Chris Cornell Announces Solo Acoustic Tour

Chris Cornell, who is perhaps best known as the frontman for Seattle grunge group Soundgarden, is heading to New Zealand for a string of solo acoustic shows in November. The announcement comes as Cornell prepares to unveil his fifth solo album, which is slated for release in September. However, the shows will see Cornell dip into his extensive back catalogue to play fan favourites from across his prolific career. Here are the tour details...

Update 17/09/15: A third Auckland show has been added due to popular demand. Here are all the dates...

Chris Cornell 

Friday 20th November, Isaac Theatre Royal, Christchurch - SOLD OUT
Monday 23rd November, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington - SOLD OUT
Thursday 26th November, ASB Theatre, Auckland - SOLD OUT
Friday 27th November, ASB Theatre, Auckland - SOLD OUT
Saturday 28th November, ASB Theatre, Auckland

Here is Chris performing 'The Keeper' from his last solo album Songbook live on Letterman...

PRESS RELEASE:

CHRIS CORNELL

ANNOUNCES 2015 SOLO ACOUSTIC TOUR DATES

THURSDAY MAY 21, 2015 - CHRIS CORNELL - multi-Grammy award-winning, Golden Globe nominated and acclaimed singer songwriter - has announced solo acoustic tour dates for November 2015.

Chris Cornell is an innovator who transcends genre.  He was the chief architect of the 90s grunge movement and retains one of the best rock voices of all time.  Achieving multi-platinum success with three legendary bands, Soundgarden, Audioslave and Temple of the Dog – and in the process selling more than 30 million records worldwide - he has forged his own unique identity over three decades as an iconic and universally acclaimed songwriter, guitarist, composer and lyricist.

The tour will provide fans the chance to see Cornell perform songs drawn from throughout his entire career, as well as new songs from his highly anticipated forthcoming studio album (scheduled for a September release) in an unplugged, up close and personal setting.

Tickets for all shows will go on sale at 10am, Monday June 1.

Spark customers will be able to access a special pre-sale commencing midday Wednesday May 27.

My Live Nation members can secure tickets first during the exclusive pre-sale beginning Thursday May 28 at midday.

For complete tour and ticketing details, visit: www.livenation.co.nz

Chris Cornell’s career began with Seattle trailblazers Soundgarden, whose wild soundscapes combined visceral punk attitude with artistic depth. Powerfully original, they were the first of their generation of Seattle bands to sign to a major label in 1989 and their work continued to evolve over the course of seven groundbreaking albums. Soundgarden made a historic return to the live stage in 2010 and have since toured the world, releasing the all-new studio album, KING ANIMAL, to widespread acclaim.

Cornell has continually redefined his sound and vision.  In 1990, side project Temple of the Dog saw him experiment with a more soulful style alongside the future members of Pearl Jam. Later in the decade, his critically acclaimed solo album EUPHORIA MORNING combined lush melody and instrumentation with lyrics which spoke of alienation and despair. And as the millennium turned, he joined with three other musical pioneers from Rage Against the Machine to create supergroup Audioslave. The multi-platinum band released three albums and toured stadiums around the world, becoming the first American rock group to perform a massive free concert in Castro's Cuba.  Cornell has also collaborated with many different artists, most recently the Zac Brown Band on their single “Heavy Is The Head”, which peaked at #1 on rock radio in the US.

His soundtrack work has spanned both big budget and independent cinema. He was the first male American artist to write and perform the theme song for a James Bond movie (“You Know My Name” for Casino Royale).  With Soundgarden, he wrote the end title song “Live To Rise” for The Avengers, the third highest grossing film of all time.  He duetted with Joy Williams on his song “Misery Chain” which appeared on the soundtrack of the Oscar-winning 12 Years A Slave and his song “The Keeper” from Marc Forster’s Machine Gun Preacher was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2012. 

Cornell’s recent solo acoustic ‘Songbook’ tour attracted sellout crowds and critical acclaim worldwide.  Jim Farber of the New York Daily News observed, “sometimes you don't recognize the full power of a voice until you strip everything away from it.”  The tour’s reinterpretations of classic Cornell songs are featured on his 2011 live album of the same name.

Cornell has also become involved in philanthropy, using music to support causes that help foster change.  The Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation is currently raising funds and partnering with charitable organizations to mobilize support for children facing tough challenges, including homelessness, poverty, abuse and neglect. 

He has also just finished recording his fifth solo studio album to date, which reflects an expressive intimacy similar to that of SONGBOOK, while also displaying his evolution and growth as a master craftsman songwriter.  This new powerful addition to his catalogue will be released this September.

TICKETS ON SALE
10AM MONDAY JUNE 1

Spark pre-sale:
Midday Wednesday May 27 until 11am Thursday May 28

My Live Nation pre-sale:
Midday Thursday May 28 until 9am Friday May 29

Ticket Agent pre-sale:
Midday Friday May 29 until 5pm Sunday May 31