Editor’s Note: I remember driving in my car on my way to my full time job and Soundgarden came on the radio. It was the song “Outshined” and I didn’t think anything of it, I love being surprised when I hear a damn good song on the radio. I forget about my stresses for those few moments and prepare to sing my heart out to a song that defined my teenage angst years. Then, the radio DJ for Rock 108 came on and announced that Chris Cornell was found dead in a hotel room bathtub. I froze. Tears suddenly streamed down my face and I literally pulled over to the side of the road and wept. I couldn’t believe the news. I remember all the tributes and most importantly the artists all seemed somewhat broken when we brought up Chris Cornell. When I interview, I don’t try to get the dirt, I focus on the artist as they should be, AS ARTISTS, but I also recognize that they’re influenced by someone or something as a main reason why they got into music. Here are some interview excerpts from artists that we’ve had the pleasure of talking to about their craft, and it just so happened that Chris Cornell was to be brought up along the conversation.
Robert Cosgrove, vocalist of Sleep Signals, spoke with us about what it was like playing the Northern Invasion up in Somerset, Wisconsin mere a couple days before Chris Cornell left this world.
M.T.C.: What do you like to read?
Gage: I like to read books by Al Andrews, he’s this therapist that I really like.
M.T.C.: What does he talk about in his books?
Gage: Well, he’s my therapist so he talks about my life, which is good, there’s a lot of mental health stuff to process through in order to navigate through life.
M.T.C.: How critical do you think it is to have that conversation especially with the passing of Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington?
Gage: I think its super critical actually, it’s important not just for artists but for everybody, everyone has had some sort of trauma, it’s good to talk about it and talk it out and not letting it fester.
To read the full interview with To Speak Of Wolves, click here!
During Warped Tour, John LaMacchia, guitarist for Candiria, sat down with Madness To Creation to reflect on Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington, and truthfully it was very heartwarming on what he had to say:
M.T.C.: I’m sure that you’ve been asked about this, if you don’t want to answer I understand, but any thoughts on Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell?
John: You know, I was growing up as a huge Soundgarden fan, I was never a Linkin Park fan, but I do appreciate them. I think the saddest thing is that is that people are writing this person off as an addict or a drunk, I saw somebody write a post as we posted something about it, is that it’s important to remember how powerful depression can be, and how powerful those thoughts can get, and no matter, and all of those judgments and all of those things being said about him being a coward, you know, “how can you take your life when you have six children”, you’re speaking about this person like he was in the frame of mind that you’re dealing with someone who is just normal, he’s not, this guy had serious mental issues, he was struggling with addiction and depression, you cannot judge that person when they are in that state of mind, they’re not thinking like a normal person. Being a coward shouldn’t even come into this, it has nothing to do with that. Suicidal thoughts are a really important topic that we should be discussing more, and we need to educate people more because people don’t understand that this is a sickness, there’s something going on in the brain that is a malfunction, it’s really really sad.
The connection between Chester and Chris Cornell is so dark and it leaves you with so many questions. And people that are talking about how these are no coincidences, these are murders, these guys were about to crack wide open this gigantic child pornography ring, and get all of these people that were involved with it. At this point, who in the hell really knows what is true, or how much of that is true with this connection with this whole thing. I think the most difficult part of it is that you’re left wondering about so many different things and it’s just said. With Linkin Park and their music and what they were a part of probably saved more lives than most people ever do in their entire lives in whatever career they have. Their music was probably so helpful in getting people through such dark times. It’s sad that people would react so nearsightedly with such judgmental remarks and impulsive remarks. How can you judge and how can you speculate that this man was a drunk or did this for this reason, or that he is a coward, it’s horrible man.
Mercedes Arn-Horn of Courage My Love beyond acknowledged that depression is a silent and deadly disease. Madness To Creation sat down with the lead singer of Courage My Love during Vans Warped Tour to discuss this:
M.T.C.: Since we last talked, Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington both passed away, what are your thoughts if you care to share?
Mercedes: I know that you adored Chris’s music. Especially with Chester since I loved Linkin Park and Soundgarden was a big part of my childhood. So both of them, just listening to their music and looking up to them, it’s really sad when you learn that someone is in that much pain, and give up on everything. I know that mental health is such a delicate thing. That’s what is really tragic about it, one moment will seem hopeless and if you could just sleep on it until the next day, I just know that mental health is very fragile and delicate, and if anything good can come out of this, it’s a reminder for us to reach out to the ones that you love. With guys like that, it’s just proof that depression doesn’t really care who you are, it can come for anyone, even if you have family or a lot of money or whatever, it doesn’t matter, it can affect everyone the same way.
To check out the complete interview, click here!
Aaron Nordstrom, vocalist of Gemini Syndrome, shared his sentiments during a one-off date at Spicoli’s in Waterloo, Iowa.
M.T.C.: You brought up Soundgarden a bit ago, what are your thoughts on Chris Cornell?
Aaron: He was such a huge influence on me, “Superunknown” was one of the first records that I have owned when I was a kid, some of the deep traps such as “4th of July” and “Fell On Black Days” were such a once-in-a-generation type of band, and it’s such a shame. I know that everybody has to go sometime, but it’s such a shame.
To check out the complete interview with Aaron of Gemini Syndrome, click here!
Bumblefoot sat down with Madness To Creation to discuss Art Of Anarchy, and Chris Cornell became a topic of discussion:
After the interview, Griffin wanted to share some thoughts on Chris Cornell, so here it is:
“Chris Cornell’s death was kind of a shocker to all of us, we just covered “Black Hole Sun”. It was weird because we got asked to do this split in “The Depression Sessions” with Thy Art Is Murder and Fit For An Autopsy, and our cover that we chose, every single person in the band, in unison, said “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden. Every other band was going to do some death metal song, Fit For An Autopsy did a Nine Inch Nails song, Thy Art Is Murder did “Du Hast” by Rammstein, we all did a 90’s thing, it was really cool. Soundgarden is one of those bands that you really can’t top, they’re going to be timeless, and they’re going to be huge forever. It sucks, like you said, he was the voice of our generation. I’ll never forget first seeing “Black Hole Sun” on MTV, and I was like, “what the hell is this”, and I ended up buying the record the next week. I’m a huge “Superunknown” fan, and I would turn on that record. Soundgarden is one of the best bands in the world.
For the complete interview with Griffin of The Acacia Strain, click here!
Pat Torpey, drummer for Mr. Big, probably offered the most personal story with us, and it was all over a brief conversation. It just really showed how Chris Cornell connected with people.
M.T.C.: Speaking of other artists, we are all mourning the loss of Chris Cornell. Do you have any memories of Chris Cornell or stories about him?
Pat: I do have a little anecdote. About 10 or 12 years ago, I was a big fan of Audioslave. I love that first album that they did. I was a fan of Soundgarden as well. I was playing by myself. I used to go into North Hollywood, I was just in this room, playing by myself, just working on stuff, I would spend hours doing that, and as I came out, there was this little bench right outside the door, outside in the parking lot, and there’s Chris Cornell just sitting there. He was just kind of sitting there having a smoke, I think he might have been reading a book, so I said hello to him and I told him about a Mr. Big song on “What If”(released in 2010), the song is called “Once Upon A Time”, it was inspired by Soundgarden’s song “My Wave”, and I told him about it. He was really cool and we just had a really cool conversation, I told him how much I liked his music, and what he does. He was just a great guy, and when I heard he died, and I thought, “what a loss”. I always feel that when somebody takes their own life, I always feel really bad for their family, it leaves such a void. I’m going to miss him because he’s really talented, and I’m sorry to see that he’s gone.
At the end of the day, 2017 was a sad year in the world of music. Be on the lookout if someone is going through a lot of inner pain in their life, and my readers, continue to be there for your loved ones as well! If you’re reading this and you feel at the end of your rope, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. You are needed by someone and you are loved! If you want to talk to me, message me at
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