The final sentence of Corbin Reiff’s Chris Cornell biography “Total F*cking Godhead: The Biography of Chris Cornell” could very easily have been the first.
“No one sings like him anymore.”
The statement, a play on a lyric from Soundgarden’s 1994 breakthrough single “Black Hole Sun,” rings as true today as it did when Cornell, the steely-eyed former frontman of Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog and Audioslave, was still alive.
Out of the big four Seattle bands from the ’90s – Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden – it’s the story of the singer for the latter that is the most overlooked. This is remedied by “Total F*cking Godhead.” Not only is it surprisingly the first biography of Cornell, but it will also likely stand as the definitive biography of one of the greatest voices in the history of rock ‘n’ roll.
Of course, there are a few challenges to address when it comes to writing a biography about Chris Cornell. One being his untimely and tragic death, another being the ongoing legal disputes between Cornell’s Soundgarden bandmates and his widow.
Reiff, a Seattle-based music journalist, addresses the legal issues in the opening pages by letting readers know he did not interview any former bandmates or family members for the book because of the lawsuits. Instead of using those primary sources, he leans on interviews with various friends and collaborators who either toured with Cornell during his solo tours or worked with him in the studio. This approach does not take away from the storytelling and while this is an unofficial biography, “Total F*cking Godhead” is as close to the complete life story of Chris Cornell as you will get without hearing it from the man himself.
Throughout the book’s 384 pages Reiff brilliantly humanizes his subject while not shying away from getting into some of the baggage that came along with Cornell’s rock star lifestyle. From stories about his friendship with Andy Wood and his often times sardonic sense of humor, to his loving relationship with ex-wife Susan Silver and his whirlwind courtship of his second wife Vicky, Reiff paints a full picture of Cornell as a person, not just the iconic shirtless, wailing, golden god of grunge.
Readers won’t get the dirt regarding band drama, rock star feuds (although Cornell’s spat with Trent Reznor gets some ink) or a lot of gossipy details about his personal life. But readers will get the untold story of Chris Cornell as a person. It is a must-read for anyone who cares a single iota about Soundgarden, Audioslave, Cornell or Seattle music from the ’90s.
When it comes to Cornell’s work, there’s just the right amount of lyrical analysis to make it interesting without turning the book into an academic examination of his songwriting. His personal struggles with songwriting, and the themes of religion, love and loss that appear throughout his music are covered in great depth, as are his struggles with addiction. And the studio sessions for all of his projects are thoroughly detailed, providing some of the more revealing stories about him as a musician.
The opening chapters on Cornell’s childhood document his early musical affinity and his love of the Beatles, which were constant influence throughout his career. The Soundgarden chapters expertly chronicle the band’s early days, its unlikely rise to rock stardom and the group’s unexpected implosion. The Audioslave chapters provide a fascinating workings of one of the biggest supergroups of the 21st century.
Near the end of the book, the chapters on his solo career give great insight into his development and growth as an artist. While the triumphant Soundgarden reunion is chronicled with so much excitement and optimism it almost feels like it is happening in real-time. And the book’s final chapter is so beautifully written it makes reading about the tragic ending to Cornell’s life absolutely devastating, despite knowing what’s going to happen.
Throughout “Total F*cking Godhead” it’s clear Reiff is writing for fans as a fan himself. That approach, combined with respect given to Cornell’s life and musical legacy makes it the literary loud love Chris Cornell rightfully deserves.
Nice write up! I just bought this book for my sister. She’s the biggest Chris Cornell fan I know. I’m looking forward to reading it myself.
Also, blog comments! Amiright???!!!