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SOUNDGARDEN Guitarist On Upcoming CHRIS CORNELL Tribute Concert: 'I Suppose It Will Be Somewhat Anxious'

November 18, 2018

A benefit concert in memory of late SOUNDGARDEN and AUDIOSLAVE frontman Chris Cornell, billed as "I Am The Highway: A Tribute To Chris Cornell", will take place at the Forum in Los Angeles on January 16, 2019. Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the show will feature performances from FOO FIGHTERS and METALLICA, as well as appearances from Cornell's former bandmates in SOUNDGARDEN, AUDIOSLAVE, TEMPLE OF THE DOG and more.

Speaking to Forbes, SOUNDGARDEN guitarist Kim Thayil said about the event: "I suppose it will be somewhat anxious. SOUNDGARDEN didn't initially corral this lineup for a project. It was driven by booking agents and Chris's wife Vicky, who really wanted to organize this, and our management. I'm sure it will be just fine and we'll be able to deal with it just fine.

"The lineup was put together by Vicky, management and the booking agents all with our approval," he continued. "The only people on the bill are people that SOUNDGARDEN members approved of.

"They were looking for people the band had a history with, Chris had a history with and people who were supportive of us over our careers and fans of ours who could do some of this material justice."

Asked if there are particular songs that he would be excited to play that night, Thayil said: "I think Matt [Cameron], Ben [Shepherd] and I will collectively decide which songs we'll throw our best fist forward."

Kim added that he is excited about getting to perform some of the SOUNDGARDEN music again. "I'm looking forward to doing some of these songs with Marcus Durant, who is the singer with this MC50 project we're doing."

Proceeds from the show will benefit the the Chris And Vicky Cornell Foundation as well as the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation (EBMRF).

Cornell was pronounced dead on May 18, 2017 after being found unresponsive in his Detroit hotel room. SOUNDGARDEN had played a show earlier that evening. The 52-year-old had sedatives and an anxiety drug in his system, but died as a result of hanging himself.

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