Christopher John Cornell was a Grammy-winning musician, singer, co-founder of Soundgarden, and lead vocalist of Audioslave, well known for his various soundtrack, and solo works since 1991. Considered as one of the chief architects of the 90s grunge movement, he is well known for his extensive catalog as a songwriter, his nearly four-octave vocal range, and his powerful vocal belting technique.
The frontman of Audioslave died on May 18, 2017, age 52, in Detroit. His death was ruled suicide by hanging. He was found unconscious by his bodyguard in the bathroom of his hotel room at the MGM Grand in Detroit, after performing at a show with Soundgarden at the Fox Theatre on May 17.
Early Life And Education Of Chris Cornell
Chris Cornell was born on 20 July 1964, in Seattle, Chris Cornell was one of six children born into an Irish Catholic family. After his parents got divorced, Chris got involved with drugs and stealing-and began to play drums.
By the age of fifteen, he was plagued by bouts of depression, as he had dropped out of school to play music to help and support the family. He is white in ethnicity and holds an American nationality.
Chris Cornell's Career
His career began in the year 1984, when Cornell co-founded the band Soundgarden, with guitarist Kim Thayil and ba s sist Hiro Yamamoto. Though they earned a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance for their first album Ultramega OK in the year 1988.
After they released few hit songs, the band got disbanded in 1996. Later in 2010, they reunited for a performance at the Showbox Theater in Seattle. They went on a tour of North America in 2011.
Audioslave, Solo Career & Other Collaborations
Chris Cornell released his solo debut, Euphoria Morning, to critical praise in 1999. He soon started collaborating with Rage Against the Machine members Tom Morello, Brad Wilk, and Tim Commerford to form a new band named Audioslave, as they released their self-titled debut album in 2002.
The band released their second album in the year 2005 Out of Exile, reached platinum status. Later in 2007, Cornell left Audioslave and released his second solo effort, 'Carry On' in May. Later the same year, Cornell was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture for 'You Know My Name.'
Chris Cornell also delivered more solo albums, Higher Truth, Song Book, and Scream. He worked as a co-producer and backing vocalist on the Screaming Trees' 1991 album Uncle Anesthesia. He also contributed vocals on Alice Cooper's Stolen Prayer and Unholy War from the 1994 album The Last Temptation.
Chris Cornell's Net Worth
Chris Cornell's net worth was $ 60 million. He has earned a huge amount of money from his singing career as he has given numerous songs in his lifetime.
As a frontman of Soundgarden, he released successful albums such as Ultramega OK, Badmotorfinger, and Superunknown. He released more prosperous hits such as Audioslave, Out Of Exile, and Revelations, as a lead singer of the band Audioslave.
He has been nominated for many awards including Grammy Awards for Best Metal Performance, Best Hard Rock Performance, Best Rock Album, and Best Rock Performance. He has won MTV Video Music Awards for MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video, Best Metal Performance, and Best Hard Rock Performance.
He also won other awards like Satellite Awards for Best Original Song and World Soundtrack Awards for Best Original Song Written Directly for a Film.
Chris Cornell's Personal Life
Cornell was a close friend to Linkin Park's frontman, Chester Bennington. He has collaborated with Bennington in several tours.
Cornell dated his first girlfriend Susan Silver, who also dated Chester Bennington previously. Cornell and Susan dated in 1985, she is the manager of Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and Screaming Trees, the couple was married in 1990. They have a daughter together named Lillian Jean born in 2000. Later the couple got divorced in 2004.
Later in 2004, he again married to his second wife Vicky Karayiannis, Paris- based American publicist of Greek heritage. The couple shared a daughter together named Toni in September 2004.
Death
Cornell was found unconscious by his bodyguard in the bathroom of his hotel room at the MGM Grand in Detroit at around 12:15 am on May 18, 2017, after performing at a show with Soundgarden at the Fox Theatre on May 17. He struggled with depression for much of his life.
After suffering from depression, drug and alcohol abuse, social phobias. Cornell remained clean and sober after checking into rehab in 2003.
On 17 May 2017, after performing a concert with Soundgarden, Cornell was found dead in his hotel room. Later the medical examiner determined the cause of death was suicide by hanging.
After Cornell's cause of death was announced, his wife Vicky questioned the medical examiner's conclusion that he had intentionally committed suicide. Later she added "Chris death is a huge loss that escapes words and has created an emptiness in my heart that will never be filled. As everyone who knew him commented, Chris was devoted father and husband. He was my best friend."
by ab-brijesh, 06 Aug, 2017
