On 18th May, 2017, rock and roll lost one of its greats, Chris Cornell. To be honest, I didn’t know a whole lot about Chris Cornell at this time. I recognised the name; I was familiar with his band Soundgarden (in particular “Black Hole Sun”, having been introduced to the song by my older sisters at a young age and being in equal parts terrified of and awed by the music video); and I was vaguely aware of the existence of Audioslave, Cornell’s other band, post-Soundgarden. But over the last year, and in fact over the last couple of weeks in particular, I have familiarised myself with the man and the music, and while I’ve necessarily had to reflect on music’s (and the world’s) tragic loss, I feel grateful that I have had the pleasure of being able to experience such a rare talent.
Cornell died by suicide on May 18th 2017. Two months later, on what would have been Cornell’s 53rd birthday, Cornell’s friend and Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington also died by suicide. They join the list of musical artists who have died either by suicide or due to another mental health-related difficulty (such as addiction), in particular those belonging to the “Seattle Sound” music scene, Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain being one of the most notable (I say Seattle Sound because I have read that some of the artists belonging to this tradition don’t necessarily approve of “grunge”, a term which many of us might use to refer to Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam and the like).
As I listen to “Hunger Strike” by Temple of the Dog for what must be the 14,000th time over the last few days (Temple of the Dog being a supergroup formed by Cornell and members of fellow Seattle-based rockers Pearl Jam), I am overwhelmed with both positive and negative emotions. It is a beautiful song, incredibly emotive and evocative, even from the opening few chords. Cornell’s extraordinary and commanding voice (he reportedly had a nearly-four-octave range) teamed with Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam’s deep and stirring pipes are stunning. But the fact that this voice is now gone is truly a tragic thing. Not just because he was such a huge driving force of the late-’80s/early-’90s Seattle Sound movement, but because he had a family, and, from what it seems, was a dear friend to many. He formed Temple of the Dog as a tribute to another Godfather of Grunge (I couldn’t help myself with the alliteration), Andrew Wood – a friend and former roommate of Cornell who had experienced drug addiction and died of a heroin overdose.
Not everyone has to be a fan of the Seattle Sound, but as a genre it provided a voice to many disaffected youth, and it’s hard to argue with Cornell’s influence on this alternative raw-nerve rock movement. Tragically, the fact that this kind of music is so raw and emotional, and appealed to so many individuals experiencing pain and disillusionment, may somewhat (and I stress the word somewhat) explain (though by no means make it easier to accept) why these talented musicians have tragically passed – along with Wood, fellow alternative rockers Layne Staley and Scott Weiland of the bands Alice in Chains and Stone Temple Pilots, respectively, also died of drug overdoses. These suicides and overdoses point to emotional difficulties such as depression and addiction in these artists, and while their pain and vulnerability spoke to a generation, it very likely ultimately killed them.
Thinking back over these and other tragic losses that have occurred recently, I want to make an appeal to anyone who is going through any kind of mental health difficulty. Life is both brutal and beautiful, and it can go from one to the other in the flip of a coin – but just remember that, just as there are things in the world that can make us feel hopeless, there are things in the world that can give us hope. While there may not be happiness at the moment, there is always hope.
So if you are struggling – talk to someone. If you are concerned for your safety, go to the GP or Emergency Department of your nearest hospital, or call the Samaritans.
If you feel sad, depressed, down, anxious, or hopeless, tell someone – a friend, family member, counsellor, or doctor.
Look after yourself (always, not just when experiencing difficulties) and do the things that nourish you – go for a walk, go for a run, do some yoga, treat yourself to a fancy coffee, treat yourself to a fancy cake, meditate, write down what you are grateful for, start a journal, draw a picture, write a poem, write a song, listen to your favourite song, watch your favourite movie, listen to a podcast, phone a friend, practice self-kindness, ask yourself how you can turn your current situation into a meaningful experience, lend a hand, donate to charity, sit out in the sun, stand out in the rain, play with a puppy or a baby, throw out what you don’t need, prioritise sleep, eat more fruit and veg, drink more water, make a healthy meal from scratch, find purpose in your job, don’t answer work emails at home, do a digital detox, do an alcohol detox, spend more time with loved ones, have a check-up, learn a new skill, light a nice candle, remind yourself that you are wonderful.
Know that you are not alone.
Also, go listen to “Hunger Strike”, because it is freaking gorgeous.
Samaritans Contact Info:
Free call 116 123 in the Republic of Ireland or UK
Text 087 2 60 90 90 (Republic of Ireland, standard message rates apply)
Email jo@samaritans.ie
Visit www.samaritans.ie for details of the nearest branch
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