Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Chris Cornell EstateSoundgarden has filed a countersuit against Vicky Cornell, the widow of the band’s late frontman, Chris Cornell.
In the newly filed documents, obtained by Rolling Stone, the remaining band members — guitarist Kim Thayil, drummer Matt Cameron and bassist Ben Shepherd — accuse Vicky Cornell of mishandling charity funds raised by the 2019 Chris Cornell tribute concert.
Soundgarden claims that some of the funds are unaccounted for, and accuses Vicky Cornell of using the money for her own personal use.
“Vicky Cornell did not have the intention of using some or all of the revenue from the Cornell Concert for charitable purposes, but rather for personal purposes for herself and her family,” the countersuit alleges.
Soundgarden also claims that Vicky Cornell “refuses to relinquish” control over the band’s social media pages and official website.
The countersuit is a response to Vicky Cornell’s original 2019 lawsuit, which accuses Soundgarden of withholding royalties, and using “strong-arm tactics” to obtain seven demos recorded by Chris Cornell prior to his death in May 2017. Soundgarden denies these allegations.
In the new documents, the Soundgarden members maintain their right to the recordings, and dispute Vicky Cornell’s claim that they were all “solely authored” by her late husband. The band claims that five of the seven songs were co-written by other members.
In a statement to Rolling Stone, Vicky Cornell’s lawyer, Marty Singer, calls Soudgarden’s counterclaims “transparently desperate.” He also asserts that all money raised from the tribute concert has been properly allocated, and says that Soundgarden themselves were paid $78,000 to play the show.
“[Soundgarden] are the ones who have improperly asserted ownership of vocal recordings that were created solely by Chris and that they are the ones who have unlawfully withheld substantial sums of money from Chris’ widow and children,” Singer’s statement reads.
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