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The surviving members of Soundgarden released a new statement regarding the lawsuit filed by Chris Cornell’s widow, Vicky Cornell, in Washington last week.
“The buyout offer demanded by the Estate has been grossly mis-characterized and we are confident there will be clarity in court,” said Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron and Ben Shepherd. “All offers to buy out our interests have been unsolicited and downright declined. Soundgarden’s social media accounts have been hijacked for over a year; misleading and confusing our fans. As a Washington State band since 1984, we are proud of Soundgarden’s musical legacy, work and career. We look forward to finishing the last Soundgarden album. “
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In the lawsuit filed in Washington’s US District Court Western District, Cornell says the surviving members offered her “the disgracefully low amount of less than $ 300,000,” despite allegedly making a $ 16,000,000 offer. received from an outside music investor for Soundgarden’s master recordings.
At the time of his death, Cornell was working with his Soundgarden bandmates. According to the lawsuit, Cornell says she has written to the surviving members of the band to buy out her late husband’s interests in Soundgarden and related entities.
In response to what Cornell considers the band’s “unfair offer”, she says she has submitted a counteroffer of $ 4,000,000 for each remaining band member for their collective interests in Soundgarden and related entities, a bid that was reportedly rejected. . Cornell says the surviving members also declined its follow-up offer of $ 7,000,000 each.
“As requested by the Estate of Chris Cornell and as required by Washington State law, the surviving members of Soundgarden submitted a buyout offer to Cornell Estate four months ago for the Estate’s interests in Soundgarden calculated by the respected music industry. valuation expert Gary Cohen, ”members said Wednesday in response to the lawsuit.
Cornell and the remaining Soundgarden members have been sued in federal court since 2019 when Cornell filed a lawsuit, alleging that they were falsely withholding royalties from Cornell’s estate in an attempt to force Vicky Cornell to hand over seven unreleased recordings that Chris Cornell in 2017. before he died.
SPIN has contacted representatives for Vicky Cornell for comment.
Pamela Chelin contributed to this report
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