In this episode I share tons of stories about Chris Cornell & how I met him when I was 14 years old. The story is in the song I wrote for him called, “Chris Cornell I Miss You So Much”. I play the song Live and then circle around and share the stories, which will so inspire you as a Songwriter. Even if you’re a… "Grandma Betty”, you’re gonna get a kick out of this episode of Build The Song.
So, from the Creator Yacht I live on here in Downtown Honolulu, welcome to Build the Song!
I mention Andrew Wood first, because it seemed so fitting. Not only because I knew Andrew, and we smoked flower before many of his shows when his band was called Malfunkshun (before Mother Love Bone). Andrew would always ask for me because… uh, yes Robbie always had a pipe for enjoying Canibus.
The first time I met Chris Cornell was in 1984. I was 14 years old, and a Freshman at West Seattle High School. He was wearing combat boots, cut-off shorts, and some kind of custom-cut T-shirt. It was in an old basement at Norman Scott’s Dad’s house. We all called him “Uncle Norm”.
There was lots of Rainer Beer and I remember he was playing a song by Scratch Acid when I walked in. Kurt Cobain also loved Scratch Acid, and you can see some of his early photos where he’s wearing a Scratch Acid T-Shirt.
Even though I was young, I was already playing guitar and beginning to write songs. And that’s why Norman Scott and I connected at school. Scott was so handsome, and had cool spiked Jett-black hair and was into The Sex Pistols and Punk Rock.
Eric Garcia was the closest friend to Chris, (might even be related, please forgive me for not having my facts all straight, but we were all like family back then, and we
still are today). Eric and Michelle rented a house on 45th Ave in West Seattle which was thE jam house; and Chris came over all the time. 15 years later or so, I was able to rent that house, because Eric & Michelle bought a house of their own. I was SO excited to rent it, because it was like “keeping it in the family”.
The very first album that Soundgarden put out was produced by Jack Endino, of Reciprocal Recordings, who is one of the top Producers in the world and helped shape the “Grunge” movement. Because of Norman Scott, and… I’m sure Chris put in a good word for me, I was invited to join the band, “Crypt Kicker 5” which was a cool quirky Surf Rock band, AND… Jack Endino was the drummer!
Matt Cameron was there too with his fun band, “Couch of Sound”, and we’d hang out a lot together at Jack Endino’s house that was called, “The Skin Yard House”. The band, “Vexed” was also there too.
At the time I didn’t realize the ramifications of being in a band with Jack Endino, which is like music history. But I’m so thankful I was a part of it.
Chris Cornell’s House on Capitol Hill overlooking the freeway with Kim Thayil and Hiro Yamamoto, Bill the dog.
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Love Y’all, and keep on Rockin’
