Chris Cornell's Widow Sues Surviving Soundgarden Members

Chris Cornell may be gone, but the drama surrounding the singer has only grown in his absence.

The world grieved at the loss of the singer to suicide over two years ago, but in that time his loved ones have become embroiled in bitter legal battles.

First there was the huge dispute between Chris’ widow, Vicky Cornell, and his first wife, Susan Silver. That fight has already gotten very ugly.

Now Vicky has filed suit against his Soundgarden bandmates over money she says they’re keeping from her and her children — and for the dangerous way they’re speaking about her.

According to the suit, obtained by The Blast, Vicky says guitarist Kim Thayil, bassist Ben Shepherd, and drummer Matt Cameron have been trying to “strong-arm Chris’ Estate into turning over certain audio recordings created by Chris before he passed away” by holding back hundreds of thousands of royalties from her and the kids.

The dramatic filing by big-time attorneys Marty Singer and James Sammataro actually quotes Chris’ 2009 song Sweet Revenge, writing:

“‘Everybody out for my blood, everybody want my percent
They just want to take what is mine, how much more can they get.’

Ten years later, and after Chris’ untimely passing, these lyrics hauntingly resonate as his former bandmates, once again, have attempted to ‘take what is his’ — or, more aptly, to steal from his widow and minor children. This wrongful conduct shockingly started shortly after Chris’ untimely death and ultimately forced his widow, Vicky Cornell, to bring this lawsuit.”

Yeesh.

At the heart of the dispute is a collection of seven audio recordings Chris made before his death. Vicky’s suit claims the songs were “solely authored by Chris; contain Chris’ own vocal tracks; and were bequeathed to Chris’ Estate for the benefit of his widow, Vicky Cornell, and their minor children.”

Vicky says she offered to share them with the band if they would agree to release the music in a way which honored Chris’ legacy, but they refused to make any deals, claiming they owned the rights.

Soundgarden getting along at the 2012 premiere of The Avengers — Soundgarden all getting along at the 2012 premiere of The Avengers. / (c) Jody Cortes/WENN

They refused to release music in a way that honored their bandmate’s legacy? That doesn’t make any sense.

Something doesn’t add up here; either they’re being totally unreasonable or this lawsuit is seriously twisting the truth. And frankly we have no idea where to come down on that.

The suit also brings up alleged statements made by the band which cast Vicky in such a bad light it’s putting her family in danger:

“Worse, Chris’ former band members menaced Chris’ family with false media statements intended to rile the cyber-stalkers who have been making vile online accusations and the real-life stalker, who was recently released from Federal prison after threatening Vicky’s life.”

Among the statements in question are Thayil supposedly telling fans Chris’ widow is the reason Soundgarden can’t put out a final album. Per TMZ, the suit brings up Soundgarden’s “loyal, rabid fan base” — the implication being they may attack her if they are led to believe she’s stopping more music from coming out.

According to the outlet, the band has told Vicky in a letter that they were “working on the files” in question “in a collaborative effort” and as such should have access to them to finish them. Per the letter, “The entire band was feeling very positive about their rekindled artistic energy and creativity” before Chris’ untimely death. They also name co-writers on 5 of the 7 tracks.

Vicky disputes the claims and wants to retain rights to the songs — and is seeking unspecified damages for the unpaid royalties, as well as demanding all accounting records be turned over.

It seems everyone in Chris’ orbit were suddenly hurtled into collision courses once he was gone; we just wish they could all figure this out peacefully…

[Image via ABC/WENN/Soundgarden/YouTube.]