Chris Cornell

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Biography

Recent Role:
Musical Guest on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Gender:
Male
Born:
7-20-1964
Birthplace:
Seattle, Washington, USA
Birth Name:
Christopher John Boyle
AKA:
Soundgarden, Audioslave
Chris Cornell was born Christopher John Boyle in Seattle, Washington on July 20th 1964. Chris is the second youngest of Karen and Ed Boyle's 6 children. His father was a pharmacist and his mother worked as an accountant. His parents divorced when Chris was in his early teens. After his parents marriage ended, Chris and his siblings changed their surnames from Boyle to his mother's maiden name, Cornell. Chris rebelled against his Irish Catholic upbringing and was on the verge of being expelled from the parochial school he attended when his mother pulled him out. As an adolescent, he… More experimented with drugs and stealing. Among the things he stole were a collection of Beatles records from his neighbour's basement which sparked an interest in songwriting. Though his parents had given him piano lessons from early on, Chris said his mother saved his life when she bought him a snare drum. A week later he bought himself an entire drum kit and thus began his forage into rock n roll.

Cornell dropped out of school at the age of 15 for two reasons: one was because he had problems with authority, the other was that he wanted to work to help his mother support the family. He waited tables and later on became a cook. He honed his skills as a songwriter and musician by playing in bands on the side. He experienced his first bouts of depression during his teens. His condition became so severe he didn't leave his home for almost a year. Fortunately, he was able to check his use of recreational drugs. He later earned his GED.

He formed Soundgaren with Hiro Yamamoto, Kim Thayil and Matt Cameron in the mid-eighties. Yamamoto left the band was replaced by Ben Shepherd. Soundgarden were the first of the Seattle grunge bands to get signed by a major label during the late 80s and would eventually go on to become on of the most successful bands of the 1990s. He also enjoyed success with several side projects, among them Temple Of The Dog with Eddie Vedder. He married his long-time girlfriend, Alice In Chains manager Susan Silver. Silver, at the request of Cornell's band, had also taken on the management duties of Soundgarden. After achieving multi-platinum status and earning 2 Grammy awards, Soundgarden amicably disbanded in 1997.

Cornell decided to go it alone and released 'Euphoria Morning', a solo album that showed his amazing versatility as a vocalist and songwriter. His songs shocked his grunge fanbase by boldly exploring folk, R&B and melding a variety of genres. 'Euphoria Morning' earned Cornell a Grammy nomination in the catagory of Best Male Rock Performance. However Cornell was dissatisfied with the commercial performance of his solo album and severely disillusioned by the deaths of several close friends. Plagued for many years by social phobias and alcohol abuse, it all came to head and he plunged into a deep depression. Once again he began to use drugs.

In June of 2000. Chris and Susan welcomed their first child, a daughter, Lillian Jean. In a turn of fortune, this was also the year producer Rick Rubin suggested Cornell jam with the remaining members of Zach de la Rocha's abandoned band, Rage Against The Machine. The collaboration was so successful, Cornell along with guitar virtuoso Tom Morello, innovative bassist Tim Commerford and powerhouse drummer Brad Wilk formed Audioslave.

Cornell also checked himself into rehab and rebuilt his life. Now drug and alcohol free, he is fronting the first supergroup of the new millenium. Audioslave dominate the rock charts and have rapidly achieved platinum status despite the soft market for rock music. They've built a reputation as a live act that is second to none. Already halfway through recording their second album, the band are set to head back in to the studio after they wrap up the summer 2003 Lollapalooza tour.

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  •  
    10 Perfect
    I sa personal favorite because I think he's the greatest rock singer of all time. hide show

    Chris Cornell, is the most amazing singer to walk this earth. Nobody ever had such a wide range of vocals like he does. Sure, his voice may be fading, but remember when he was in Soundgarden? Songs like "Jesus Christ Pose" and "Black Hole Sun" showed how truly amazing he is. Even when he was in the less talented band Audioslave, his singing still made the songs worth listening to. Now, he's a solo artist, playing at KROQ's L.A. Invasion, with far less talent that he would've had ten years ago. Seeing Soundgarden live would have been amazing. Chris Cornell's singing would have just split my ears open thinking, "Whoa, my ears can't take how much bottom this kicks."

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    DeeDeeDee-er Added Aug 23, 2007 All my reviews
  •  
    10 Perfect
    The following review is of the Chris Cornell of the early 90's, when he was in Soundgarden. hide show

    Chris Cornell, the most talented song-writer the world has ever known is no longer the man that he once used to be. The rebellious, angry, anti-glam, anti-social frontman of the late and great Soundgarden is now a tender, helping, corporate-radio-oriented-musician with a copycat band named Audioslave. I call them copycat as they are trying to emulate themselves as another Led-Zeppelin rather than an original ROCK band. I don't really hate Audioslave, it's just that they sound so tired and overused. They can never replace the mark left by Soundgarden, even dreaming of it is a SIN.

    Even if Soundgarden is never to make a comeback I would appreciate it if Chris decided to continue his solo career. His solo songs had a lot of depth in them and they were the most original thing I had ever heard from a solo record. The track "Follow My Way" is a good example of that.

    Soundgarden was the GREATEST GRUNGE/ROCK BAND EVER!!! I don't know what overcame Cornell's mind when he decided to break it all up. Although I know Chris decided to break up to keep the legacy of Soundgarden intact and fresh but I hope someday Chris will be able to sing his old SG songs and once again and reunite with Ben, Matt and Kim for one last stand against the System and ROCK the whole world.

    Until then I will keep wishing I could burrow down in and blow up the outside world.

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    never-named Added Nov 12, 2005 All my reviews
  •  
    10 Perfect
    Chris Cornell is if not THE greatest singer in rock history, he is one of the greatest. hide show

    Chris Cornell's band Audioslave is going to be the next Rolling Stones. There shows are amazing, and his voice is going to lead them to the top. If you don't own an Audioslave CD i encourage you to get one, and if you've never listened to them before, you to their website and listen, you will thank me. ROCK ON

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    audrey92 Added Jul 19, 2005 All my reviews
 

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