A private funeral service for rock vocalist Chris Cornell will be held on Friday in Los Angeles, according to the late musician’s lawyer, Kirk Pasich.
Cornell’s body was flown to California on Sunday in preparation for interment at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Arrangements for a public memorial are still being finalized.
Known as the frontman for rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave as well as for the song “You Know My Name” for the James Bond movie “Casino Royale,” Cornell was found dead Thursday at age 52 after he committed suicide. Cornell’s family disputed the results of the coroner’s report, saying that prescription drugs could have led to his decision to hang himself.
“Without the results of toxicology tests, we do not know what was going on with Chris,” Pasich said in a statement on Friday. “Chris, a recovering addict, had a prescription for Ativan and may have taken more Ativan than recommended dosages. The family believes that if Chris took his life, he did not know what he was doing, and that drugs or other substances may have affected his actions.”
Rock bands around the world paid their respects to Cornell with their live shows. U2 played Soundgarden’s hit song “Black Hole Sun” over the PA system before taking the stage at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday night, later dedicating one of their songs to Cornell and his family. Metallica bassist Rob Trujillo also paid tribute by incorporating the song into an extended solo during the band’s show in Boston.