Soundgarden and Audioslave Frontman Chris Cornell Dead at 52

Chris Cornell, the lead singer for Soundgarden and Audioslave, died on Wednesday night, according to a representative who confirmed his death with CNN and other media outlets. He was 52. The cause of his death is still under investigation, with some reports pointing to a possible suicide.

Cornell was in Detroit on tour with Soundgarden on Wednesday and took part in a show at the Fox Theatre hours before his death. His representative released a short statement on Thursday morning explaining that his death was “sudden and unexpected.”

“His wife Vicky and family were shocked to learn of his sudden and unexpected passing, and they will be working closely with the medical examiner to determine the cause of death,” the statement said. “They would like to thank his fans for their continuous love and loyalty and ask that their privacy be respected at this time.”

Many of Cornell’s fellow musicians have responded to the news about his death by posting tributes on social media.

Cornell helped form Soundgarden in the early 1980s. The band won Grammy Awards in 1995 for their songs “Black Hole Sun” and “Spoonman,” which both appeared on their breakout 1994 album, Superunknown. The band broke up and reunited several times over the years, and in 2001, Cornell teamed up with three former Rage Against the Machine band members to form Audioslave.

On Sunday, Cornell shared a tweet honoring his wife on Mother’s Day, which makes this sad event even more heartbreaking.

To my @vickycornell you are an angel and a lioness. The perfect mother and the perfect wife. I love you! Happy #MothersDay2017 pic.twitter.com/Olv4Wyh1zD

— Chris Cornell (@chriscornell) May 14, 2017

Our condolences to his family.