Temple of the Dog at Madison Square Garden
Temple of the Dog at MSG in 2016 (more by Dana Distortion)

Chris Cornell dead at 52

Temple of the Dog at Madison Square Garden
Temple of the Dog at MSG in 2016 (more by Dana Distortion)

UPDATE: Wayne County (Michigan) Medical Examiner’s Office released a statement about Chris Cornell‘s death, ruling it a suicide.

In terribly sad and unexpected news, Chris Cornell has died at age 52. The Associated Press reports:

Cornell, who had been on tour, died Wednesday night in Detroit, Brian Bumbery said in a statement to The Associated Press. Cornell had performed a Detroit concert with Soundgarden that night, part of an ongoing tour that began in April (all dates are listed below). They were scheduled to co-headline Rock on the Range in Ohio on Friday.

Bumbery called the death “sudden and unexpected” and said his wife and family were shocked by it. The statement said the family would be working closely with the medical examiner to determine the cause and asked for privacy. Cornell’s death is being investigated as a “possible suicide” and tributes from fellow artists have been pouring in via social media.

Chris played in Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog (who reunited last year), and more, in addition to leading a solo career.

Soundgarden was reportedly working on a new album, and had been re-releasing music over the past year:

Soundgarden and Sub Pop recently released the remixed and expanded reissue of the band’s Grammy® nominated debut full-length album, Ultramega OK, on March 10, 2017. Additionally, in November 2016, the band celebrated the 25th Anniversary of their album Badmotorfinger by releasing four special editions of the 1991 album, and in July and August 2016 Soundgarden re-released a standard single LP vinyl of their second full-length studio album, 1989’s Louder Than Love as well as a two-LP 180-gram vinyl 20th anniversary reissue of their seminal 1996 album, Down on the Upside.

Watch some videos below. Watch Soundgarden play their final show with Chris Cornell at Fox Theatre in Detroit, as well.

Rock on the Range Festival, where Soundgarden were scheduled to headline this weekend, along with Metallica and Korn, has issued a statement:

We are devastated to hear about the sudden passing of Chris Cornell last night. He was a true hero to music, the voice of a generation. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and the entire music community. The voice of an angel, now watching down on us as we celebrate and honor him all weekend long.

Rest in peace, Chris. You’ll be missed and definitely not forgotten.

Soundgarden’s 2017 Tour
4/28 Tampa, FL WXTV Rockfest
4/29 Jacksonville, FL Welcome To Rockville
4/30 Ft Myers, FL Fort Rock Festival
5/3 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre*
5/5 Concord, NC Carolina Rebellion
5/6 Tuscaloosa, AL Tuscaloosa Amphitheatre^
5/7 Memphis, TN Beale Street Music Festival
5/10 Indianapolis, IN Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn*
5/12 Council Bluffs, IA KIWR Rockfest
5/13 Somerset, WI Northern Invasion
5/14 Kansas City, MO Starlight Theatre^
5/17 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre*
5/19 Columbus, OH Rock on the Range
5/20 Maryland Heights, MO KPNT Pointfest
5/22 Denver, CO Fillmore Auditorium^
5/25 Houston, TX Revention Music Center^
5/26 Dallas, TX Bomb Factory^
5/27 Pryor, OK Rocklahoma

* With The Pretty Reckless
^ With Dillinger Escape Plan