In a Sea of Bad Takes, Metallica’s James Hetfield Offers a Measured, Touching Thought on Chris Cornell
Suicide brings about a whole host of irrational, misguided takes about what that particular individual should or should not be feeling and how they should deal with those feelings. Chris Cornell’s stunning suicide following Soundgarden’s show in Detroit sent shockwaves through the music community as the 52-year old was here one minute then gone the next, numbing everyone around it.
Soundgarden hasn’t made an official statement yet. Cornell’s social accounts haven’t shined any light on his passing either, and close associates like Pearl Jam have yet to issue official statements. This is an exercise in grief, and everyone grieves differently. Cornell’s Audioslave bandmate Tom Morello offered up a lengthy remembrance following his death and Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron posted briefly on social media along with a short statement from Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready.
But the tributes have mostly come in musical form, however Metallica’s James Hetfield might’ve given us the most measured, elegant take on the aftermath of Cornell’s death in a recent interview with Boston’s WAAF.
“It does make you hug those around you for sure,” a thoughtful Hetfield said. “It makes you realize that there’s a darkness that anyone and everyone can find and feel that they’re trapped in. I know the depth of my darkness at times–it is difficult when you’re in that space to even fathom that there’s someone there that can help you or has been through that before. Sometimes you’re just at such a loss.”
“It’s a sad story, there’s a lot of sad stories recently,” he continued, specifically mentioning the passing of Motorhead’s Lemmy. “It just makes us feel even more grateful to be out here doing what we’re doing.”
Finally an extraordinarily thoughtful take on an impossibly complicated issue.