Chris Cornell Recalls Learning of Kurt Cobain’s Death

2013-10-02

Soundgarden Down on the Upside Album Art

Story by Anne Erickson

Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell says learning of Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s death was ‘very emotional’

Soundgarden were a major part of the Seattle grunge scene that sprouted up in the early ‘90s, as were Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and countless others. Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell remembers the moment he was told of Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain’s death. He says it was an emotional experience.

“We came offstage and were about to go on for the encore, and I think the bass player of Tad came in and told us,” Cornell told CNN. “He just kind of barged in and was emotional, and started talking about the reports that they had found Kurt but they weren’t sure if it was him or not, but it was.”

The news came as a shock. “We all got very emotional; it was very surreal,” Cornell said. “We weren’t home; we weren’t around any people we knew. I guess, in a sense, we could all take solace in the fact that — especially Soundgarden — that we were born from this idea that we played kind of dark moody music. Our identity … in a sense kind of was a band that created a soundtrack for that type of weird awful scenario.”

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Nirvana’s third and final studio album, “In Utero,” and the band has released a special 20th anniversary edition of the album in honor of the landmark. For more information the release, visit Nirvana’s official website.

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Anne Erickson

Meet the expert - Author, writer and editor Anne Erickson is a Detroit-based music reporter and radio host. She has written for the USA Today Network, Consequence.net, Blabbermouth.net, Loudwire.com and many more. Anne holds a master's degree from Michigan State University. Contact Anne at anne@audioinkradio.com.