Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell dies at 52 after committing suicide
Singer Chris Cornell has died at 52 years old after being discovered on the bathroom floor of his hotel room at MGM Grand Detroit following a show Wednesday night.
A medical examiner determined early Thursday afternoon that Cornell killed himself by hanging, though a full autopsy report has not been completed.
His wife allegedly called a family friend to check on the singer, and that's when the popular singer was found dead. An official told TMZ that the family friend found Cornell with "a band around his neck" after having to force his way into the musician's room.
The Soundgarden frontman performed earlier in the night, and the last song that he sang on stage was a cover of Led Zeppelin's "In My Time of Dying."
"In my time of dying, I want nobody to mourn. All I want for you to do is take my body home," the lyrics read.
Just hours before his death, Cornell also posted a clip from a Soundgarden song, "By Crooked Steps," on his Facebook account. The graphic lyrics may have hinted at his death, with one line going like this: "Blood raining down cuts a deep, deep river and we're diving, and we're diving."
His rep released this statement following his death:
"Chris Cornell passed away late Wednesday night in Detroit, MI. His wife Vicky and family were shocked to learn of his sudden and unexpected passing, and they will be working closely with the medical examiner to determine the cause. They would like to thank his fans for their continuous love and loyalty and ask that their privacy be respected at this time."
Soundgarden recorded a number of big hits including "Hunted Down" and "Badmotorfinger." The group's first album, "Ultramega Ok," was a huge hit and put their band on the map.
Between 2001 and 2007, Cornell was also part of Audioslave. He blamed "irresolvable personality conflicts" as well as "musical differences" for his departure.
Cornell is survived by his wife, Vicky Karayiannis, and their two young children, Toni and Christopher.
