Heart’s Ann Wilson Covers Soundgarden’s ‘Black Hole Sun’ on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’
As the rock world continues to mourn the loss of Chris Cornell, the tragedy has also served as a celebration of his music and prolific career spanning Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog and his work as a solo artist. Heart's Ann Wilson had close ties to the singer as both groups emerged from Seattle and Cornell had inducted Heart into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. In tribute, she hit the stage on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as she covered Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun."
Performing with the Kimmel house band, Cleto and the Cletones, Wilson rocked back and forth as she worked her way through the moving lines of Soundgarden's Superunknown classic. The song was stripped down to its essentials as a three-minute version and Wilson built up to a thrilling climax, belting out the final refrain of the song with the vocal power she's displayed throughout her career.
“It’s important now to keep thoughts of Chris positive. He is on his way. We loved him well, now wish him well on his journey. He was and is a beautiful soul," Wilson commented on Thursday (May 18) upon hearing the heartbreaking news. Her sister, Nancy Wilson, added, “No one is ever prepared to hear about a death in the family. And today Chris Cornell my brother from my Seattle music family is gone. I thought his voice would forever grace the world of music. Devastating.”
Cornell's death has been ruled "suicide by hanging" according to the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office. Since this news broke, his widow, Vicky, felt this conclusion was reached in haste since the results of a toxicology test have yet to be revealed. She suggested the prescription drug Ativan could be to blame as Cornell had mentioned to her that "he may have taken an extra Ativan or two." The drug's known side effects include paranoid or suicidal ideation and can impair memory, judgement and coordination.
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