Soundgarden‘s social media accounts and website have been transferred to the band’s surviving members.
Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron and Ben Shepherd have reached a “temporary agreement” with Vicky Cornell, the widow of late frontman Chris Cornell, over the accounts, which gives them and their management company control of the Soundgarden Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as the SoundgardenWorld.com website.
“Through our joint social media efforts and our temporary agreement, my family, along with the surviving members of Soundgarden, hope to celebrate Chris and his music out of mutual respect and love,” says Vicky Cornell. “We all recognize the profound pain caused by Chris’ tragic loss and the path it has taken us down.”
The socials and website had become a point of contention in the long-running legal battle between the Soundgarden members and Vicky Cornell, which first began in December 2019 over a series of recordings Chris Cornell had made before his death in May 2017.
Amid the suits and countersuits, Soundgarden accused Vicky Cornell of leaving the accounts in a “state of neglect” — which briefly caused the band’s Twitter account to lose its “verified status” — and accused her of withholding the accounts’ passwords from them.
Vicky’s lawyer then accused Soundgarden wanting access to the accounts “in order to maliciously defame Ms. Cornell, provoke online stalkers…and to instigate third-parties to harass Ms. Cornell and her minor children.”
In a statement on their reclaimed website, Soundgarden writes that “there will be no more comments” regarding family members of any “current or former band members.”
“It should go without saying, to the adults in the room, that there won’t be any threats, bullying or mocking of any kind, directed at anyone,” the band adds. “Furthermore, don’t post discussions or inane conspiracy theories casting blame for harm to Chris Cornell.”
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