Fuck me. It's frustrating seeing when things like this happen, and some of the media and even general public try to brush aside the mental health and suicide side of the story. These incidents should always open up the discussion. Many people often need help, and even those closest to them can be entirely clueless. Usually the reason it's so hard to open up and talk about it, is because of negative, narrow minded, opinions about depression. And there's that stigma around suicide; it's often (ironically) compared to weakness.

In recent years, I almost took my own life due to poor mental health. I was incredibly close. And if I didn't finally speak up about it and reach out for help at the last minute; I would've gone ahead with it. The thought that I almost left my family on their own (especially without answers), now chills me.

Chris Cornell was adored by so many people. He had a life that most of us could only dream of. But he would have probably given it all away in return for the ability to make the mental pain to stop, or to at least be able to call out for help. Who knows what was going on on his mind in recent years, weeks, days.

It's shattering. Robin Williams was shock enough, he was the funny guy right? Now Chris Cornell, someone who I'd thought had left the grunge era unscathed. He seemed to have a good life. Married, children, amazing music, and he really seemed to look after himself. Now this. You never know who is affected, or how deeply.

It can happen to anyone, and any point. It's an illness that can feel inescapable. If you feel the need to talk about your experiences, thoughts, feelings, etc. Please do so. If what happened to Chris can help someone speak out, and ask for help - then at least something good can be triggered from something so terrible.

Please respect the opinions and thoughts of others. This isn't a time or place for arguments or judgements.

nice post, friend

it's funny you mention this ... when I saw the Ailes thing later in the day, i was like 'well, we lost a great one today; but now they lost one too' ... keeping the universe in balance

glad to have you back, sarge

wish i could have been able to tell chris cornell that his music was a source of consolation or reassurance for me in many of my most difficult times. wish i could have been able to do something for him during his. thank you, chris.

Q: "How can you be so sad about the death of a person you never knew?"

My answer: Since high school (I'm 40), I have spent more time listening to Chris than talking to my father, and he and I have a pretty good relationship. When a girl broke up with me, I went to Chris or Eddie or Scott (Weiland, not Stapp). When my dog died, when I was out of work, when I was inexplicably melancholy, whenever I was at my lowest, I went to them. When I'm running 20 miles, driving a thousand, or just sitting outside on a summer day, they're with me. Many of my happiest moments are being in the same building as them.

I just spent a Saturday night with Chris. He looked well and sounded amazing. Scott died the night before a concert I was going to. I'm down to one musical hero, and it fucking hurts.

Very well said.

also...
I posted some misinformation from a trusted friend this AM that at the time I believed to be true. But it appears to have been glazed over, about Chris using a guitar string. So I'm sorry about that and wanted to get that off my chest.

Chris' death has made me so fucking sad all day. So shocked and upset. I hope Matt, Ben, and Kim have lots of support. I will cherish his music for the rest of my life.

Good to have you back, Sarge. I hope you stay for a while. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I think you are on point.

I hope matt, ben and kim have the support they need. This must be so weird for them....at their age having to deal with this thing, having survived the 90s.

well said, man.

Hi Sarge, good post.

Nile Rogers and Cornell close friends? Who woulda thunk it?

Niles just loves music, man. He did work with Daft Punk too. That dude is pure music

I was trying to figure out how to respond to this. I wrote several sentences... then deleted. I think "well said" is enough. Thanks for sharing, daft.

It's not a slight on you. Obviously all different types of people struggle. I was merely guessing at a statistic.

I have not posted in a long time. At some point in 1994 I was in a really dark place. I remember it was at hwy 512 and meridian in Puyallup Wa. I was driving and really lost, and had resigned myself to leaving it all behind.
Then "The Day I Tried To Live" came on and I had the thought ya one more time around. I could try to make one more day. I did make it. Would I have made it with out Chris's song I don't know for sure. Maybe something else would have come along and stopped me. I do know that in my darkest moments Cornell's music made me realize I wasn't alone. Thank god he was indeed the highway that day. I will really miss someone I didn't know and that is weird. I can't imagine how his loved ones are taking this it is truly heartbreaking. I apologize for the lack of paragraphs. I am just not in the mood to care.

Glad you're still around.

Seriously - I hate it when there's something you're feeling that you just cannot identify how you feel, cannot put into words, etc. Thank you for putting this into sentences for me. You're one year off on the age, but I will let that slide!