SEATTLE — A statue of Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell was unveiled outside of the Museum of Pop Culture in a ceremony in Seattle Sunday.
PHOTOS: Chris Cornell statue unveiled in Seattle ceremony
Fans gathered on Fifth Avenue and waited quietly and respectfully for an hour before speakers started.
They listened to an array of Cornell’s music as they waited -- Soundgarden, Audioslave -- as it was piped through speakers all around.
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan, one of the speakers at the ceremony, arrived about the same time as Cornell’s wife, Vicky. Minutes later, members of Soundgarden arrived to pay their respects before the statue was unveiled.
Cornell’s wife also spoke, as did the CEO of Vulcan Industries. Those who spoke did so briefly, all with the same message of keeping Cornell's memory alive through his music.
Fan Jenny Gruber flew in from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to see the unveiling along Fifth Avenue near Thomas Street.
"I'm just glad that he's never going to disappear. That was a big fear of mine -- that he was just going to fade away. And I'm just glad that like people are coming together to make sure that that won't happen,” said Gruber.
His music shaped childhoods and helped some navigate life’s tougher moments.
"He was just such a huge part of how I see and understand my world,” said fan Nichole Nicholson.
Cornell died a year and several months ago. His family is still dealing with the loss, apparent on his three daughters’ faces when they unveiled the statue.
Fans were glad to share the moment.
“With the other bands like Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden and Nirvana -- they started a music revolution here and this is my home town, I got swept up into it. It collected me and it spoke to my soul,” said fan Scott Gallagher.
An image of Cornell was also installed behind the statue, in the wall of the museum itself, facing out for passersby to see.
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