Living in Harmony: Shorewood's Chris Cornell

Despite some amazing political events that have happened recently, it’s important to remember that there are people all over the world who are still trying to help settle historic conflicts that have lasted for centuries. 

People like Leymah Gbowee, the African peace activist.  And Dr. Mahesh Yadav, the imprisoned Indian dissident. 

And Chris Cornell, Shorewood High grad and the founder of Soundgarden.  All of these people have been working hard in order to promote peace around the world—Oh wait, you didn’t know that Chris Cornell, besides being one of the most successful recording artists of his generation, also finds the time to resolve historic political conflicts? Well he does.

 A few years ago, Chris and his Audioslave band mates were the first rock group ever to play a concert in Cuba.  And, oh boy, was it successful: “We are your [Americans’] ambassadors in a sense, and it was an extremely successful trip…At the end of the day, my hope is that what we did will create less isolation between the two countries or the two cultures regardless of politics.” 

Some people might see Chris’s statements as self-serving and wildly delusional, but I think he might be one of the few people who has the ability to solve some of the oldest conflicts the world has ever seen.  Can’t you just imagine Chris using his music to break down the situation in Israel-Palestine?  Picture it:

 Chris sits at a table across from Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal.  Mashaal begins by firmly demanding that Israel’s government recognize an Islamic state.  Then Chris does a sick ass vocal solo.  Mashaal demands that Palestinians have the right to settle in Jerusalem, but Chris has trouble hearing this because of all the sick ass high notes he’s hitting.  Mashaal tries to move the conversation forward by reviewing the 1949 Armistice Agreement, and Chris sticks out his tongue and plays air guitar. 

 Mashaal, along with the leaders of Hamas’s military branch Al-Qassam, finally stop and actually listen to Chris’s beautiful, powerful voice.  They realize that there are things that can transcend politics; they realize that they should focus on what unites them with their Jewish brothers instead of what divides them.  Mashaal begins to cry, and Chris gently rocks him and hums the melody of “Black Hole Sun.” 

 It doesn’t stop there, though.  Because all of sudden, Chris plays an impromptu acoustic show right in the middle of the West Bank.  Even though the show is impromptu, it still somehow manages to sell out.  Military checkpoints are converted into merch tables, and all prisoners of war are released and given Temple of the Dog T-shirts.

 Chris makes it a point to play for seven straight days—one day longer than the Six-Day War.  On the final day, a cease-fire is signed.  At the exact same moment, all the Arabs and Jews in the world Hi-Five each other. 

 But it’s still not quite time for him to stop…Chris bows and exits the stage, then he, Mashaal, the Dalai Lama, and Neil Young form a super group.  They tour for a while— until the Dalai Lama splits with the group to pursue his solo career.  Before they break up, however, they record a live album called “You Can West Bank on It.”  It becomes the top-selling album of all time, but the members agree that instead of keeping the money, all of the proceeds should go to help ease the tension between the United States and Cuba—Oh wait, Chris already solved that problem.