Watch Aerosmith Dedicate ‘Dream On’ to Chris Cornell
The members of Aerosmith led the audience in a moment of silence for Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell during their show at the Black Sea Arena in Batumi, Georgia, on May 20.
As captured in the fan-shot footage above, the group's Cornell tribute was led by Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler, who sat at a piano while an image of Cornell was broadcast on the arena's video screens. "Let's take a moment of silence for Chris Cornell," Tyler told the crowd, pausing briefly before adding, "Dear God, may this man forever dream on."
As previously reported, Cornell died May 17, only hours after a Soundgarden show in Detroit. As tributes from many of his peers poured in — including one from Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry — investigators ruled Cornell's death a suicide.
In the days since those findings were made public, further details regarding Cornell's final days have come to light, with the police report outlining the hours leading up to his death and Cornell's survivors arguing that an excess of prescription medication may have had a fatally adverse effect on his state of mind.
The tribute from Aerosmith — a band Cornell was once rumored to be in the running to join during a period when Tyler was estranged from the rest of the lineup — is just one of many offered onstage by his fellow musicians in recent days. Soundgarden were scheduled to play at the Rock on the Range festival, and following the news of his death, organizers arranged a special performance in his honor; Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine also paused during a recent show to praise Cornell's musical gifts before covering Soundgarden's "Outshined."
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