Photo by Marc Millman

July 20 would have been Chris Cornell’s 56th birthday.

To honor the day, Vicky Cornell – the Soundgarden frontman’s wife – shared a previously unheard version of Guns N’ Roses’ “Patience,” recorded in 2016 with Cornell on lead vocals. (Vicky went on to explain that Cornell loved the song because their daughter was a GNR fan; he even taught her how to play it on guitar.)

“His birthday seemed the perfect time to share this and celebrate Chris, his voice, music , stories and art,” Vicky wrote. “A man is not dead while his name is still spoken…and, through his art, an artist’s soul still burns as bright upon all those that look up to him and his memory. Releasing music that was special to Chris keeps a part of him here with us- his heart and his soul. His love and his legacy.”

Cornell committed suicide on May 17, 2017, hours after performing with Soundgarden at the Fox Theatre in Detroit.

Listen to his enduring performance of “Patience” and read Vicky’s full statement below:

One of Chris’s engineers recently reminded me of Chris’s recordings from sessions in 2016, which he still had. “Patience” was one of them. That recording was inspired by our daughter Toni, who was a huge GNR fan and asked her dad to teach her to play it on the guitar. His cover is so hauntingly beautiful; it brought it all back in a rush of bittersweet memories.

His birthday seemed the perfect time to share this and celebrate Chris, his voice, music , stories and art. A man is not dead while his name is still spoken…and, through his art, an artist’s soul still burns as bright upon all those that look up to him and his memory. Releasing music that was special to Chris keeps a part of him here with us- his heart and his soul. His love and his legacy.

I want to thank everyone who continues to celebrate and keep Chris alive. A special thank you to Axl, Slash, and Duff for continuing to honor Chris in their live shows. And to all of Chris’s fans, thank you for holding him in your hearts and always sharing your love for Chris with us. I want to thank our children too; for you are a reflection of your father, both his strength and his kindness (and helping to put together this video he’d be so proud)!

The memory of your smile still makes my heart, broken as it is, beat as fast as the first time we met. We love you Chris, Happy Birthday.
Vicky