LOS ANGELES — Many from Metallica and the Foo Fighters rocked on with electrifying performances as family members gave heartfelt speeches in memory of the late Chris Cornell.
Cornell’s wife, Vicky, stepped onstage struggling to speak at first. But after gathering herself, she eventually thanked everyone for their support and spoke about her husband’s legacy at his tribute concert called “I Am the Highway: A Tribute to Chris Cornell” on Wednesday night at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif.
Cornell died at age 52 in May 2017. His death was ruled a suicide.
“Chris lives on, a music immortal whose passion for helping others is alive today as ever,” said Vicky Cornell, who was brought on stage by actor Josh Brolin. The concert helped raise funds for the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation and the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation.
Cornell was a leader of the grunge movement with Seattle-based Soundgarden, finding early success with them. But he also succeeded with other projects, including Audioslave and Temple of the Dog as well as solo albums.
“This event showcases his contribution to music history across genres and generations,” she said. “We all know how music can change us. But Chris did something more extraordinary. He changed music. … That legacy and influence will last for generations to come.”
Jimmy Kimmel hosted most of the five-hour tribute concert that took the sold-out crowd through Cornell’s career and catalog, with performances by members of his former bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. The all-star lineup also included Miley Cyrus, Adam Levine, Brandi Carlile, Miguel, Chris Stapleton, Ryan Adams and Temple of the Dog.
“We miss you, Chris,” said Cyrus, who performed “Two Drink Minimum” then later “Say Hello 2 Heaven,” a Temple of the Dog song that was written by Cornell. She wore a jacket bearing a picture of Cornell on it.
“I’m honored to be here tonight,” she said.
Brad Pitt introduced Cornell’s daughter, Toni Cornell, who sang while Ziggy Marley played the guitar as they performed his father Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song.” The singer’s other daughter, Lily Cornell Silver, said her father had a “beautiful gift” as a musician.
“The most influential advice he gave me was that his success didn’t come from a desire to have success. It was born from a passion and a love for what he did,” she said.
Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello said Cornell “wrestled with demons” but made some of the “greatest rock ‘n’ roll music of all-time.”
“He proved that he could mix monster rock, rifts with smart lyrics and punk-rock attitude,” he said. “We are saddened that he’s gone. But the memory of his unbridled rock power, his chiseled chest and outrageously perfect hair, and most of all, his music lives on forever.”
After Foo Fighters did three renditions of Cornell’s songs, lead singer Dave Grohl stayed on stage for a solo and performed “Everlong.”
“I woke up sad this morning,” he said. “With all this love, the one person who would appreciate this the most can’t be here tonight. So this song is for him.”
