggering, multi-octave voices in rock history. Born in Seattle in 1964, he was a pivotal architect of the 1990s grunge movement as the frontman of Soundgarden. His wailing, siren-like vocals powered heavy, odd-metered masterpieces like 'Black Hole Sun' and 'Jesus Christ Pose.' Later, he formed the supergroup Audioslave with members of Rage Against the Machine, proving his immense vocal prowess was completely genre-defying. Beneath the roaring guitars, Cornell was a deeply sensitive, introspective songwriter who openly struggled with severe depression and substance abuse throughout his life. Tragically, he took his own life in a Detroit hotel room following a concert on May 18, 2017, at the age of 52. His death left a profound, echoing void in the rock world, silencing one of the greatest singers of his generation.
Milestones
Black Hole Sun, Spoonman, Like a Stone
Also remembered in 2017
- Chester Bennington (1976–2017)
- Chuck Berry (1926–2017)
- Fats Domino (1928–2017)
- Tom Petty (1950–2017)