How Chris Cornell's Suicide Impacted His Fans
Editor’s note: If you experience suicidal thoughts or have lost someone to suicide, the following post could be potentially triggering. You can contact the Crisis Text Line by texting “START” to 741-741.
My boyfriend worked late on a Wednesday night, so he passed on the chance to go to Soundgarden’s show at Fox Theatre in Detroit. There’s no way he could have known that this would be their last ever show with lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Cornell.
“If I knew that was his last show, I would have shelled out hundreds of dollars for the tickets,” my boyfriend told me. “I’ll miss the way he used to write and create. I’ve never heard another band that I’ve felt so deeply about as the bands he’s been in.”
But the thing is, Wednesday night shouldn’t have been Cornell’s last show. He should’ve been playing into his 70s like Mick Jagger. Instead, after the show was over, Cornell, 53, died by suicide.
As I listen to “Black Hole Sun,” I wish Cornell felt like he had something to live for — a feeling his music gave to so many others.
Sarah Wojcik, a reporter at C & G Newspapers, said that Cornell’s music made her feel like she wasn’t alone during some of the loneliest and most depressed times of her life.
“So many people are so sad about it. He died hours after a sold out show in his self-professed favorite city,” she said. “The crowd adored him. I wonder if he had already made up his mind to do it and wanted to go out on a high note. Just so many questions. I wish he would’ve kept living because he was so brilliant and talented. He had a family and young kids. He had so many people that loved him.”
Michael Grosvenor of Union Lake, Mich. saw Cornell live three times in three bands — Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of The Dog. He most recently saw him with Temple of The Dog just six months ago at The Forum in California.
“Having been a fan for 20 to 25 years, this news was terrible to wake up to, and I’m still a complete shock,” he said. “He was the most versatile vocalist in rock music, bar none.”
Cornell’s wife Vicky Cornell told TMZ that there were no signs at all that her husband was suicidal or depressed.
The only sign Cornell gave was during the last song he performed, where he reportedly sang the lyrics to Led Zeppelin’s “In My Time of Dying.”
William Cyprian, saxophonist in the band Motor City Groove, said, “I want to say that we as musicians, but also as people, must look out for one another.”
“Though the signs may not be apparent, we have to do what we can to check up and love each other. A simple ‘Hey, Just checking up on you’ could mean the world to someone going through things they can’t talk about. Maybe this applies, maybe it doesn’t, but it is something to think about.”
Like Cornell’s death, many times suicide is not preceded by warning signs.
Annmarie Dadoly, former editor of Harvard Health, wrote, “Many suicides (estimates range from 30 percent to 80 percent) are impulsive, with just minutes or an hour elapsing between the time a person decides upon suicide and when he or she [acts].”
There’s no way anyone could have known that this was going on in Cornell’s mind. It’s no one’s fault. But I wish that he would’ve given someone the chance to stop him. I wish Wednesday night was not the last time Cornell sang a note, played a guitar or talked to his wife on the phone. I wish there was more.
Caitlin Renton, an Oakland University grad, told me, “When someone seems like they should be on top of the world — great career, family, etc. — you never know what they’re really going through.”
“This is exactly why it’s so important to pay close attention to your friends and family no matter how busy life gets. Talk to them, ask questions and make sure they know you care.”
If you or someone you know needs help, visit our suicide prevention resources page.
If you need support right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text “START” to 741-741.
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Photo via Chris Cornell Facebook page
Monica's goal is to raise awareness about suicide and help erase the stigma associated with mental illness. In 2012, she won first place in News Enterprise Reporting by the Michigan Press Association for her series on suicide in the community, and in 2013, was named “Digital Innovator of the Year” by the Local Media Association. She started the blog Meant to Live to help others by sharing signs of depression, reasons to live, resources, suicide and bullying prevention groups, other people’s stories and memorials. She especially wants to show people that they are not alone.
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