This past Sunday, May 18th, marked the 8th anniversary of Chris Cornell's death. Fellow Seattle musicians, Pearl Jam were playing their tour finale in Pittsburgh and played Hunger Strike in his honor. It's a song that Eddie and Chris sang together for the Temple of the Dog album in 1991.
Here's the the thing, I watching this video and when they get towards the end of the song, Chris would sing the echo to Eddie's lyric "I'm going hungry" only singing it higher. In this video, it's the crowd who is singing Chris's part, complete with the high part. And then it hit me that he's gone.
People like Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington weren't just singers in bands for me, they were my peers. We were all coming up around the same time in the 90s and into the aughts. Both incredibly influential and yet influenced by the same things I was as a young musician. The void they left behind is huge. I often buy my emotions but hearing this crowd sing Chris's part in the void, hit me hard.
Maybe it won't mean as much to you but here's the video. I think it's powerful and is a great tribute to this huge loss.
I miss Chris Cornell.
-Walt