September 21, 1999

For twelve years Chris Cornell was the frontman for one of Seattle’s finest bands, Soundgarden. In 1997 the band split and Chris set his sights on a solo career which resulted in the release of his first solo CD, Euphoria Morning. He met with fans online for a live chat on the night of its release to discuss the album, his plans for the road, and more!


twec.com: twec.com would like to welcome everyone to tonight's chat with Chris Cornell! Hello Chris!

CHRIS CORNELL: This is Chris and thanks for getting online and checking this out.

Stardogchampion: How does it feel to be back?

CHRIS CORNELL: It feels really good. Been about 3 years since I've done this. A little spooky at first but it feels really great.

Chris_Cornell_Rocks: Do you plan on making a concert video to sell of your solo tour?

CHRIS CORNELL: I don't know that I'm planning on making a full length one but there may be a video documentary.

Moonchild: Chris, what was the primary factor for your decision to record this album entirely digitally? Were you concerned about the dynamics going into the project?

CHRIS CORNELL: Recording on tape machines vs. digital didn't sound much better. Digital gives you more options and we did it more out of convenience, really.

Tdog: Have you ever thought of yourself as a pioneer?

CHRIS CORNELL: That's tough to say. When you're covering new ground and uncovering things that people may not have done before - I've tried to let music and spontaneous ideas come and not worry about what it will mean in terms of redefining anything.

Chris_Cornell_Rocks: Do you have any band in mind to open up for your fall tour?

CHRIS CORNELL: That's been a difficult one. There haven't been too many ideas that fit musically. We're considering not having an opening band for the tour.

Jason: I was at the Cambridge show and thought it was the perfect setting to begin your mini tour. What prompted you to choose smaller venues for the tour?

CHRIS CORNELL: The venues we're choosing all have a fairly interesting environment. Environments like that seem to work well with the music. The environment is more dramatic and makes the music feel more dramatic.

Melle_22: Why did you decide to release the first single over the net?

CHRIS CORNELL: The main reason was that only fans really would log on and try to download one of my songs and that’s the easiest way to reach fans. The idea that the fans could hear the song before anyone else was really a cool idea. This way people can log on and only find info about the artists they do like and they aren't inundated with stuff they don't want.

Nicole: Do you ever get nervous before a show, and if you do what do you do to get rid of the butterflies?

CHRIS CORNELL: I almost always get nervous and I don't know that there's anything that you can do. It gives you energy and the energy let's me get out there and do what I do. The other way is to drink a whole bottle of vodka.

BrandyAnne: Can we expect any extra songs on any CD singles?

CHRIS CORNELL: Yeah, there's actually gonna be a few. I have demo versions of a lot of songs on this record. I have home recordings as well. I probably won't go for releasing previously unreleased songs. I think people like to hear demo versions of songs. They like to hear the embryo and see where it went from there. I love the Beatles outtakes just for that reason.

Lpiccolo: Chris, you are without a doubt the best writer, and vocalist of all time, but how do you challenge yourself to explore your abilities?

CHRIS CORNELL: I don't think that there's any period of writing or recording for me where I didn't feel challenged the whole time. That's how you get good at something. In art, movies, etc. they're good because they like it. If they repeat it, the audience gets numb. You have to push yourself. If I'm not challenged, I'm not inspired.

Tino: I read that you were inspired by the Beatles for you new album. In what ways did they provide inspiration?

CHRIS CORNELL: It wasn't just this album where I've had influences that I felt came from there. They were the first band I really got into. The production and arrangements...the guitars are very colorful. Within the course of one album, they would use multiple musical styles. Everything always sounded new, fresh and it was their very own.

Amorica: How many hours of music did you listen to as reference for the production of the album?

CHRIS CORNELL: I didn't actually reference to anything. I listen to a lot of music when writing. Once I start recording I don't reference at all. It comes down to one song at a time and making each song sound the best that I can. In mixing, sometimes I reference other songs that I know really well, to see where they are sitting sonically.

Owlicus: Chris, you said that you used many vintage instruments during the recording of your album. Which guitars/amps/pre-amps did you use?

CHRIS CORNELL: Pre-amps for vocals and drums were all old, Telecasters, several different old Fender amplifiers. The mic I used the most was a Norman reissue which had modern clarity to it.

Milo: Chris, is there any chance of a Temple of the Dog reunion?

CHRIS CORNELL: No, I don't see that happening. It was a spontaneous situation, it went quickly and well, so I don't think that we'll ever dare to recreate that.

capricorn sister: What's the dumbest question you've ever been asked?

CHRIS CORNELL: I've been asked if your music was a house, what kind of a house would it be?

Salesman: What jobs have you held down prior to rock stardom?

CHRIS CORNELL: Worked in a wholesale fish warehouse (seafood) and several restaurant jobs and a little bit of construction.

Lushus7769: Are you ever going to grow your hair long and curly again?

CHRIS CORNELL: Once it's completely silvery gray.

davy d: Who's in the live band?

CHRIS CORNELL: Alain Johannes, Natasha Shneider, Greg Upchurch, (make up the band 11) and Ric Markmann who played bass on some of the songs.

Trrtle Girl: Where did you get the inspiration for "Can't change me?"

CHRIS CORNELL: The line in the chorus came with the music. It came really quickly. Using your brain as a radio, it wasn't something I thought about. It jumped out and the lyrics were based on that idea.

Michelle: Chris, what’s the symbol on your tattoo?

CHRIS CORNELL: It's my wife's birth date.

Zomb: What inspired the French version of "Can't Change Me?"

CHRIS CORNELL: In doing European singles, you have to do several unreleased tracks. I've always felt negative about releasing unreleased material that US doesn't get to hear. The idea is to record 20 songs for your record and take the ones you like the least to become B sides.

Seasons: Do you believe that grunge is dead or just underground?

CHRIS CORNELL: I don't think that it ever really existed. Rock music is rock music. There doesn't need to be 20 sub-genres.

Jeffrey Cruz: Is Euphoria Morning a tear from an eye dreaming?

CHRIS CORNELL: No.

Mat: Chris, have you ever considered writing a book? Poetry or other?

CHRIS CORNELL: Not really. It's taken me years and years just to grow as a lyricist and I'm really interested in that. There's a challenge in writing a formatted song. That's going to be my focus for a while. Although I do have a goatee, so I suppose a book of poetry is inevitable.

Spankey: ‘Sup Chris! How did it feel to be on fire in your music video?

CHRIS CORNELL: It was synthetic fire. That was real fire filmed and then added with computer technology later.

Agata: Do you always write lyrics based on your own experience, or do you sometimes make up some stories or write about other folks' situations in life?

CHRIS CORNELL: It's always a combination of my own, others that I've observed and pure fiction.

KnaveDog: Do you like the Rolling Stones, or were you always on the Beatles side of that one?

CHRIS CORNELL: I grew up too late to know that there were sides. I think there was so much Stones growing up in the US that I didn't have any interest in it till later. Once I grew up I got into them more and wound up liking them a lot.

Jennifer77: How did you get involved with the PAWS organization?

CHRIS CORNELL: It was through a friend of mine, Mike Jones, in Seattle and wound up doing a lot of work for them. It's a subject that is important to me, they asked me to do it and I said yes immediately.

knarf231: Chris, where was the album recorded?

CHRIS CORNELL: It was recorded in Alain and Natasha's home studio in Hollywood.

Alicemudgarden: Any side projects or production projects that you are involved in?

CHRIS CORNELL: No, not right now. Dedicating my time to this.

capricorn sister: Which song would you like people to remember you for?

CHRIS CORNELL: "Helter Skelter."

CallmeAdoG: What brand guitar do you enjoy playing the most?

CHRIS CORNELL: Fenders are my favorite right now. They just have an inherent personality to them that is indicative of rock music.

Nicole: You have a beautiful voice, where'd you learn how to sing or did it come naturally?

CHRIS CORNELL: Just years and years of doing it, songwriting and being in a band environment.

Sonofadam: Is there a religious undertone to your new album? I notice you tend to sway that way.

CHRIS CORNELL: I think a lot of the time imagery can be perceived as religious when it's powerful. I'm pretty much anti-religious.

MrBungle: What is the meaning of the video for "Can't Change Me?"

CHRIS CORNELL: It's loosely based on the story described in the lyrics. The main character is on his own path. It doesn't matter how influential someone is, you will always stay on your path.

Sonoman: I read somewhere you were already playing new songs at your show, do you have plans to release a new LP next year? Or in two years?

CHRIS CORNELL: We didn't play anything new. We didn't play anything that isn't already on this record.

Satchel: Chris, how many shows are you gonna do?

CHRIS CORNELL: We're gonna be fairly busy with a month-long trip to Europe after this short tour is over. Will be back for another 6 weeks up until Christmas. Go to www.chriscornell.com and check out the site for tour dates.

Overfloater: What did you have for breakfast?

CHRIS CORNELL: Croque Monsieur. A French version of a ham and cheese sandwich.

Darmond: What was it like performing on Saturday Night Live?

CHRIS CORNELL: It was a lot of waiting. You're there from 10 a.m. till you're done performing. Sound checks last for an hour to an hour and a half. Then there's a photo shoot. Then there's a dress rehearsal. Then you wait. Then there's another rehearsal with the audience. More waiting. Then you're finally done by like 1:30 in the morning.

Mary3360: What artist, if any, would you like to collaborate with in the future?

CHRIS CORNELL: I'd love to work with Alain and Natasha again. We just started a great relationship with this album and I'm excited to do more with them.

4WalledWorld: Would you ever consider doing an unplugged album?

CHRIS CORNELL: It would really depend on if I felt that the songs would be in their best environment in an acoustic version. I wouldn't want the songs to be in an environment where they didn't shine the most.

twec.com: twec.com would like to thank Chris Cornell for taking time out tonight to chat with us. Chris is about to go on stage shortly. Is there anything you want to say to everyone?

CHRIS CORNELL: Thanks to everybody that wrote in questions and sorry I don't have time to answer them all. Thanks for the support and the interest.

twec.com: Thanks to all of the great fans that stopped by and sent in questions tonight!