The One Band CHRIS CORNELL Believed Was America’s Answer To LED ZEPPELIN

Long before grunge made Seattle famous, Chris Cornell had already picked his local musical heroes. Among British rock influences, there was one American band he saw as a standout.

In his eyes, they were a U.S. version of Led Zeppelin, not just for their sound, but for their energy, creativity, and especially their powerful frontwomen.

In a VH1 special from 2000, Cornell made it clear. “To me, they were like an American version of Led Zeppelin,” he said, according to Rock And Roll Garage. He was talking about Heart, the rock band fronted by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson.

The group started in the 1970s, mixing heavy guitar riffs with detailed songwriting and rich melodies. For Cornell, they showed that a band from Seattle could reach a global audience.

Cornell actually crossed paths with the Wilson sisters in the early days. In the 1980s, before Soundgarden broke through, Ann and Nancy were known for helping younger musicians in the local scene. They opened their home, shared gear, gave advice, and even helped with living expenses when money was tight. Cornell remembered this support for years.

When Heart was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, Cornell was chosen to give their introduction. On stage, he praised the sisters for breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry. “Heart, with two Joan of Arcs up front kicking ass, tore down every gender barrier in their path, armed with the raw power of rock and roll,” he said.

He also praised their body of work, pointing to albums like Dreamboat Annie, Little Queen, and Dog and Butterfly. He admired their musical range, saying it wasn’t just about Ann’s powerful voice, but also about the band’s ability to explore different sounds and styles. For Cornell, the deep connection between the Wilson sisters was part of what made the band special.

Heart left a strong impression on Cornell, not just as musicians, but as people who gave back to their community. Their success helped lay the foundation for Seattle’s future music scene, long before grunge became a global phenomenon.

About Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist best known as the frontman of Soundgarden and Audioslave. Born in Seattle in 1964, he became one of the defining voices of the grunge movement in the 1990s. His powerful, wide-ranging vocals and introspective lyrics helped shape the sound of alternative rock.

Soundgarden, formed in the mid-1980s, was one of the first grunge bands to sign with a major label. Their 1994 album Superunknown brought mainstream success with hits like Black Hole Sun and Spoonman.

Later, Cornell teamed up with former members of Rage Against the Machine to form Audioslave, releasing three albums that blended hard rock with political and personal themes.

Beyond his work with bands, Cornell also had a solo career that showed a softer, more acoustic side. Songs like Can’t Change Me and his You Know My Name theme for the James Bond film Casino Royale showed his range as an artist.

Cornell was open about his struggles with depression and addiction, and his death in 2017 was ruled a suicide.

His passing shocked the music world and led to tributes from across the industry. He is remembered not only for his music but for his generosity, activism, and deep connection to the Seattle music scene.

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