The recent loss of Chris Cornell in May sent shockwaves through the global musical community and this month Brisbane musicians pay tribute to him at New Globe Theatre.
The late singer will be honoured in a celebration of his life and music, led by Brisbane musician Kevin Lennon who says the news of Chris’ death affected him deeply. “That was a big one for me,” Kevin says.
“I really got into Soundgarden in the mid ‘90s, but I remember being young and seeing them on TV and always paying attention to them. I was ten-years old when I started to develop my own taste in music, so [Chris has] been there from the beginning. Plus he’s unparalleled really, there’s no one like him.
“A lot of people don’t know that guitar-wise he was a big part of Soundgarden as well. I think people focussed on Kim Thayil but [Chris] was the main songwriter for a lot of the stuff and he was always interested in being different.”
In addition to celebrating the life and musical legacy of Chris Cornell, Kevin says a big part of the event is to raise money and awareness for suicide prevention with proceeds being donated to a local charity that provides services for the vulnerable.
“I understand when you’re in that headspace you’re not quite yourself and unfortunately there was no one around him at the time and he got lost down the hole,” he says. "That’s why we’re donating proceeds from the show to a suicide prevention charity in Brisbane; we can’t name them yet; we’re still talking to them, but it all looks good.
“If nothing less, this can bring people together on the issue because it does happen a lot, a lot of my friends have done it. I’ve struggled with it myself and it’s not looked after the way it should be. There’s not enough awareness around [suicide] and not enough money for it.”
The tribute will consist of musicians and bands such as Edith Thomas Furey, G’n’T (Gary & Tina Summers), and The Green Whistle playing covers and reinterpretations of Chris Cornell’s vast catalogue of work across his band and solo careers.
Rounding out the performance is a band put together just for the night consisting of Kevin, Andrew Porter (Ghost Audio), Wade Norris (Face Of Mutiny) and Aaron Wright (Ages Of Earth), fronted by various singers.
“Bertie Page is going to be the main vocalist, but we’ve got about six or seven singers getting up during the night and they’re from bands all across Brisbane,” Kevin says. “That’s the final set of the night and it will be all Soundgarden songs.”
Ultimately, Kevin says the tribute is about honouring a great vocalist and songwriter whose music touched and inspired a generation. “Really we just want to celebrate Chris,” Kevin says.
“We want to walk away feeling like we’ve been a part of something and a lot of people wanted a bit of closure. It was a really personal thing for a lot of people when he died. Obviously we don’t know him, but I think the sense that everyone wanted to come together to do something was great.
“Then also we wanted to do some good and put some money towards the related cause and raise a little bit of awareness around that.”
‘No-One Sings Like You Anymore – A Tribute To Chris Cornell’ takes place at New Globe Theatre (Brisbane) 19 August.
