Foo Fighters and Metallica are among the performers to make appearances at the upcoming tribute concert in honor of the late Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell.
The show, dubbed “I Am The Highway: A Tribute To Chris Cornell,” will take place at Los Angeles’ The Forum on January 16, 2019. Talk-show personality Jimmy Kimmel will host the event. While Foo Fighters and Metallica will each perform, Audioslave and Temple Of The Dog will also take the stage, as well as the former bandmates of Soundgarden.
“In May ’17 we lost one of the most unique, distinctive & game-changing voices with the passing of Chris Cornell,” Metallica said in a tweet. “Join us on January 16 at The Forum in Los Angeles as we get in on the celebration & pay tribute to a true one-of-a-kind talent.”
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation to help vulnerable children, as well as the Epidermolysis Bullosa Medical Research Foundation.
Kim Thayil of Soundgarden told Forbes that Cornell’s wife Vicky was heavily involved in organizing the event and the artists on the bill were artists that Soundgarden members approved of. The performers consist of bands that Soundgarden had a history with and who supported Cornell and the group over the years.
Thayil said the group would “collectively decide which songs we’ll throw our best fist forward,” noting that he is excited to perform 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,” he said.
Cornell died last May at 52-years-old. The singer was found unresponsive in his hotel room following a Soundgarden show in Detroit. While he had sedatives and an anxiety drug in his system, he was pronounced dead by hanging.
This past Friday, Chris Cornell’s Career Retrospective was released, which includes 64 songs from Cornell’s time in Soundgarden and Temple Of The Dog, as well as solo work.
