Chris Cornell statue to be erected in Seattle

Tragic rocker Chris Cornell will be immortalised with a statue in his native Seattle, Washington next month (Aug18).
The Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman’s widow, Vicky Cornell, shared the news with fans on Friday (20Jul18), on what would have been the musician’s 54th birthday.
She commissioned sculptor Nick Marras to create the life-size bronze likeness, which will feature Chris with his signature long locks, wearing his much-loved boots and dog tag necklace.
The artwork will be unveiled at Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture on 29 August (18), and in a statement obtained by The Associated Press, Vicky explained the statue is her family’s gift to “the tight-knit community that gave him his start”.
Vicky also took to social media to honour her husband on the rocker’s birthday.
“Today we celebrate you – the artist, the husband, the father, the son, the brother, the friend, the man for all that you’ve blessed us with,” she wrote on Chris’ official Twitter page, which she took over following his passing last year (17).
She followed up the tweet with a black-and-white video featuring clips of the singer onstage.
“Happy Birthday my love….,” Vicky captioned the footage. “Your life touched so many, you left your mark forever on millions of hearts everywhere. You were a rare gift to the world that is forever changed without you.”
Cornell took his own life in May, 2017 following a Soundgarden show in Detroit, Michigan. He was 52.
Friday also marked the first anniversary of Chester Bennington’s suicide. The Linkin Park star, who was close friends with Chris, hanged himself at his California home, aged 41, and his bandmates took to social media to pay tribute to their “brother”, 12 months on from the heartbreaking loss.
Alongside a black and white Instagram image of the musician singing to crowds, they wrote, “It has been a year since your passing – a surreal rotation of grief, heartbreak, refusal, and recognition. And yet it (still) feels like you are close by, surrounding us with your memory and your light. Your one-of-a-kind spirit has authored an indelible imprint on our hearts – our jokes, our joy, and our tenderness.”
“Eternally grateful for the love, life, and creative passion you shared with us and the world,” they concluded. “We miss you more than words can express.”