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Chris Cornell’s 60th birthday came with a surprise for fans – a snippet of the late Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman covering Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.”
In a tribute clip to mark the occasion, Cornell’s widow Vicky shared a previously unheard snippet of Cornell’s cover of the Chapman classic on July 20.
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The rocker died in 2017 at the age of 52 in Detroit following a Soundgarden show.
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“Chris would have turned 60 today. Although everyone that loved him is sad that he’s no longer here, it’s all of you, the fans, who made him, whose love has continued to keep his legacy alive. I’m so grateful to you all for that,” Vicky wrote alongside the video.
“While I remember him best as the wonderful husband, father and human being he was, I’d like to celebrate his whole life and everything he gave us. On his 60th we can all celebrate his genius as an artist who redefined music, but also the incredible man who touched and changed lives.”
She added, “He’s an icon, and he gave us all so much — his unique voice, his poetry, his creativity. His life was a gift to so many. And as you can hear — there’s more to come!!! Sharing this to thank you all for your love and support and come together in celebrating.”
The timing couldn’t be more fitting. “Fast Car” has been enjoying a major comeback, with country star Luke Combs’ version hitting No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023. Combs and Chapman even teamed up for a memorable duet at the 2024 Grammys, introducing the song to yet another generation.
Now, Cornell’s interpretation adds a new dimension to the song’s legacy. It’s a reminder of his ability to cross musical boundaries, much like his earlier cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
The unreleased track seems to be part of a larger collection of unheard material.
In 2021, Cornell’s estate released “No One Sings Like You Anymore: Volume One,” a covers album he recorded in 2016. At the time, Vicky hinted there was more to come. Her recent Instagram post, declaring “there’s more to come!!!”, has fans speculating about what else might be in store.
From Soundgarden’s 1994 chart-topper “Superunknown” to his Bond song “You Know My Name,” Cornell’s career was marked by versatility, and this unearthed “Fast Car” cover, even in its brevity, is a reminder of his skill for reimagining familiar tunes with his unique style.
As we mark what would have been Cornell’s 60th year, this musical snippet leaves fans curious for more.
Will a full version be released? Are there other covers waiting to be heard? For now, we’re left with this small but impactful reminder of Cornell’s enduring influence.
Check out the snippet in the video below.
Pearl Jam has been forced to cancel two additional shows on their European tour as unspecified band members continue to recover from illness.
The group was slated to perform at Waldbühne in Berlin on July 2 and 3, but these dates have now been scrapped.
The announcement comes just a day after the band had to call off their June 29 show at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the same reason. The next opportunity for Pearl Jam to return to the stage will be on July 6 in Barcelona.
In a statement shared on their social media channels, the band expressed their disappointment and the difficulty of the decision.
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“Despite everyone’s best efforts, the band has yet to make a full recovery,” Pearl Jam’s social media channels read.
“The impacts of this decision are not lost on us. We feel deeply that so many people spend their time, money and emotional energy to get tickets and then to come see the band, and it is heart-wrenching to have to disappoint you. We also appreciate the many people whose hard work goes into making these shows happen.”
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“Please trust we never take these decisions lightly and try to do everything possible to show up for you all,” it continued.
“We wish a reschedule had been possible for this tour leg and hope to come back soon. Tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase. Thank you for your continued understanding and support. It means the world.”
We are sorry to share that the Pearl Jam concerts scheduled for Tuesday, July 2nd and Wednesday, July 3rd in Berlin are cancelled. Tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase.Thank you for continued understanding and support, it means the world.– Pearl Jam pic.twitter.com/fXIcjizGX8— Pearl Jam (@PearlJam) June 30, 2024
Although the specific members affected have not been disclosed, frontman Eddie Vedder struggled with vocal issues during the band’s previous show in Manchester on June 25, just the second date of the tour leg.
Tickets for the canceled Berlin shows will be refunded at the point of purchase.
Addressing the audience, Vedder alluded to catching an illness after high-fiving fans at their Dublin show a few days prior.
Pearl Jam is currently on tour supporting their latest album, Dark Matter. Earlier this week, Vedder surprise-released a solo cover of the English Beat’s “Save It for Later” as part of the new season of the FX show The Bear.
On June 30, the band also marked the 24th anniversary of the tragic crowd surge that claimed the lives of nine fans during their performance at Denmark’s Roskilde Festival in 2000.
“We honor and remember the young men who tragically lost their lives on June 30, 2000 and hold their friends and families in our hearts,” they wrote on social media.
The band is set to launch a U.S. summer tour in August.
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