Kim Thayil’s Account of Learning of Chris Cornell’s Suicide and Its Aftermath

Soundgarden finished a show at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan, on the night of May 18 2017. Frontman Chris Cornell retired to a hotel room after the performance. Early the next morning, drummer Matt Cameron called guitarist Kim Thayil and reported a Facebook post that read “RIP: Chris Cornell.” After a brief period of disbelief, production assistant Paul Lorkowski confirmed that Cornell had died by suicide in his hotel room. The band had been scheduled to headline the Rock on the Range festival in Columbus, Ohio, on May 19.

"Kim, I’m reading a lot of weird s**t on the internet. Somebody posted ‘RIP: Chris Cornell’ on my Facebook page. ” Soundgarden's Kim Thayil reveals how he learned the devastating news of Chris Cornell'

Thayil, bassist Ben Shepherd, and the crew were already en route to Columbus when the news arrived. The touring party—approximately forty personnel, including tour manager Steve Drymalski, production assistant Paul Lorkowski, and security staff—continued the drive, later holding a vigil in the hotel’s conference room. The group chose to return to Seattle by tour bus rather than fly, seeking privacy for grieving. Thayil described a range of responses: some members were “in a daze,” others “sobbing,” and the overall atmosphere shifted from “light banter to heavy silence.”

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• May 18 2017 (late night): Soundgarden’s Detroit show concludes.

"Kim, I’m reading a lot of weird s**t on the internet. Somebody posted ‘RIP: Chris Cornell’ on my Facebook page. ” Soundgarden's Kim Thayil reveals how he learned the devastating news of Chris Cornell'

• Early May 18: Matt Cameron receives the Facebook post; contacts Thayil.

"Kim, I’m reading a lot of weird s**t on the internet. Somebody posted ‘RIP: Chris Cornell’ on my Facebook page. ” Soundgarden's Kim Thayil reveals how he learned the devastating news of Chris Cornell'

• Shortly after: Paul Lorkowski verifies Cornell’s death by suicide.

Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil Recalls “Unexpected” Death of Chris Cornell: “It Seemed Unfathomable”

• May 18 – May 19: Band travels to Columbus, holds hotel vigil, then proceeds to Seattle by bus.

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• Crew size: ~40 people, including musicians, production staff, and drivers.

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• May 19: Planned headline slot at Rock on the Range (canceled).

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Thayil’s memoir notes that he initially dismissed the online post as a prank, responding “Aw, it’s probably just bullshit.” He later expressed that he “didn’t see it coming” and felt personal responsibility for not recognizing any warning signs. Cameron’s phone call served as the first alert, while Lorkowski’s confirmation provided the factual basis for the band’s response. The members collectively decided to avoid media exposure, coordinate the crew, and travel by bus to allow private mourning. Thayil also indicated that the surviving members are now completing Cornell’s unfinished demo recordings, describing them as “very rough sketches” that require collaborative development.

"Kim, I’m reading a lot of weird s**t on the internet. Somebody posted ‘RIP: Chris Cornell’ on my Facebook page. ” Soundgarden's Kim Thayil reveals how he learned the devastating news of Chris Cornell'

The unfinished demos have been subject to a long-running legal dispute between the surviving band members—Thayil, Shepherd, and Cameron—and Chris Cornell’s estate. The contention centers on ownership and the right to finalize and release the recordings. Despite the dispute, the band reports progress in preparing the material for a posthumous album, emphasizing its importance to both Soundgarden’s and Cornell’s legacy.

"Kim, I’m reading a lot of weird s**t on the internet. Somebody posted ‘RIP: Chris Cornell’ on my Facebook page. ” Soundgarden's Kim Thayil reveals how he learned the devastating news of Chris Cornell'

• “Kim, I’m reading a lot of weird shit on the internet. Somebody posted ‘RIP: Chris Cornell’ on my Facebook page.” — Matt Cameron, drummer, Soundgarden

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• “Aw, it’s probably just bullshit,” — Kim Thayil, guitarist, Soundgarden

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• “I didn’t see it coming.” — Kim Thayil

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• “The thing that hurts me the most is to be a close friend and colleague and not to have read things that perhaps, in retrospect, I should have read.” — Kim Thayil

Soundgarden's Kim Thayil Reflects On Chris Cornell's Death: "I’d Known Chris Long Enough To Sense When Something Was Amiss"

The sudden loss prompted an immediate emotional crisis for the band and crew, leading to a private vigil and a shift in touring plans. The incident has also heightened public awareness of mental-health resources, as the Rolling Stone excerpt concludes with suicide-prevention hotline numbers. Completing Cornell’s demos is framed as essential to preserving the artistic contributions of both Soundgarden and its late frontman.

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Thayil’s memoir, *A Screaming Life: Into the Superunknown with Soundgarden and Beyond*, is slated for release on June 9. The band continues to refine Cornell’s demo sketches, aiming to issue a posthumous album that honors his creative output while navigating the ongoing estate dispute.

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