While performing in Tokyo yesterday, Dave Mustaine and Megadeth took a moment to remember Chris Cornell, whose death was announced just a few hours earlier.
“Chris Cornell from Soundgarden died today," a clearly emotional Mustaine told the audience. "When I found out, I was so sad."
After silencing a heckler (who possibly didn't understand Mustaine's announcement about Cornell), he continued: “We have lost one of the most beautiful voices in rock history, and I don’t even know what to say other than that we’re going to dedicate this next song to you, our friends in Tokyo, because we’re here with you and we want to celebrate Chris’ life.”
After telling the audience that he could never sing like Cornell, he asked the crowd to join in and sing with him.
“I love you Chris; I’ll see you one day in heaven,” Mustaine said before the band launched into “Outshined,” a Soundgarden favorite from 1991.
Cornell died Wednesday night, May 17 (or during the early hours of May 18), in Detroit just a few hours after Soundgarden’s performance at the Fox Theatre. His death has been ruled a suicide by hanging.
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Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.
