A statue of the late Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell will be erected in his home town of Seattle, his widow has announced.
Speaking to The Seattle Times, Vicky Cornell said she has hired the artist and sculptor Wayne Toth, whose previous work includes a statue of Johnny Ramone at his graveside in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, the same cemetery where Chris Cornell is buried.
The statue will take around 7 months to complete, although Vicky Cornell says that she and her two children with her late husband, Toni and Christopher, are impressed by an initial design. The specific location of the statue within the city of Seattle is yet to be determined.
"He is Seattle's son," she said, inviting Soundgarden fans and Seattle locals to suggest possible locations. "And we will be bringing him home and honouring him, I hope, with all of you, your love and support."
She has also committed $100,000 to the Chris Cornell Music Therapy Program at the Seattle non-profit charity Childhaven. “Chris was always interested in protecting traumatized children who had suffered physical or psychological abuse,” Vicky Cornell said. “He always felt music was a way to heal even neurological and emotional conditions.”
Cornell took his own life by hanging earlier this year. On what would have been the Soundgarden and Audioslave singer’s 53rd birthday one July 20 this year, his close friend Chester Bennington of Linkin Park was also found dead in similar circumstances.
Cornell’s 12-year-old daughter Toni recently took part in a live tribute to her father and Bennington, singing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah live on stage with One Republic.
