Remembering Chris Cornell: The Top 10 Soundgarden Songs
Chris Cornell was born on this day in 1964
Remembering Chris Cornell: The Top 10 Soundgarden Songs
Chris Cornell, the co-founder and frontman of Soundgarden and one of the chief architects of the 1990’s Grunge movement owned a four-octave vocal range and powerful vocal belting technique
Chris Cornell was born Christopher John Boyle on July 20, 1964, in Seattle, Washington. Growing up in a musical family, he developed an early interest in music and learned to play the piano and guitar. His parents divorced when he was a teenager, and he adopted his mother’s maiden name, Cornell. Battling with depression and anxiety during his youth, music became a crucial outlet for his emotions.
Cornell’s career started back in the 1980’s, as part of the Seattle Rock scene. He formed Soundgarden in 1984 with guitarist Kim Thayil and bassist Hiro Yamamoto and the band quickly became a central figure in the emerging Seattle grunge scene. Their early work, characterized by heavy guitar riffs and Cornell’s powerful vocals, gained a cult following. and by 1987 they were signed by the now famous Sub Pop local label, releasing their debut EP “Screaming Life” and in 1988 the EP “Fopp”. That same year, they signed to independent label SST Records and released their debut album, “Ultramega OK”, for which they earned a Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal Performance in 1990. In 1991, the band signed with A&M Records, and became the first grunge band to sign to a major label. Along with Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Pearl Jam, Soundgarden quickly became one of the most successful bands from Seattle’s emerging grunge scene. Their album “Badmotorfinger” was released in 1991 including the Alternative Rock hits “Jesus Christ Pose,” “Outshined” and “Rusty Cage.” However, it was their 1994 album “Superunknown” that catapulted them to international fame and mainstream, with singles such as “Black Hole Sun” and “Spoonman.” The album was critically acclaimed and won two Grammy Awards, solidifying Cornell’s status as a leading voice in rock music.
Soundgarden disbanded in 1997 after the release of their album “Down on the Upside” and Cornell pursued a solo career, releasing his first solo album, “Euphoria Morning,” in 1999. The album showcased his versatility as a musician, blending elements of rock, folk, and blues. Despite its critical success, it did not achieve the commercial heights of his work with Soundgarden. He also released the solo albums “Carry On” 2007, “Scream” 2009, “Higher Truth” 2015 and the live album “Songbook” in 2011.
In 2001, Cornell joined forces with members of Rage Against the Machine to form Audioslave. The supergroup released their self-titled debut album in 2002, featuring hits like “Cochise” and “Like a Stone.” Audioslave’s blend of hard rock and alternative influences was well-received, and they released two more albums before disbanding in 2007. Audioslave was the second supergroup that featured Cornell, being the first one the grunge supergroup Temple of The Dog, that featured members of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden and one album in 1991.
After Audioslave disbanded Cornell continued his solo career, releasing several more albums, including “Carry On” (2007), “Scream” (2009), “Higher Truth” (2015) and the live album “Songbook” in 2011. He reunited with Soundgarden in 2010, and they released “King Animal” in 2012. In addition to his band work, Cornell was known for his contributions to movie soundtracks, most notably the James Bond theme “You Know My Name” for the film “Casino Royale” (2006).
Chris Cornell was married twice. He married Susan Silver, manager of Soundgarden and Alice in Chains, in 1990, and they had a daughter, Lillian Jean, before divorcing in 2004. In 2004, he married Vicky Karayiannis, with whom he had two children, a daughter named Toni and a son named Christopher Nicholas.
Cornell struggled with substance abuse issues throughout his life, but he was committed to sobriety in his later years. He was known for his philanthropy and co-founded the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation to support vulnerable children facing homelessness, poverty, abuse, and neglect.
Tragically, Chris Cornell passed away on May 18, 2017, at the age of 52. He was found dead in his hotel room at the MGM Grand in Detroit, Michigan, after a Soundgarden concert. The cause of death was ruled a suicide by hanging. His untimely death shocked the music world and led to an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow musicians.
His last solo release before his death was the charity single “The Promise,” written for the ending credits for the film of the same name. We look back at the Top 10 Soundgarden songs to celebrate his 60th anniversary.
10 – “Blow Up the Outside World”, 1996
9 – “Burden in My Hand”, 1996
“Pretty Noose” 1996
7 – “Hands All Over”, 1989
6 – “Nothing to Say”, 1987
5 – “Rusty Cage”, 1991
4 – “Outshined”, 1991
3 – “Spoonman”, 1994
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2 – “Jesus Christ Pose”, 1991
1 – “Black Hole Sun”, 1994
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