---
title: "Grunge rock icon Chris Cornell dies at 52: reports"
description: "Singer Chris Cornell, the grunge rock pioneer and lead singer of the group Soundgarden, has died after performing with the group in Detroit, US news reports said Thursday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "AFP"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/afp/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-05-18-grunge-rock-icon-chris-cornell-dies-at-52-reports/"
published: "2017-05-18T12:49:44"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 73
---

# Grunge rock icon Chris Cornell dies at 52: reports

> Singer Chris Cornell, the grunge rock pioneer and lead singer of the group Soundgarden, has died after performing with the group in Detroit, US news reports said Thursday.

By AFP · Published 18 May 2017, 14:49 SAST

## Content

In addition to Soundgarden, Cornell, 52, achieved fame as the frontman for another popular rock band, Audioslave, and was a member of the rock "supergroup" Temple of the Dog.

Variety magazine said Cornell died after appearing late Wednesday at Detroit's Fox Theater, the latest stop on a national tour by Soundgarden.

The Grammy-award winning singer and lyricist was a native of Seattle, Washington.

The cause of Cornell's death was not immediately reported. DM