Polo (Dog)
When Chris Cornell passed away, he had two dogs, Polo the white German Shepherd (seen here) and Ella the Pug. Cornell always had dogs throughout his life. He was inspired by then and often referenced them in his music.
Ella (Dog)
Rock legend Chris Cornell had a pug named Ella.
Bill (Dog)
In the 1990s, Chris Cornell had a dog named Bill that was a Rottweiler-Labrador mix.
Pancake, Howdy, and Bunky (Dog)
In the 1990s, Chris Cornell has three Pomeranians named Pancake, Howdy, and Bunky. tragically, one of his Pomeranians was eaten by one of his German Shepherds, which he then had to give away.
White German Shepherds (Dog)
When Chris Cornell passed away, he had a white German Shepherd named Polo, but it wasn’t his first. He had another white German Shepherd in the 1990s seen here. He had a second German Shepherd at the time, which we believe may have also been white. In September 1999, Cornell told Raygun Magazine about one of his German Shepherds tragically killing one of his Pomeranians, ‘We have a white German Shepherd and two Pomeranians. That’s one big and two little. We used to have two big and three little. Then one of the bigs ate one of the littles, so we had to give him away. That was hard. We essentially lost two dogs in one four-minute incident. You have a sense of responsibility and a bond with this creature, whether it’s a human or an animal, and we’ve always had an amazing bond with animals.”
Chris Cornell
Birthday
July 20, 1964 (59)
Links (Tags)
Chris Cornell was an American musician and singer-songwriter. He was best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter, and rhythm guitarist for the rock band Soundgarden, which he co-founded in 1984. He was also known for his work as the lead vocalist for the supergroup Audioslave and for his solo career. Cornell’s powerful and wide-ranging voice, as well as his songwriting abilities, made him one of the most respected and influential musicians of his generation. He passed away in May 2017.
Cornell had a rich history of collaborations that interweave through his long and storied career. His first notable collaboration, alongside bandmates Kim Thayil and Hiro Yamamoto, resulted in the formation of Soundgarden, an iconic band that would become a defining voice of the grunge movement in the early 90s. Their monumental album, “Superunknown,” not only reached the top of the Billboard charts but also earned the band two Grammy Awards.
Later, Cornell would work with members of another legendary band, Rage Against the Machine, to create Audioslave. With Cornell’s powerful vocals and Tom Morello‘s innovative guitar work, the band produced their eponymous debut album, which went multi-platinum and further solidified Cornell’s reputation as one of rock’s most prolific voices.
Simultaneously, Cornell continued to demonstrate his versatility, collaborating with accomplished composer David Arnold for the theme song “You Know My Name” for the James Bond film “Casino Royale.” This collaboration marked the first time an American male artist performed the theme song for a Bond movie in over two decades. The song showcased Cornell’s ability to adapt his rock roots into a cinematic context and earned a World Soundtrack Award in 2007.
Cornell’s acoustic collaboration with Timbaland in the album “Scream” demonstrated his capacity to step outside his comfort zone, combining rock with electronic and hip hop influences. While the album received mixed reviews, it stands as a testament to Cornell’s willingness to experiment and evolve as an artist.
Cornell also had a notable collaboration with Eddie Vedder, lead singer of Pearl Jam, for the band Temple of the Dog. The band, a tribute to their mutual friend Andrew Wood, released a single album, featuring the hit song “Hunger Strike” – a duet between Cornell and Vedder that became one of the most definitive songs of the era.
His final collaboration was his solo work. His last studio album, “Higher Truth,” which he worked on with producer Brendan O’Brien, showcased a stripped-back, folk-oriented sound that beautifully displayed the range and depth of Cornell’s voice. While each of these collaborations have contributed significantly to the fabric of popular music, they also serve as a poignant reminder of Cornell’s limitless artistry, his willingness to push boundaries, and his profound influence on the music industry.