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Soundgarden-headlined Pointfest cancelled

Rock on the Range aired a tribute to the late Chris Cornell and the 35th Pointfest in St Louis was cancelled altogether, as more details emerge about the singer's suicide

By IQ on 22 May 2017

Chris Cornell, Quart Festival 2009, Jørund F. Pedersen

image © Jørund F. Pedersen

The 35th edition of Pointfest – the St Louis, Missouri, music festival which was to have been headlined by Soundgarden – was cancelled at the last minute on Friday following the sudden passing of Chris Cornell.

The festival, organised by St Louis radio station 105.7 The Point, was scheduled for Saturday 20 May at the 20,000-cap. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre. Joining Cornell’s Soundgarden on the bill were Stone Sour, Biffy Clyro, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Pierce the Veil.

In a statement, the station extended its “deepest sympathies to the members of Soundgarden, their crew, management and the Cornell family” and announced refunds would be given automatically to all ticketholders.

Soundgarden were touring North America when Cornell (pictured) died suddenly after a show in Detroit last Wednesday.

The grunge pioneers were also due to play Ohio festival Rock on the Range, which instead aired a video tribute to Cornell:

https://www.facebook.com/rockontherange/videos/10154485215389147/

The cause of Cornell’s sudden death, initially uncertain, has since been revealed as suicide – although his widow, Vicky, believes it to have been accidental, possibly from an overdose of the benzodiazepine drug lorazepam (Ativan).

In a statement, she says: “Chris’s death is a loss that escapes words and has created an emptiness in my heart that will never be filled. As everyone who knew him commented, Chris was a devoted father and husband. He was my best friend.

“His world revolved around his family first and, of course, his music second. He flew home for Mother’s Day [14 May] to spend time with our family. He flew out midday Wednesday, the day of the show [in Detroit], after spending time with the children. When we spoke before the show, we discussed plans for a vacation over Memorial Day and other things we wanted to do.” […]

“When we spoke after the show, I noticed he was slurring his words; he was different. When he told me he may have taken an extra Ativan or two, I contacted security and asked that they check on him. What happened is inexplicable and I am hopeful that further medical reports will provide additional details. I know that he loved our children and he would not hurt them by intentionally taking his own life.”

Soundgarden have cancelled the remainder of the tour.

 


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