Chris Cornell, the famed singer of Soundgarden and Audioslave, died on May 18, 2017, in Detroit at the age of 52. His death was officially ruled a suicide by hanging in his hotel room after a concert.

What happened to Chris Cornell?

  • Cornell was found unresponsive in the bathroom of his suite at the MGM Grand Detroit just after midnight, following a Soundgarden show in the city on May 17, 2017.
  • The Wayne County Medical Examiner concluded that he died by suicide, specifically by hanging with an exercise/resistance band attached to the bathroom door.
  • He was pronounced dead at around 1:30 a.m., and the case was closed with no evidence of foul play reported by Detroit police.

Autopsy, medications, and official findings

  • Toxicology reports showed several prescription drugs in his system (including the anti‑anxiety medication lorazepam/Ativan), but the medical examiner stated they did not cause his death or change the conclusion of suicide by hanging.
  • The autopsy described a ligature mark on his neck consistent with hanging and documented that a resistance band had been tied to a clip over the bathroom door.
  • He had a long history of depression and substance use issues, which many commentators and clinicians later discussed in connection with his death.

Family views and ongoing questions

  • Cornell’s wife, Vicky, has publicly questioned whether his mental state was influenced by overprescribed medications, particularly Ativan, and has suggested that the drug may have impaired his judgment the night he died.
  • Some fans and online communities have speculated about alternative explanations, including foul play or accidental death, but no official investigation has supported these theories, and authorities continue to list the manner of death as suicide.

Legacy and impact

  • Chris Cornell is remembered as one of the defining voices of the 1990s grunge movement, fronting Soundgarden, co-founding Temple of the Dog, and later leading Audioslave.
  • His death sparked renewed conversations about mental health, addiction, and the pressures of fame, and tributes from musicians and fans around the world have continued in the years since.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.