Bands: Soundgarden, Audioslave
Position: lead singer/guitarist
Died: May 17, 2017
Cause of death: committed suicide after Soundgarden show in Detroit
Age: 52
Distinctions: One of the most distinctive singers of the grunge era, he wrote Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" (1994), which won the Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1995. Superunknown was a No. 1 album in 1994. "Spoonman," also from that album, won the Grammy for Best Metal Performance in 1995. Following their breakup in 1997, he formed Audioslave with Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Will of Rage Against the Machine. He co-wrote their hit, "Be Yourself" (No. 32, 2005). He also recorded five solo albums, the last, Higher Truth, in 2015.