Soundgarden and Chris Cornell’s estate have finally ended a legal battle which will now allow the band to release seven final recordings with Cornell.
According to a statement shared on Cornell’s Instagram, “Soundgarden and Vicky Cornell, on behalf of the Estate of Chris Cornell, are happy to announce they have reached an amicable out-of-court resolution. The reconciliation marks a new partnership between the two parties, which will allow Soundgarden fans around the world to hear the final songs that the band and Chris were working on. The two parties are united and coming together to propel, honor and build upon Soundgarden’s incredible legacy as well as Chris’s indelible mark on music history — as one of the greatest songwriters and vocalists of all time.”
This settlement is a huge victory for the group, who will now be able to release new music, though it’s still unclear when that would happen.
This dispute began in 2019 when Vicky Cornell sued the surviving members of Soundgarden, and accused them of withholding royalties from her over seven recordings.
Cornell, who died in 2017, is credited as a writer on all seven songs, receiving sole credit for two tracks, “Cancer” and “Stone Age Mind.” He wrote “Road Less Traveled,” “Orphans,” and “At Ophians Door” with Matt Cameron; “Ahead of the Dog” with Kim Thayil; and “Merrmas” with Ben Shepherd.
