Brad Pitt, the who’s who of rock ‘n’ roll pay tribute at Chris Cornell’s funeral - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Brad Pitt, the who’s who of rock ‘n’ roll pay tribute at Chris Cornell’s funeral

Associated Press | By, Los Angeles
May 27, 2017 09:36 AM IST

From movie stars to rock icons, everyone was in attendance at Soundgarden, Audioslave, and Temple of the Dog vocalist Chris Cornell’s funeral.

Music’s elite and Hollywood stars remembered Chris Cornell at a sombre memorial service Friday that focused on the Soundgarden frontman’s love of family and friends as much as it did on his musical achievements as one of rock’s leading voices.

Brad Pitt attends a memorial service for Chris Cornell at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Friday.(AP)
Brad Pitt attends a memorial service for Chris Cornell at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Friday.(AP)

“Chris was as melodic as The Beatles, as heavy as Sabbath and as haunting as Edgar Allan Poe,” Tom Morello, Cornell’s Audioslave bandmate, said during his eulogy. “The demons he wrestled with were real, but he harnessed those demons and rode them like a mother-flipping chariot of lightning strapped with Marshall stacks to make some of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll of all time.”

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington and guitarist Brad Delson performed Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” for the crowd of mourners, including Brad Pitt, Pharrell Williams, James Franco, Christian Bale and numerous members of rock royalty, many of whom were moved to tears.

Four large portraits of Cornell were on display on a dais where Morello, actor Josh Brolin, Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament, film producer Eric Esrailian and Cornell’s Soundgarden bandmates Kim Thayil and Matt Cameron delivered eulogies under overcast skies at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Christian Bale attends a funeral for Chris Cornell at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Friday. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Christian Bale attends a funeral for Chris Cornell at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Friday. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

They all spoke of the rocker’s compassion and his delight in his three children. Cameron said he and Cornell had “so many normal dad conversations” about the Cornell kids: Christopher, Toni and Lily.

“Losing my brother and artistic soulmate will always pale in comparison with you three kids losing your dad,” Cameron said. “Let it be known that I am here for you and will forever be in your lives.”

Linda Ramone opened the service with word that Cornell was buried next to her late husband, punk rocker Johnny Ramone, whose headstone features a statue of him playing guitar.

Cornell’s grave marker, decorated with bouquets of flowers and several red roses, reads, “Voice of our generation and an artist for all time.”

A plaque marking Chris Cornell's gravesite appears, covered in guitar picks and flowers, following the late singer's funeral at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Friday. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
A plaque marking Chris Cornell's gravesite appears, covered in guitar picks and flowers, following the late singer's funeral at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Friday. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Cornell’s music played before the hour-long service, and afterwards as guests visited his grave site in the cemetery’s Garden of Legends section.

Among those paying respects were Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield of Metallica, Dave Navarro and Perry Farrell of Jane’s Addiction, singer-songwriter Joe Walsh, guitarist Nile Rodgers, rocker Courtney Love and Bush’s Gavin Rossdale.

Courtney Love attends the funeral and memorial service for Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, May 26, 2017 at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. (AFP)
Courtney Love attends the funeral and memorial service for Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, May 26, 2017 at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. (AFP)

Scores of fans gathered outside the cemetery during the service awaiting a public viewing of Cornell’s grave site later Friday afternoon.

“We had to be here. He was part of our generation,” said 49-year-old Marcus Dubray, breaking into tears. He and his wife were visiting Los Angeles from Sacramento for her birthday when they heard about Cornell’s service.

“I was ready to go to Seattle” for the funeral, said fellow fan Alfredo Perez, 47.

Melody Andrade brought her 4-year-old son Jude to memorialise the Seattle rocker. The pair wore matching T-shirts that read, Say Hello 2 Heaven, the title of a Temple of the Dog song Cornell wrote.

Fans wait in line outside Hollywood Forever Cemetery to pay their respects to Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell. (AFP)
Fans wait in line outside Hollywood Forever Cemetery to pay their respects to Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell. (AFP)

“I feel like this is just as big as the death of Elvis or John Lennon. That’s why I had to bring my son,” Andrade said. “There will never be another. He’s a modern day Freddie Mercury. I needed some closure on this.”

Fans brought flowers and notes and sang Cornell’s songs together. Some listened to his music aloud on their phones. One fan brought a guitar and strummed Soundgarden songs. Many left heartfelt notes, guitar picks and one woman left roses wrapped in a flannel shirt, an emblem of the grunge era.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery is the final resting place for numerous stars, including Jayne Mansfield, Douglas Fairbanks, Rudolph Valentino and Cecil B DeMille.

Kanan Sanchez places a folded sheet of paper with the word "Sound" over the stone at the Garden of Legends section of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery where Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell was buried at a funeral service in Los Angeles. (AFP)
Kanan Sanchez places a folded sheet of paper with the word "Sound" over the stone at the Garden of Legends section of the Hollywood Forever Cemetery where Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell was buried at a funeral service in Los Angeles. (AFP)

Cornell, 52, was pronounced dead May 18 after he was found unresponsive in a Detroit hotel room hours after performing a concert with Soundgarden. Coroner’s officials said preliminary autopsy results show the singer hanged himself, but full toxicology results remain pending. The singer’s family has disputed the findings and claim Cornell may have taken more of an anti-anxiety drug than he was prescribed.

Cornell was a leading voice of the grunge movement in the 1990s. Besides Soundgarden, he scored hits as a solo artist and with bands Temple of the Dog and Audioslave.

He is survived by his wife and three children.

Oscars 2024: From Nominees to Red Carpet Glam! Get Exclusive Coverage on HT. Click Here

Get more updates from Bollywood, Hollywood, Music and Web Series along with Latest Entertainment News at Hindustan Times.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On