On May 18, 2017, Chris Cornell, the iconic lead singer of Soundgarden and Audioslave, died by suicide at age 52. His passing occurred in his hotel room at the MGM Grand Detroit, following a concert with Soundgarden at the Fox Theatre. The Wayne County Medical Examiner officially ruled the cause of death as suicide by hanging.
In the hours leading up to his death, Cornell’s wife, Vicky Cornell, spoke with him by phone. She noted his speech was slurred and that he seemed “different,” leading her to believe he might have taken an “extra Ativan or two.” Concerned, Vicky Cornell promptly contacted Chris Cornell’s bodyguard, Martin Kirsten. Kirsten subsequently had to force entry into Room 1136 of the hotel, where he found Cornell unresponsive on the bathroom floor, with a red exercise band around his neck.
Toxicology reports later indicated the presence of barbiturates, caffeine, lorazepam (Ativan), naloxone, and a decongestant in Chris Cornell’s system. However, the medical examiner concluded that these substances did not cause his death. Despite the official ruling, Chris Cornell’s family, including his wife Vicky, publicly questioned whether his death was an intentional suicide, suggesting his judgment may have been impaired by medication. Vicky expressed her sentiments in a letter, stating, “I know that was not you, my sweet Christopher.”
Adding context to his personal history, Chris Cornell had openly discussed his long-standing battles with depression and feelings of isolation in past interviews, often experiencing periods of unhappiness even when his life outwardly appeared successful. Further insight into his personal struggles emerged from a 2023 study analyzing his song lyrics, which revealed a consistent and increasing presence of themes related to depressed mood, death, and suicide throughout his career, indicating a narrative of negativity.
Accounts from attendees of his final Detroit concert were mixed. Some observers noted Chris Cornell appearing weak, staggering, and mentally disengaged during the performance. Conversely, others described his performance as uncharacteristically joyous and interactive. He concluded his last performance with “Slaves and Bulldozers,” incorporating a refrain from Led Zeppelin’s “In My Time of Dying,” a song with spiritual themes about death. Following his passing, Room 1136 at the MGM Grand Detroit was closed and reportedly became a point of interest for fans, receiving numerous booking inquiries.