Chris Cornell’s Widow Sues Soundgarden Over Royalties, Recordings
Late singer Chris Cornell's widow Vicky has sued the surviving members of Soundgarden over royalties and the rights to unreleased recordings.
In the lawsuit, Vicky claims the surviving Soundgarden musicians are withholding hundreds of thousands of dollars in royalties owed to her and Chris's minor children in order to get her to give up recordings Chris made before he died.
Vicky claims that the recordings belong solely to her family, while the band counters that they were intended for Soundgarden and therefore the band's property.
Vicky is adamant the seven unreleased songs were "solely authored by Chris; contain Chris' own vocal tracks; and were bequeathed to Chris' estate" for the benefit of her and their kids.
Vicky claims that Soundgarden has not produced any documents to counter her argument that the recordings are her late husband's "sole and exclusive property."
Vicky alleges that she has offered to share the recordings with Soundgarden, so they can be released in a way that respects Chris's wishes -- but that the band refused. She also accuses Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil of putting her family in harm's way by suggesting in interviews that she is the main obstacle to the band putting out another album.
She posted a statement saying in part, "This was not the way I would have chosen to move forward. But I will not be pushed aside for someone else's convenience or gain. I will do justice by my husband's work and memory; for our children and for everything we stood for."