Report: Chris Cornell Funeral to be Held May 26 in Los Angeles
Just after a week following his death, singer Chris Cornell will reportedly be laid to rest, according to a report from CNN. The news channel reports a pair of sources familiar with the family's plans as stating that the funeral will take place May 26 in Los Angeles.
According to the report, the singer's body is being flown back from Michigan to Los Angeles today (May 21) and the vocalist will be buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. One source told CNN, "The family is thinking about a [public] memorial for fans, but is coping now with their loss and the funeral service."
Cornell's wife became concerned when speaking with the vocalist on the phone not long after the band's show in Detroit Wednesday night (May 17). After security was reached, they arrived to find his hotel room door locked and a second door locked as well before eventually finding the singer slumped in the bathroom. Though EMTs arrived, attempts to revive Cornell were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead in the early morning hours of Thursday (May 18) at the age of 52.
The death was ruled "suicide by hanging" by the Wayne County medical examiner. However, Cornell's family revealed in a statement to the press that the singer had been slurring his words and repeating how tired he was before hanging up the phone, expressing that he had taken an "extra Ativan or two." The prescription drug was meant to help with his anxiety, but it has been known to have side effects.
It is the family's belief that the singer did not know what he was doing when he took his life and they are awaiting the toxicology report to see what role that Ativan or other drugs might have played in contributing to his death.
In addition to fronting Soundgarden, Cornell also headed up the bands Audioslave and Temple of the Dog and maintained a solo career. In just the past year, Cornell had performed shows with all three bands as well as releasing music and touring in support of his Higher Truth solo album. Soundgarden were working on their next album, while Cornell had expressed interest in doing more with both Audioslave and Temple of the Dog with schedules permitting.
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