What Cornell initially thought might be a tribute song with the surviving Love Bone players blossomed into a larger song cycle.
Out of that deep tragedy sprang life, and new musical connections. Soundgarden was on tour when the news broke. “Chris and Andy had a very deep relationship,” Soundgarden’s Matt Cameron observed. It was, Cornell would say, “the death of the innocence of the scene.” Cornell was devastated. In March 1990, Wood relapsed and died at 24. Wood had huge talent, but human beings are complicated, and he struggled with cocaine and heroin, sending him to rehab in 1989. Temple of the Dog begins with a cassette containing two songs spawned by the loss of Chris Cornell’s friend and roommate Andrew Wood (singer of Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone).
This one, the story of Temple of the Dog, just so happens to be true. There are many stories you might hear about Seattle music.