Chris Cornell to be immortalised with statue in Seattle - see the first photos

Late Soundgarden and Audioslave singer Chris Cornell is set to be immortalised with a statue in his native Seattle.

Author: Scott ColothanPublished 23rd Jul 2018

Chris’s widow Vicky Cornell commissioned Nick Marra to create the life-size bronze statue having been impressed with his sculpture of Anton Yelchin at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, which is 40-feet away from Chris’s resting place.

Depicting Chris throwing an iconic ‘rock god pose’, Vicky has donated the sculpture to Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) where it will be officially unveiled at a ceremony on Wednesday 29th August.  

Nick Marra told TMZ the sculpture cost a whopping $200k (£152k) and each body part had to be bronzed separately.

Explaining why she is donating it to the Seattle MoPOP, Vicky Cornell said: "Even though Chris's music touched the lives of millions around the world, there is no better place than Seattle to honour and celebrate both his contribution to music history, as well as Seattle's unique place in popular music, with an enduring symbol of a beloved artist, father, and husband.

"Our children and I are deeply moved by the continued outpouring of love, compassion, and support, and this is our gift to the Museum of Pop Culture and to Seattle - our gift back to the tight-knit community that gave him his start."

The museum's artistic director, Jasen Emmons, adds: "MoPOP is honored to receive this gift from the Cornell family and pay tribute to one of the most powerful and important voices in popular music.

"MoPOP serves to celebrate the Seattle music scene and the luminaries who have emerged from the Northwest and Chris was a key figure who has made a lasting impact on generations worldwide."

> Chris ❤️?
> (July 20, 1964 - Forever)
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> "Here's a first look at the life-size Chris Cornell statue that will be erected next month at Seattle's Museum of Pop Culture."https://t.co/j85t7kbf9I
>
> ? #ChrisCornell #LegendsNeverDie pic.twitter.com/ULbs6hQZrH > > — Sylvia Simon (@sziszke69) July 21, 2018

You can see more rock icons depicted as statues including Lemmy, Freddie Mercury, Bon Scott, Phil Lynott, Rory Gallagher and more by clicking this gallery link:

PHOTOS: Rock icons immortalised as statues