The 7 Musicians That Chris Cornell Named As His Favorites

We will share with you the favorite musicians that inspired the music of the grunge icon Chris Cornell, who chose to leave us when he was just 52 years old. We can still see the effects of these names, which he mentioned in his interviews and the albums he released in the early and mid-1990s when he dominated the music markets. In this article, we will detail the musicians Chris Cornell named as his inspiration of all time.
During his career, Chris Cornell, the famous singer, songwriter, and guitarist, impacted grunge rock. Chris Cornell is known as the main vocalist and lyricist for the bands Soundgarden and Audioslave. He was born on July 20, 1964, in Seattle, Washington, USA.
As the vocalist of Soundgarden, Chris Cornell was instrumental in pioneering the grunge genre and the Seattle music scene of the 1990s. With singles such as “Black Hole Sun,” “Spoonman,” and “Fell on Black Days.”
Following the dissolution of Soundgarden in 1997, Chris Cornell launched a successful solo career, producing numerous albums, including “Euphoria Morning” and “Carry On.”
Cornell formed the supergroup Audioslave in 2001 with former Rage Against the Machine members. The band’s combination of rock and alternative metal developed a sound that captivated people worldwide.
On May 18, 2017, everyone mourned the death of Chris Cornell, who died at 52.
Chris Cornell’s Inspired Musicians Of All Time
Chris Cornell shared his Top 7 Favorite Musicians Of All Time in one interview. Here are the Chris Cornell favorite and picks musicians as follows:
Which musicians inspired Chris Cornell?
- John Lennon and The Beatles
- Robert Plant and Led Zeppelin
- Jeff Buckley
- Freddie Mercury
- Janis Joplin
- Otis Redding
- Jimi Hendrix
1. John Lennon and The Beatles

In a 2016 Rolling Stone interview, Chris Cornell mentioned that The Beatles influenced him as a child and that names like John Lennon were impactful in discovering his interest in music.
Some of the songs I will always admire are the Beatles songs. Each of their albums has a unique feel and style, and I learn something every time I listen to this music.”
The Beatles influenced many musicians and bands in the music industry and contributed to the evolution of music. The Beatles’ creativity, innovative approach, and musical quality have made them one of the most influential and successful musical groups ever.
The Beatles broke away from traditional patterns in popular music and began to write their songs. The songwriting skills and creativity of John Lennon and Paul McCartney set a new standard in popular music. Their originality in composition has expanded the boundaries of popular music.
The Beatles were pioneers in using studio recording techniques. They used new sound effects, flashback recordings, multi-layered vocals, and innovative arrangements in their albums. This took music to a new dimension in the production process and emphasized the importance of studio recordings.
The Beatles were pioneers in making concept albums by considering albums as a whole. While singles and compilation albums were usually at the forefront in the previous period, albums such as The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” transformed the album format into a means of artistic expression and pioneered the birth of the progressive rock genre.
The Beatles have been one of the pioneering bands to make music a visual experience. With the increasing popularity of music videos, the group has created videos that visually represent their music.
The Beatles’ music has reflected and influenced youth culture and social change. The great interest and admiration for music, called Beatlemania, has created a new phenomenon in popular culture.
The Beatles became the first British band outside the UK to achieve substantial worldwide popularity. They also achieved great success in the United States of America, and their music reached broad fans worldwide.
Chris Cornell also shared why he see The Beatles as one of the best band of all time as follows:
“My fascination with the Beatles’ songwriting has inspired me on my own musical journey. The lyrics and melodies in their songs are written to touch people’s hearts and remain timeless. The Beatles were a band that pushed the boundaries of music and went beyond its era. Their musical experimentation and originality fueled my passion for music even more.
2. Robert Plant and Led Zeppelin

During the years Soundgarden dominated the music market, Chris Cornell cited Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant among the names he inspired in many of his interviews. Plant’s vocal style and energetic stage performances inspired Cornell’s music. Robert Plant’s vocal strength, songwriting, and stage dominance inspired Cornell to shape his music.
Both artists were also influential in essential periods of rock music and created their styles. He has developed her own artistic identity, reflecting her admiration for Led Zeppelin‘s music and Robert Plant’s vocal style in her music.
Led Zeppelin was among the pioneers of heavy metal and hard rock in the 1970s. They combined blues, rock, and folk music to create their unique hard-rock style. This musical style played an essential role in forming the next generation of hard rock and heavy metal bands.
Led Zeppelin is known for its co-written songs composed by members Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham. The band set a new standard in rock music for writing and composing their songs.
Led Zeppelin has been a pioneer in making concept albums by considering albums as a whole. Especially his albums such as “Led Zeppelin IV” and “Physical Graffiti” are examples that have musical integrity and transform the album format into an artistic expression tool.
Led Zeppelin has a legendary reputation for its stage performances and live concerts. The energy, extended solos, and intense performances in his concerts emphasized the importance of rock music’s stage shows and inspired the next generation of musicians.
Led Zeppelin has taken music to new heights by using innovative techniques in studio recordings. The albums, mainly produced by Jimmy Page, are known for their experimental recording techniques and sound effects.
Led Zeppelin also became a universal language of rock music, especially by reaching great popularity in the USA and Europe.
3. Jeff Buckley

It has been recorded that the Euphoria Morning album was influenced by Buckley’s songwriting and distinctive vocal style. The song “Wave Goodbye” on this album is Cornell’s tribute to his late friend Jeff Buckley, and he tried to sing it in his style.
The musical legacy of these two legendary vocalists and artists is still appreciated by many music lovers and artists today.
Jeff Buckley has inspired and influenced many musicians throughout his short music career. His innovative musical approach, vocals, and stage performances have opened new horizons in rock music and songwriting and left an important legacy to the music world. Buckley’s timeless music still has a large fan base and remains influential today. Some of the revolutions Jeff Buckley made include:
Jeff Buckley’s vocal talent and technique have made him unique and impressive. His wide vocal range and emotional singing ability allowed him to form a strong bond with the listeners. His heart-wrenching interpretations, especially in songs like “Hallelujah,” made him unforgettable.
Buckley has created his unique musical style by combining various genres such as folk, rock, soul, and blues.
Jeff Buckley re-populated songs such as Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and Benjamin Britten’s “Corpus Christi Carol” with his successful covers. Cover songs gaining a new dimension with their performance and touch has been considered a creative process in the music industry.
Jeff Buckley fans with intense emotional expression and creative editing on stage performances. His live performances fascinated fans by making a spontaneous and remarkable connection.
Jeff Buckley artistically reflected strong emotional expressions in his music. The lyrics and composition in his songs set an example for the combination of emotion and art.
Chris Cornell expressed his respect and admiration for Jeff Buckley’s music in various interviews and why he mentions Jeff Buckley as one of his favorite vocalists of all times as follows:
“The depth and emotionality of Jeff Buckley’s music has always impressed me. The simplicity and emotional intensity of his songs have made him an unforgettable artist. Jeff Buckley’s voice was truly captivating and he was an outstanding singer. His music and songs have left an original and impressive mark on the music world.
My admiration for Jeff Buckley’s music cannot be fully expressed in words about his music and vocal style. A talent like him is one of the rare treasures of the music world.”
4. Freddie Mercury

Chris Cornell grew up watching Freddie Mercury‘s performances and listening to his music. His vocal strength and dominance on the stage further cemented Cornell’s passion for his music. Freddie Mercury‘s exceptional vocal range, powerful performances, and songwriting have influenced Cornell’s music and stage performances.
The emotional passion of Freddie Mercury’s songs was reflected in Cornell’s music and contributed to the power of his songs. It is also known that Cornell showed tribute to some of Queen‘s songs by covering them. For example, Cornell performed classic Queen songs such as “Bohemian Rhapsody” in their live performances and presented her performance to the fans.
Queen is considered a group that has been an essential source of inspiration for many artists in the music world. Chris Cornell has openly expressed his admiration and respect for their music. Freddie Mercury’s unique vocal talent and Queen’s unforgettable songs have earned their music acclaim among musicians and fans even years later.
Freddie Mercury is a rare artist who still impacts the music world with his legacy. He is remembered as an unforgettable music icon who left his mark on music history with his vocal performances, composing talent, and concerts. Queen’s music has left a lasting and transformative impact on rock music with the revolutions she made under her leadership in the band. Here are some of them;
Mercury was a unique vocalist who successfully combined rock music and opera. Using influences from Queen’s songs, she added a new dimension to rock music and set an example for other musicians of her time.
Mercury wrote and composed many of Queen’s best-known songs. He has an important place in music history with his unforgettable songs such as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Somebody to Love,” “We Are the Champions” and “Don’t Stop Me Now.”
5. Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin was one of the rock and blues singers of the 1960s and 1970s and was one of the rare names at the time for female artists to stand out for their distinctive and potent vocal style.
Chris Cornell admired Janis Joplin’s unique vocal style and emotional songwriting, admiring her musical talent and distinctive artistic identity.
6. Otis Redding

Soul music is a genre known for its emotional songs and strong vocals, and one of the most important names of this genre is Otis Redding. Redding’s vocal style touches the hearts and souls of the listeners.
Cornell appreciated the emotional intensity and vocal strength of Otis Redding’s songs. He has often expressed admiration for Otis Redding’s musical talent and artistic identity, enjoying Otis Redding’s soulful singing and vocal style.
In particular, the interactions of soul and blues during Cornell’s Soundgarden and other projects may reflect the influence of Otis Redding’s music. Soundgarden’s blues and grunge timbres and Cornell’s strong vocals were seen as examples of such results.
7. Jimi Hendrix

Chris Cornell admired Jimi Hendrix‘s guitar-playing style, experimentation, and originality and admired his musical talent. In his interviews and interviews, Cornell has described Hendrix as one of the greatest guitarists.
Hendrix’s revolutionary approach to rock music and his pyrotechnic guitar solos inspired Cornell guitarist Tom Morello. Hendrix’s guitar riffs and experimental method can be seen in Soundgarden albums.
Chris Cornell remembers Jimi Hendrix with great respect and admiration and was inspired by the experimental and original approach to his music. Jimi Hendrix‘s legacy continues today as an inspiration for music transformation and either rock or heavy metal guitarists.
What are your thoughts on Chris Cornell‘s inspired musicians? Let us know in the comment section!