Chris Cornell
1964-2017
In Memoriam
I can’t believe I’m writing this post

Update:
This is about all I can get out.

So I  saw him play once.

Euphoria Morning had just been released.

He was playing a solo concert to promote the album about 30 minutes away from where I live.

We get to the venue, I had been there before for weddings when it was called Galaxy. it was now called The Vanderbilt, if I remember correctly.

You were so close to the stage that it almost seemed disrespectful to me.

There was 200 people there, maybe 300.

He  comes on stage and I'm 15 feet away from him.

I liked the album, I had waited a while to hear him sing without noise behind him.

I just wanted to hear his voice, so when he started singing, I was cheering at first...

But slowly I stopped moving... and I just stared at him in disbelief.

Listening. Taking it all in. 

So after a few songs...there was this moment.

I am one of 200 people, I am not hard to spot from his POV, especially when everyone is moving except for one person...who's standing dead still and glaring you intensely.

He's playing and singing, his eyes are scanning the crowd. 

Then his eyes lock with mine for five- ten seconds.

Long enough that I can say I could feel his energy. 

He was human.

He had played coliseums and now he was on his own, promoting his first solo album, playing for 200 people. 

But he was playing his heart out. 

Singing his lungs out.

So we lock eyes long enough that we acknowledge each other by giving each head nods.

His head went up first.

Then mine.

He was saying:

"Sup man."

He was a vulnerable soul I would imagine. I wouldn't dare pretend to know.

But that look spoke volumes to me, it was a connection I would always remember and cherish. 

It was massive to me.

And he knew it. 

He was nodding at me,  not to say:

Thanks for being here..."

He was saying:

"Hey dude."

Like you would with someone you had locked eyes with passing on the street, someone  you got a good vibe from.

He was human.