The family of Chris Cornell, late frontman for Soundgarden, shared a previously unreleased cover of Guns N' Roses' "Patience" on Monday, July 20.
The caption accompanying the music video for Cornell's version of "Patience" recalls the story behind the cover. "After helping his daughter Toni learn the song, Chris Cornell got inspired in March of 2016 to record the song himself after hearing the news that Guns N' Roses were reuniting," the caption wrote. It also added that the cover was released in celebration of the frontman's 56th birthday.
"Patience" was originally an acoustic ballad released by rock legends Guns N' Roses. The song first appeared on the 1988 "G N' R Lies" before coming out as a single the following year. It was released as a single in April 1989 in the US. It was accompanied by "Rocket Queen" on the B-side. On the Chris Cornell version, percussion and keyboards can be heard.
A post was also made on Facebook, with a 15-second teaser included. Vicky Cornell, Chris' widow, tells the story behind the cover. She commented that the late vocalist's 56th birthday "seemed the perfect time" to share the cover and celebrate Cornell's work. "A man is not dead while his name is still spoken...and, through his art, an artist's soul still burns as bright upon all those that look up to him and his memory," Vicky wrote.
She also extended her gratitude to members of Guns N' Roses Axl Rose, Slash, and Duff McKagan "for continuing to honor Chris in their live shows."
"The memory of your smile still makes my heart, broken as it is, beat as fast as the first time we met. We love you Chris, Happy Birthday," Vicky Cornell wrote.
Chris Cornell - frontman for Soundgarden, Audioslave, and Temple of the Dog
Cornell is best known as one of the pioneers of the grunge music scene. His band then, Soundgarden, rose to prominence in the 90s as one of the most iconic bands from the underground grunge - together with Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana.
RELATED: Chris Cornell To Be Honored With Statue In Hometown Seattle
He formed a supergroup, the Temple of the Dog, in 1990 in honor of his late friend Andrew Wood, frontman for Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone. Temple included Pearl Jam members Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, Matt Cameron, Jeff Ament, and even featured Eddie Vedder himself.
In 2001, Cornell co-founded another rock supergroup, Audioslave. He was joined by Rage Against The Machine members Tom Morello, Brad Wilk, and Tim Commerford. The band established its own kind of music, apart from RATM or Soundgarden, with their second studio album "Out of Exile." The supergroup's signature was achieved through Chris Cornell's almost four-octave range and Tom Morello's experimental guitar riffs.
Aside from his rock band catalog, Cornell has also released four solo albums during his career. His debut solo album, 1999's "Euphoria Morning," received critical success but was commercially unsuccessful. It did, however, spawn the single "Can't Change Me," which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2000, for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
Cornell passed away due to suicide on May 18, 2017. The grunge architect was only 52 years old at the time.
Watch Chris Cornell's previously unreleased version of the Guns N' Roses classic, "Patience," below:
