Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell given a star-studded send-off
Some of the biggest names in music and film turn out for the influential singer’s Hollywood funeral
Music’s elite and Hollywood stars remembered Chris Cornell at a sombre memorial service on Friday that focused on the Soundgarden frontman’s love of family and friends as much as it did on his musical achievements as one of rock’s leading voices.
“Chris was as melodic as The Beatles, as heavy as Sabbath and as haunting as Edgar Allan Poe,” Tom Morello, Cornell’s Audioslave bandmate, said during his eulogy.
“The demons he wrestled with were real, but he harnessed those demons and rode them like a mother-flipping chariot of lightning strapped with Marshall stacks to make some of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll of all time.”
Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington and guitarist Brad Delson performed Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah for the crowd of mourners, including Brad Pitt, Pharrell Williams, James Franco, Christian Bale and numerous members of rock royalty, many of whom were moved to tears.
Four large portraits of Cornell were on display on a dais where Morello, actor Josh Brolin, Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament, film producer Eric Esrailian and Cornell’s Soundgarden bandmates Kim Thayil and Matt Cameron delivered eulogies under overcast skies at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
They all spoke of the rocker’s compassion and love of his three children. Cameron said he and Cornell had “so many normal dad conversations” about the Cornell kids: Christopher, Toni and Lily.
“Losing my brother and artistic soulmate will always pale in comparison with you three kids losing your dad,” Cameron said. “Let it be known that I am here for you and will forever be in your lives.”
Linda Ramone opened the service with word that Cornell was buried next to her late husband, punk rocker Johnny Ramone, whose headstone features a statue of him playing guitar.
Cornell’s grave marker, decorated with bouquets of flowers and several red roses, says, “Voice of our generation and an artist for all time.”
Cornell’s music played before the hour-long service, and afterwards as guests visited his grave site in the cemetery’s Garden of Legends section.
Among those paying respects were Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield of Metallica, Dave Navarro and Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction, singer-songwriter Joe Walsh, guitarist Nile Rodgers, rocker Courtney Love and Bush’s Gavin Rossdale.
Scores of fans gathered outside the cemetery during the service awaiting a public viewing of Cornell’s grave site.
“We had to be here. He was part of our generation,” said 49-year-old Marcus Dubray from Sacramento, breaking into tears.
“I was ready to go to Seattle” for the funeral, said fellow fan Alfredo Perez, 47.
Fans took flowers and notes and sang Cornell’s songs together. Some listened to his music aloud on their phones. One fan brought a guitar and strummed Soundgarden songs. Many left notes, guitar picks and one woman left roses wrapped in a shirt, an emblem of the grunge era.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the final resting place for numerous stars, including Jayne Mansfield, Douglas Fairbanks and Cecil B. DeMille.
Cornell, 52, was pronounced dead on May 18 after he was found unresponsive in a Detroit hotel room hours after performing a concert with Soundgarden.
Officials said preliminary autopsy results show the singer hanged himself, but full toxicology results remain pending. The singer’s family has disputed the findings and claim Cornell may have taken more of an anti-anxiety drug than he was prescribed.
Cornell was a leading voice of the grunge movement in the 1990s. Besides Soundgarden, he scored hits as a solo artist and with bands Temple of the Dog and Audioslave.
He is survived by his wife and three children.
