Chris Cornell’s death being investigated as possible suicide

Chris Cornell, one of the founding fathers of grunge, was found dead Wednesday night in his hotel room with a “band” around his neck, as police investigate his death as a possible suicide, according to a report.

Cornell, 52, who gained fame as the lead singer of the bands Soundgarden and later Audioslave, had been on tour with Soundgarden and just finished a show at the Fox Theater when he was found dead inside his hotel room at the MGM Grand Detroit.

Cornell’s rep Brian Bumbery confirmed the news to the Associated Press, calling the death “sudden and unexpected.”

Cornell’s wife of 13 years, Vicky Karayiannis, and his family, are in shock, Bumbery said, adding that the family is working closely with the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s office to determine the cause of death.

Cornell tweeted Wednesday at 8 p.m. before the show, “#Detroit finally back to Rock City!!!! @soundgarden #nomorebulls—t,” along with a photo of the Fox Theater.

Detroit Police Department spokesman Michael Woody told the Associated Press Thursday morning that there were “basic things observed at the scene” that point to a possible suicide, but would not provide any other details.

Woody said that Cornell’s wife called a family friend asking him to check on Cornell who then forced the hotel room door open and found Cornell on the bathroom floor at about midnight.

Another police spokesman, Dontae Freeman, told the Detroit Free Press that Cornell was found with a “a “band” around his neck.

Cornell, a leading voice of the 1990s grunge scene, rose to fame with the Seattle-based rock band – formed in 1984 – as the singer and frontman creating a range of tunes such as “Jesus Christ Pose,” “Fell on Black Days,” and “Black Hole Sun,” before moving on to Audioslave with Rage Against the Machine members Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk.

Soundgarden’s breakthrough album “Superunknown” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and was nominated in 1995 for a Grammy for Best Rock Record.

The band split in 1997 and Cornell, with his powerful four-octave vocal range released his first solo album in 1999, which featured the hit “Can’t Change Me.”

His Golden Globe award-winning song, “You Know My Name,” was written for the 2006 James Bond flick “Casino Royale.”

Audioslave formed in 2001 and the band released three albums before breaking up in 2007. The group became the first American rock band to perform an open-air concert in Cuba.

Cornell later reunited with Soundgarden and released the band’s sixth studio album, “King Animal” in 2012.

The long-haired singer from Seattle struggled with drug use from an early age and checked in a rehab for several months in 2003, eventually overcoming alcohol and drug addiction.

“It was something I didn’t want to do and I guess I was intimidated by it. I thought I was smart enough and that it wasn’t really necessary. But it got to the point where I had to do something,” Cornell told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer in 2006.

He said at the time he wouldn’t have had a relationship Karayiannis if he was still battling his demons.

“I mean, I would not have met her and we would not have had a relationship. The long and short of it is that she wouldn’t have had anything to do with me,” he told the newspaper.

Cornell leaves behind his three children, Toni and Christopher, who he had with Karayiannis, and Lillian Jean, who he had with his first wife, Alice in Chains manager Susan Silver, in 2000.

Cornell, who had a home in New York City on East 62nd Street, was also philanthropic, starting the charitable Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation, which supports children facing poverty and homelessness.

The news of Cornell’s sudden death shook the rock world.

Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry tweeted, “Very sad news about Chris Cornell today. A sad loss of a great talent to the world, his friends and family. Rest In Peace.”

Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page paid tribute to Cornell in a tweet, calling him, “Incredibly Talented,” “Incredibly Young,” and “Incredibly Missed.”

Elton John tweeted, “Shocked and saddened by the sudden death of @chriscornell. A great singer, songwriter and the loveliest man.”

Billy Idol tweeted, “Sad 2 hear of Chris Cornell passing..great singer and artist… another blow…RIP.”

Ben Kowalewicz of punk rock band Billy Talent tweeted, “Just opening my eyes to hear that the amazing and talented Chris Cornell passed away. One of the greatest voices of my generation. So so sad.”

With Post Wires