Surviving Soundgarden Members & Cornell’s Widow Reach Agreement Regarding Final Recordings
Soundgarden and Vicky Cornell, Chris Cornell‘s widow and estate representative have announced “an amicable out-of-court resolution” regarding the release of recordings made before the Cornell’s death in May 2017.
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The following was posted to the Cornell and Soundgarden social media sites, “Soundgarden and Vicky Cornell, on behalf of the Estate of Chris Cornell, are happy to announce they have reached an amicable out of court resolution. The reconciliation marks a new partnership between the two parties, which will allow Soundgarden fans around the world to hear the final songs that the band and Chris were working on. The two parties are united and coming together to propel, honor and build upon Soundgarden’s incredible legacy as well as Chris’s indelible mark on music history – as one of the greatest songwriters and vocalists of all time.”
You may remember that in March 2021, Thayil, Cameron, Shepherd and their business manager Rit Venerus filed papers in Washington state U.S. District Court claiming that Vicky Cornell had locked them out of their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vimeo, YouTube, Snapchat, Tumblr, Top Spin and Pinterest accounts, as well as Soundgarden’s official web site, and changing all the passwords.
Cornell was found hanged in his room at the MGM Grand Detroit hotel in May 2017. The death was ruled a suicide.
In December 2019, Vicky filed a lawsuit against the surviving Soundgarden members, alleging the band owed Cornell’s estate hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid royalties and the rights to seven unreleased recordings made before the singer’s death. Cornell is credited as a writer on all seven songs, receiving sole credit on two, “Cancer” and “Stone Age Mind”. He wrote “Road Less Traveled”, “Orphans” and “At Ophians Door” with Matt Cameron; “Ahead Of The Dog” with Kim Thayil; and “Merrmas” with Ben Shepherd.
Yikes.
And remember, In February, Vicky Cornell sued the surviving members of Soundgarden over the buyout price for her stake in the band. The band offered her $300,000 for Chris‘s share. Vicky said that amount was much lower than the actual value, considering the band got an offer of $16 million from an outside investor for Soundgarden’s masters.
Regardless, great to see the band and Vicky come to “an amicable out-of-court resolution”. We will hear ‘new’ Soundgarden at some point!
