Taylor Momsen Tells Her Last Meeting With Chris Cornell

Taylor Momsen (Instagram @theprettyreckless)

JAKARTA - Taylor Momsen of "Pretty Reckless" was one of the last people to see Chris Cornell the night before he died in Detroit in May 2017. At that time, his band had just finished touring with Soundgarden.

The "Pretty Reckless" will release their fourth studio album, Death By Rock and Roll on February 12. Not long ago, the vocalist appeared in an interview with radio host Matt Pinfield for 95.5 KLOS Los Angeles.

Like Momsen, Pinfield loves "Soundgarden" so much that Momsen's appreciation of the grunge legend and his relationship with the late Cornell became a hot topic of conversation.

Momsen's first encounter with Cornell came a few years before Soundgarden's spring tour in 2017 in which "Pretty Reckless" was chosen as the opening act. But the first time the two singers had any real conversation was during a show in Detroit.

"He's so great, he's the kindest, kindest person and even sharing a few moments in his presence is crazy," she said.

The Detroit show on May 17 is the final night of Pretty Reckless' tour with Soundgarden.

"(Chris) left right after the show, so I waited at the back door knowing it was the last night of the tour, and I wanted to thank for everything and say whatever I have to say," Momsen remembered.

"And I did, I stopped him as he walked out. We had a nice little discussion, I hugged him tight, 'Let's do it again sometime'?"

Cornell was found unresponsive in his hotel room that night. Momsen didn't believe it at first until she was shocked.

"The next morning I was awakened by news about ... crushing. I couldn't believe it, I guess it was the right word. I believe that everyone was lying to me and it was a terrible joke. And it wasn't," she explained.

Fast forward a few years, Pretty Reckless now has a good relationship with the surviving Soundgarden members. Kim Thayil and Matt Cameron appeared as guest musicians on the song Only Love Can Save Me Now, which will be featured on the album Death By Rock and Roll.