For all of the force and impact of voices like Cobain, Vedder, and Staley, perhaps no voice defined the music coming out of Seattle in the late 80s and early 90s as deeply Chris Cornell. He was the most prolific songwriter and he was the guy who, even before "Man in the Box" hit, carried a new sound that slammed metal and punk and prog into one gloriously dark and delicious sound.
I can't believe this is true, but damn if it ain't. Chris Cornell has died. This is devastating.
He was the voice and songwriter of Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, and Audioslave, in addition to his solo career. Soundgarden has been his main project over the years, when that band broke up in 1997, he joined forces with Rage Against the Machine to form Audioslave, whose two albums were huge successes. He focused on family and a solo career for a time, but then reunited with Soundgarden in 2010.
Apparently, he died after Soundgarden's performance in Detroit. The family described the death as "sudden and unexpected." He was 52.
I'll pay tribute to Cornell, my all-time favorite singer, this week on Road Signs on Sunday night (10pm-midnight).