Photo © Ross Halfin 2007 used by permission

English summer rain failed to dampen anyone's spirits at this open-air show in one of London's great parks, and Chris brought his daughter Toni and son Christopher onstage to keep him company while he sang Hunger Strike. Chris led the crowd in singing Happy Birthday for guitarist Peter Thorn, David Arnold, Casino Royale composer and co-writer of You Know My Name, guested with the band for the song as he did at the Astoria - and Chris entertained some very happy meet-and-greet winners in his dressing room before the show.

Spoonman - Outshined - Show Me How To Live - You Know My Name (with David Arnold) - Hunger Strike - What You Are - Arms Around Your Love - Rusty Cage - Cochise - Like A Stone - Doesn't Remind Me - Let Me Drown - Black Hole Sun - Jesus Christ Pose

by james

thanks to James for the photo

As the notorious English weather does not fail to deliver (especially during festival season!) the thousands of people that have turned out for Hyde Park Calling are treated to a dreary, dismal onslaught of dark clouds, low temperatures and, of course, rain. In the midst of this at around 6:45 Chris Cornell takes to the stage and lunges into the Soundgarden classic 'Spoonman' followed closely by 'Outshined'. Chris declares ''It's a beautiful day!' between verses and for a moment the crowd are convinced. Chris walks out into the wings of the stage and down the walk way through the crowd, immersing himself in the fine English weather and the crowd get a sense that he is in it with them and the attitude starts to change. Chris even bellows how it reminds him of his home town Seattle as it is 'always pissing down'.

Chris roars through a 'best of Chris Cornell' set including Hunger Strike from the Temple of the Dog album during which Chris introduced the audience to his two babies and continued to hold them in his arms whilst he sang the first verse (albeit against the interjection of Baby Chris who tried to move the mic away from his dad). David Arnold joined Chris on the keys for James Bond theme 'You Know My Name' which Chris seemed very excited about.

Audioslave hits such as 'Cochise' and 'Show Me How to Live' went down a storm (excuse the pun) as did Soundgarden classics like 'Black Hole Sun' and 'Let Me Drown' which Chris dedicated to Joe Perry as it was apparently his favourite Soundgarden song.

As the set closer 'Jesus Christ Pose' reached its climax Chris thanked the crowd for their support throughout the years and continued down the walkway through the crowd and through the rain, microphone stand across his shoulders, sporting a 'Jesus Christ Pose'. Chris managed to lift the spirits of the crowd whilst successfully showing them why he is considered an icon of rock music. There was a sense of power from Chris that persuaded the audience that if they sang loud enough they truly could 'wash away the rain'.

thanks to James for the photo

by Lyn

Chris Cornell, Rock God Extraordinaire, 42, still looked good and never sounded better. He kicked off with "Spoonman" and then went into a rollicking performance of "Outshined". Then, the moment I was waiting for for about 10 years of my life.

I have to divert slightly here to give a quick background story. Way back in the 90's when the whole Seattle grunge rock scene exploded, I was into the likes of Pearl Jam, Soundgarden et al. I had a bootleg CD of a compilation of live Pearl Jam performances but it didn't have a songlist. One of the songs was of Eddie Vedder singing a song which I was later informed by my dear friend and fellow Pearl Jammer Josh that it was a song called "Hunger Strike" by Temple of the Dog, which was a one off side group formed by Chris Cornell with ex-members of Mother Love Bone (following the death of their lead singer, Andrew Wood, and was a tribute to him) and members of Soundgarden and the future Pearl Jam.

"Hunger Strike" was a duet between Cornell and Vedder and was the band's most popular song in the early 90's. It showcased both lead singers' respective and unique voices and it has the most beautiful tune to it and the most touching lyrics (more below). Anyway, I used to constantly listen to my bootleg version of Vedder singing "Hunger Strike" (and subsequently my illegally downloaded album version) and always wished that one day, I'd be able to hear either him or Cornell (or both!) sing it live so I could shout "I'm going hungry!!" at the top of my voice.

True enough, the third song Chris Cornell played was "Hunger Strike". Had it not been for the adrenaline pumping through me, I probably would have shed a tear or two when I heard the instantly recognisable opening riffs. Chris brought out his two gorgeous youngest children at that point to the screaming approval of the crowd. Then he went into the song and yes, it was everything I could have ever imagined and I did fulfil my dream of shouting "I'm going hungry!" at the top of my voice.

thanks to James for the photos

Chris played a good mixture of Soundgarden, Audioslave and solo material including "Doesn't Remind Me", his James Bond tune "You Know My Name" (joined by his co-writer David Arnold), "Cochise" (which got the crowd roaring and headbanging), the rocking "Original Fire", the popular "Black Hole Sun" and he closed with a screamadelic "Jesus Christ Pose" (that man can still wail!).

Credit is also due to his four-piece band who powered through the songs. Needless to say, when he finished his set I was left panting for more. I was slightly disappointed with the crowd as most of them didn't seem to get or know who he was and were not aware of the fact that they were witnessing a true genius perform. I suppose they had all come to see Aerosmith. Ah well, at least there was this random Ethan Hawke-ish bloke next to me who was headbanging along and screaming with me. (UPDATE: After scouring some Chris Cornell fan pages and his Myspace, it seems there were a number of CC fans in the crowd, shame that I was nowhere near them!)

Ethan even tried to wager a £50 bet with me that Chris would close with "Black Hole Sun" but knowing that he would lose his money I didn't take that bet, much to his relief when Chris didn't close with "Black Hole Sun" (God I'm so nice). Chris even commented on the weather at one point, saying that it reminded him of his home town (that would be Seattle). For the record, he now divides him time between Paris and LA...."

Read more of Lyn's blog about her Hyde Park experiences here.

thanks to James for the photo

by Catherine

With a smile a mile wide, Chris Cornell came on stage on Sunday evening and wasn't going to let a little thing like the weather dampen his set! He even commented on it being like "home" as we all stood there in the pouring rain in anticipation of the greatest voice of rock.

After seeing Chris at the Astoria last month, I couldn't wait to do it all again and as always, he didn't disappoint. He roared through a great set which had me bouncing along and singing at the top of my voice whilst the rain poured down which all seemed to add to the atmosphere. He had no qualms on coming out from the stage in to the rain to join us all. He seemed to be in a great mood and really enjoying the experience. Very cute when he brought his kids onto the stage and Chris Jnr tried to steal the show during the opening verse of Hunger Strike.

He gave a killer performance of Jesus Christ Pose in the end which left me breathless - it was pure rock at its best and I loved every second of it. Just the "Bond Theme" man he ain't.... this man is a god in my eyes and as he thanked the fans for supporting him over the years, I was thanking him back for the pure enjoyment he brings to every show.

An hour and a half of sheer pleasure.... my words to Chris... carry on...!

by so02see

Walking in to the modest portacabin which was serving as Chris Cornell’s backstage dressing room was a surreal event. After waiting outside with the Polydor records rep in the light drizzle I don’t think any of the six of us who had won the chance to be there knew what to expect.

Of course we were all familiar with the public face of the man through both his live and recorded works. That voice, which ignited the fire in Soundgarden, making it and each of his other creative journeys so compelling.

But next we were stepping inside and there sitting on the leather sofa was the man himself. Chris stood to welcome us and to shake each of our hands. I didn’t expect for him to appear so at ease and relaxed. So much so that as he introduced David Arnold to us, who was also in the room, he promptly began to make light hearted fun of how this would be Arnold’s first performance at a festival. Of course David took it all in good spirit.

Chris chatted with us answering our questions, signed CD covers, posed for photos and even volunteered a piece of trivia he thought might interest us. That Joe Satriani, who was also appearing at the festival, had once asked him to be his singer! I asked why he hadn’t and he explained that this was around 1992 while he was in Soundgarden.

He was also genuinely touched when one of the other competition winners explained how Chris and Soundgarden had been his inspiration to start making and performing music. Then too soon we had to leave and return to the real world.

My lasting impressions of the day are how much he contradicted my assumptions. Where I thought I would find an intense and perhaps egotistical character instead I met a kind, warm and gentle fellow wiith a peaceful aura that had an almost Zen like quality. Not the tormented angst ridden soul I had presumed must have been at the heart of his art.

Perhaps the best way to sum it up will be the enduring memory I took away from that day of a proud father on stage singing Hunger Strike holding his two kids in his arms. A contented man, who appreciates all his gifts.

Chris signing at the meet and greet - thanks to so2see for the photo

The Sun

"....Elsewhere on the bill former SOUNDGARDEN and AUDIOSLAVE frontman Chris Cornell performed an amazing 90 minute set in the worst weather conditions of the day. Opening with the 1994 classic Spoonman, the rejuvenated Cornell delivered a stellar performance spanning his entire musical career that further cemented his status as one of the best singers in rock."

from The Sun, full Hyde Park review here

"singing in the rain..." thanks to so02see for the photo

Be Yourself - thanks dnl005

You Know My Name - thanks remuirez

Hunger Strike (extract) - thanks mirko2

footage of the meet & greet - and some more - thanks so02see

Chris chatting to David Arnold backstage - thanks so02see

Chris Cornell Fan Page © Clare O'Brien 2007