Soundgarden and Audioslave singer Chris Cornell has died, aged 52

Very sad news.

Rock musician Chris Cornell, best known as the lead singer of Soundgarden and Audioslave, has sadly passed away. He was 52 years old. In a statement to The Associated Press, Cornell’s representative, Brian Bumbery, said that Cornell had died in Detroit on Wednesday night and that his death was “sudden and unexpected”. Cornell’s wife and family were said to be shocked by the death and the statement said that they would be working closely with the medical examiner to determine the cause. They have asked for privacy while they come to terms with such a huge loss. Cornell came to prominence as the lead singer of Soundgarden, which he helped form in the mid-1980s, and later as the lead singer of Audioslave, when he joined former Rage Against the Machine members Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk following the departure of Zak de la Rocha from the band. Cornell also worked on a number of solo projects and collaborated with members of Pearl Jam in a band known as Temple of the Dog. He will be sorely missed.