METALLICA frontman James Hetfield has commented on the passing of Chris Cornell, calling it a “sad story” that “makes you realize that there is a darkness that anyone and everyone can find and feel.”
Speaking to Mistress Carrie of the Worcester/Boston, Massachusetts radio station WAAF, Hetfield stated about Cornell‘s tragic death (see video below): “Well, it does make you hug those around you, for sure — bandmates, family that’s out here, family at home. It makes you realize that, you know, there is a darkness that anyone and everyone can find and feel that they’re trapped in. And when you’re there — and at least I know the depth of my darkness at times — it is difficult when you’re in that space to even fathom that there’s someone there that can help you or has been through that before. Sometimes you’re at such a loss…
“I can’t… obviously can’t explain what he was going through, but we all have our darknesses,” he continued. “And check in with each other — check in with each other. Let each other know how you’re doing. Yes, it’s a sad story, and there’s a lot of sad stories recently, especially in the grunge world, losing a lot of people, and for us, [losing] Lemmy and all of the things that have been happening in the last couple of years, it just makes us feel even more grateful to be out here doing what we’re doing.”
On Thursday afternoon, the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office announced Cornell‘s cause of death “has been determined as suicide by hanging.” But, it added, “A full autopsy report has not yet been completed.”
According to the police report, obtained by The Detroit News, Chris was on the phone with his wife, Vicky, shortly before committing suicide, who said he sounded “groggy” and repeatedly told her, “I am just tired,” before hanging up. The bodyguard, Martin Kirsten, went to Cornell‘s room in the MGM Grand Hotel just after midnight and kicked two doors open — the front door as well as a second door leading to the bedroom suite — before finding Cornell slumped on the bathroom floor “with blood running from his mouth and a red exercise band around [his] neck.”
