The tragedy centred on Chris Cornell’s final days is still not enough to overshadow the beauty and light he brought to his audiences when performing live or on record. The Soundgarden singer not only reverberated in the 1990s grunge scene as a unique frontman, championing a delicacy that few could manage, but he did so as one of the era’s finest vocalists.

Cornell’s story is nuanced, but his talent was as clear as ringing a bell. Tonally perfect, he managed to toe the line between the gravelly rock growl that makes grunge so alluring and allowing the tender moments of true craftmanship to shine through. It’s a trick that few of his contemporaries could ever muster.Part of that ability comes from Cornell’s use of the inspirations that made him want to be a singer—the likes of The Beatles, David Bowie, Bauhaus and more—to create a sound all of his own. Twisting the tones and tremors of those artists, Cornell was able to place his singular vocal in a new space occupied by him and him alone. While Cornell regularly noted his admiration of fellow singers, there was one frontman whom he championed above all else: Andy Wood.

You’d be forgiven for not instantly recognising the name of Andy Wood. The frontman for Mother Love Bone is sadly more recognised for how his death led to the creation of Pearl Jam than his notedly impressive talent. However, for Cornell and those who knew him, there was no doubt that he was one of the greatest singers of all time. When reflecting on how he had met Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder, Cornell noted the unwanted reason for their meeting: “It was a difficult time when I met Eddie. We’d all lost a good friend, Andy. Andy’s death was a shock to the system.”A major figure in the Seattle scene of the time, Wood was a former member of Green River who, alongside Soundgarden, had been stalwarts in the music of the city. In 1989, the group were poised to hit the national consciousness after signing a major deal, but before they could begin their ascension to the top, tragedy struck. Having struggled with addiction issues, Wood died following a heroin overdose after being found unresponsive.

The tragedy was not only felt by Wood’s friends and family but the music scene at large. For Cornell, Wood represented the best of the best: “He was Freddie Mercury and Elton John — all of that.” The death would mean the end of Mother Love Bone but the beginning of Pearl Jam as the former’s bandmates Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament began jamming with local musicians Mike McCready and Eddie Vedder.

Vedder would, himself, often cite Wood as a master craftsman and share a kinship with Cornell following his passing. Owing to this connection, the two men would record one of the finest singles of the era, ‘Hunger Strike‘ as part of Cornell’s tribute band to Wood, Temple of the Dog.

Music has often been a healer for those who love it, as Cornell notes: “It felt almost poet­ic when Eddie showed up and we recorded ‘Hunger Strike.’ Eddie had that personality, and he helped us heal.” While Cornell’s family, friends, and fans would experience a similar sadness following the singer’s passing, they are also salved, somewhat, by the music he left behind.