Chris Cornell: Today Marks the One-Year Anniversary of His Death

2018-05-18

Story by Anne Erickson, photo by Ken Settle

One year ago, the music world lost a grunge legend too soon

It’s hard to believe, but the one-year anniversary of Chris Cornell’s death is this Friday, May 18. To honor the late Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman’s legacy, Cornell’s family will be holding space a vigil on Friday at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, the cemetery where Cornell is buried.

“We want to open this up to you, our extended family, and invite you to join us on this day of prayer and remembrance to pay our respects together,” Cornell’s widow Vicky Cornell wrote in a statement. For those who can’t attend the vigil, she invites fans to share “posts and videos of how Chris’ music has touched you.”

“We can feel your love no matter how far,” she added. “Light a candle, say a prayer, speak his name.”

Cornell passed away by what was deemed as a suicide on May 18, 2017, after a Soundgarden show at The Fox Theatre in Detroit the night before. He was 52.

Detroit photographer Ken Settle photographed Cornell’s final show. “While it is a very sad honor to have photographed the very last time that Chris Cornell was to ever sing onstage,” Settle told Audio Ink, “it is also a sober reminder of the fragility of life and the precious little time we have on earth.”

Settle, who has photographed Cornell many times over the years, also said, “The thing that always stood out to me about photographing Chris Cornell was his intensity. Not only the intensity of his incredible voice–that’s a given–but the intensity in the way that he commanded a stage.”

Anne Erickson
Posted by Anne Erickson | Alternative, Grunge, Music, Rock, Rock News

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