Chris Cornell dies aged 52

Chris Cornell, frontman with Soundgarden and Audioslave, has died aged 52.

His representative Brian Bumbery told the Associated Press that the singer passed away unexpectedly in Detroit on Wednesday night.

Soundgarden apparently played a 20-song set at the city’s Fox Theatre last night (May 17), with six more shows scheduled on their spring 2017 tour.

Cornell was born in Seattle in 1964, forming Soundgarden 20 years later with Kim Thayil and Hiro Yamamoto. Their biggest success came with 1994’s Superunknown, which included the single “Black Hole Sun”.

After the band split in 1997, Cornell embarked on a solo career with 1999’s Euphoria Morning, before forming Audioslave with former Rage Against The Machine members Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk.

Cornell resumed his solo career after that band’s split, recording “You Know My Name”, the theme song to the 2006 James Bond movie, Casino Royale, and notably working with Timbaland on 2009’s Scream.

Soundgarden’s first album in 16 years, King Animal, was released in 2012, while the group’s debut album, 1987’s Ultramega OK, was released in a remixed and expanded version in 2017.

The cause of Cornell’s death is not yet known.

A host of musicians have paid tribute:

RIP Chris Cornell. Damn

— mark lanegan (@marklanegan) May 18, 2017

A mutual friend called me and tells me my bro passed away. #RIPChrisCornell You are a great artist Love to Vicki and fam @nilerodgers pic.twitter.com/FhG0fhT0q1

— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) May 18, 2017

SO SO stunned to hear about Chris Cornell! Such a terrible and sad loss! Thinking of his family tonight! RIP

— Dave Navarro (@DaveNavarro) May 18, 2017

Devastating news about Chris Cornell One of the greatest voices in rock . My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and close friends

— Jason Bonham (@Jason_Bonham) May 18, 2017

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