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'A TRUE ROCK GOD'

Chris Cornell’s death sparks tributes led by Led Zeppelin legend Jimmy Page as late star’s life in music is revealed in poignant pics

TRIBUTES have been paid to Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell whose sudden death at 52 was announced this morning, with pictures from his life in music being revealed.

Celebrities and fans told of their shock at the rocker's passing — which police are treating as a suspected suicide — with one female supporter saying: "I'm heartbroken".

 Emotional tributes have been made by fans and celebrities after news broke of rocker Chris Cornell's death at the age of 52
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Emotional tributes have been made by fans and celebrities after news broke of rocker Chris Cornell's death at the age of 52Credit: AP:Associated Press
 Cornell leaves behind wife Vicky Karayiannis and kids Christopher and Toni as well as Lillian Jean who was born from his first marriage
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Cornell leaves behind wife Vicky Karayiannis and kids Christopher and Toni as well as Lillian Jean who was born from his first marriage
 Cornell was pictured playing in Detroit just hours before his death was announced
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Cornell was pictured playing in Detroit just hours before his death was announced

Hailing the Black Hole Sun singer as a "true rock God", hundreds took to social media to tell of their devastation.

Leading them was Led Zeppelin legend Jimmy Page, who said: "RIP Chris Cornell - Incredibly Talented - Incredibly Young - Incredibly Missed."

Elton John said he was "shocked and saddened by the sudden death of Chris Cornell", describing him as "a great singer, songwriter and the loveliest man".

 Legendary producer Nile Rodgers gave a heartfelt tribute on Instragram
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Legendary producer Nile Rodgers gave a heartfelt tribute on InstragramCredit: Instagram

Former Red Hot Chilli Pepper Dave Navarro wrote: "So so stunned to hear about Chris Cornell! Such a terrible and sad loss! Thinking of his family tonight! RIP".

And legendary music producer Nile Rogers said: "RIP Chris Cornell - My heartfelt condolences to Vicki and your family. You are my special brother".

Dad-of-three Cornell had been due to play at US festival Rock the Range in Columbus tonight.

Touching messages from supporters and legends come as the world looks back on Cornell's stellar career at the pinnacle of grunge rock.

Poignant pictures capture the key moments in his tragically short life — showing him mixing with music royalty and cementing himself as a fan favourite with passionate performances.

 Soundgarden playing among their first big gigs in 1989
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Soundgarden playing among their first big gigs in 1989Credit: Alamy
 Chris Cornell performs live on stage at the Ritz in New York City on January 19, 1990
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Chris Cornell performs live on stage at the Ritz in New York City on January 19, 1990Credit: Redferns
 Passionate Cornell leaps into the crowd during the RIP! Magazine Party in Hollywood, California
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Passionate Cornell leaps into the crowd during the RIP! Magazine Party in Hollywood, CaliforniaCredit: Getty Images - FilmMagic
 Cornell made his name as an energetic frontman
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Cornell made his name as an energetic frontmanCredit: Getty Images - FilmMagic

Cornell was born Christopher John Boyle in 1964 in the city that would come to be known as the home of grunge, Seattle, Washington.

The middle child of five siblings, with two older brothers and two younger sisters, Cornell spent between the ages of nine to 11 listening to the Beatles.

A loner in his teenage years, he dropped out of school due to depression before joining cover band The Shemps.

There he met with two future founding members of the band with which he would fist make his name, Soundgarden.

The grunge band formed in 1984 with Cornell as frontman backed up by Hiro Yamamoto and Kim Thayill and eventually joined by Matt Cameron on drums.

Ben Shepherd would eventually replace Yamamoto on bass guitar in 1990 when the group rocketted to stardom.

 Cornell, bottom right, with the other members of Soundgarden, Matt Cameron, Kim Thayil and Ben Shepherd
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Cornell, bottom right, with the other members of Soundgarden, Matt Cameron, Kim Thayil and Ben ShepherdCredit: Getty Images
 Soundgarden with Chris Cornell, far left, and the cast members of cult rock comedy Spinal Tap
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Soundgarden with Chris Cornell, far left, and the cast members of cult rock comedy Spinal TapCredit: Getty Images - FilmMagic
 Chris Cornell, centre left, with Nirvana's Krist Novoselic in 1994
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Chris Cornell, centre left, with Nirvana's Krist Novoselic in 1994Credit: Getty Images - FilmMagic

Soundgarden would soon emerged as one of the biggest bands out of Seattle's emerging music scene, joining the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains.

Their third studio album, "Badmotorfinger" in 1991 spawned enormously popular singles "Jesus Christ Pose," ''Rusty Cage" and "Outshined" that received regular play on alternative rock radio stations.

Three years later, Soundgarden broke through on mainstream radio with the album Superunknown, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Record in 1995.

It included hit singles Spoonman, Fell on Black Days, Black Hole Sun, My Wave and The Day I Tried to Live.

The band eventually split in 1997 as Thayill and Cornell clashed over the musical direction of the group and they eventually disbanded in April of that year.

In 1998 he would embark on a solo career that would eventually see him sing the theme tune for the first Daniel Craig James Bond film, Casino Royale.

Cornell would compose and perform the song "You Know My Name" which was only the second song not to have the same title as the movie and the first theme performed by an American man.

In tandem with his successful solo career, which would see him release five studio albums, he also formed the supergroup Audioslave.

That would see the unification of two of the biggest rock bands of the nineties, Cornell's Soundgarden and Rage Against The Machine.

 Chris Cornell picks up an award at the MTV Video Music Awards at New York's Radio City Music Hall in 1994
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Chris Cornell picks up an award at the MTV Video Music Awards at New York's Radio City Music Hall in 1994Credit: AP
 Ben Shepherd, Chris Cornell and Kim Thayil of Soundgarden at MTV Rock the Vote '95 in Los Angeles
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Ben Shepherd, Chris Cornell and Kim Thayil of Soundgarden at MTV Rock the Vote '95 in Los AngelesCredit: Getty Images - FilmMagic

 

 Cornell, centre, with actors Vince Vaughan and Ben Stiller at an Oscar party in 2001
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Cornell, centre, with actors Vince Vaughan and Ben Stiller at an Oscar party in 2001Credit: Rex Features

After Rage's frontman Zach de la Rocha left the band they were searching for a new singer and found Cornell in 2001 who would shelve his second album plans to form the band.

Their self titled debut album would spawn such hits as Cochise, Like A Stone and Show Me How To Live and would go triple platinum in the USA.

The band would remain together until 2007 when Cornell left due to "irresolvable personality conflicts and musical differences".

Soundgarden would eventually reform and tour together again in 2010 and reportedly had plans for a seventh album.

 Jerry Cantrell, left, lead guitarist for the group Alice in Chains and Chris Cornell, right, in 2002
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Jerry Cantrell, left, lead guitarist for the group Alice in Chains and Chris Cornell, right, in 2002Credit: AP
 Chris Cornell jumps into his vintage 1955 Porsche Speedster Spyder last year
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Chris Cornell jumps into his vintage 1955 Porsche Speedster Spyder last yearCredit: Alamy

Audioslave reunited for the first time in January this year at the Prophets of Rage Anti-Inaugural Ball, protesting Donald Trump's presidency.

In his personal life he would first marry Soundgarden and Alice In Chains manager Susan Silver in 1990.

The couple would have one daughter, Lillian James Cornell, together in June 2000.

Cornell and Silver would eventually divorce in 2004 and later that year he would marry publicist Vicky Karayiannis, an American living in France.

That same year the newlyweds would have a daughter, Toni and later in 2005 a son called Christopher Nicholas.

The relationship would also see Cornell convert to Greek Orthodox Christianity under his new wife's influence.

 Cornell's death was announced just hours after playing a gig in Detroit
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Cornell's death was announced just hours after playing a gig in DetroitCredit: Rex Features
 Chris Cornell was the frontman of Soundgarden and Audioslave
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Chris Cornell was the frontman of Soundgarden and AudioslaveCredit: Rex Features
 Cornell passed away at the age of just 52
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Cornell passed away at the age of just 52Credit: Rex Features
 Heartthrob Cornell grew a massive following of female fans as he led the nineties grunge revolution
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Heartthrob Cornell grew a massive following of female fans as he led the nineties grunge revolutionCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Rhythm guitarist and singer Chris Cornell was one of the leading frontmen in nineties music
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Rhythm guitarist and singer Chris Cornell was one of the leading frontmen in nineties musicCredit: Getty Images

In 2012 Cornell spoke about kicking alcohol. He said: "There are not bottles of Jack Daniels around or beers."

He added: "You have top want it, and not do that c*** anymore or you will never stop and it will just kill you."

Cornell said of his descent that "it was a long slow slide and then a long slow recovery,"; adding, "for me it was mostly alcohol from my late teens until my late thirties."



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