This is going to be one of those polarising posts. Sorry about that.

I wasn't personally a big fan of Soundgarden or Audioslave although it wasn't bad. But I am always sad to see when the media and fans romanticise a suicide. A lot of the social media comments, and even at least one on this thread, almost makes it sound expected. "Tortured souls" and all that. I personally have a big problem with people making the means of death almost incidental when someone like this kills themselves.

If you have never had your family rocked by what a suicide can do maybe its easy to try look on the bright side. Well, there isn't one. Suicide is tragic, cowardly, heartbreaking, cowardly, destructive and, you guessed it, cowardly.

This notion of romaticising suicide really reached fever pitch with Kurt Cobain and has continued in that vain ever since. As much as I loved Robin Williams, the fact that he chose to end it all tarnishes his entire image. Same for Kurt, and now Cornell.

This doesn't make him a a better artist, it doesn't add anything to the meaning of his work and it isn't a solution to life's problems that should be lauded or toned down. His death was pathetic, and his choices ... here's that word again ... cowardly.

I do feel complete sympathy for what lead him to this, and can empathise deeply with his family, but I cannot in good conscience sit back and watch people make excuses for him and turn this into a romantic tragedy. It is just a tragedy, plain and simple.

My flame retardant suit is on for those who don't understand what I am trying to say.

I used to say the same thing, but unless you've been to the point of utter hopelessness and despair, to the point of finally deciding to take that plunge, against all your natural instincts of self preservation, I know that it takes a lot of balls to cross this barrier!

When I read this post today, having been a fan since the early 90's and therefore following his journey through the years, I was actually surprised he held on for this long!

I have personally felt the affects of being left behind by suicides, and it has affected me very profoundly, but until I got to the brink myself, I could never understand until I reached that moment! My life revolved around looking into methods of suicide, a heroine overdose being at the top of my list and slow asphyxiation a close second! Each day pushed me further and further, at times reaching out to strangers, desperately trying to find reason to go on, each time I fell asleep hoping to not wake up only to burst into tears when my eyes opened the next day, the pattern repeating itself day after day, month after month until it became years!

I do not romanticize his death, I envy it and feel a personal relief for him, knowing what I went through!

Yes, the bravest thing I ever did was carry on despite my hopelessness, but the contradiction is that I feel like the biggest coward for not taking that plunge too!

I do not dispute your opinion, you are entitled to it! If my experience and actions make me a coward, so be it!

Btw, artists feel things very deeply! My best artwork was produced in the most depressing, lowest periods of my life! It's an outlet for what you feel inside, and sadness and despair are probably the most intense emotions that often produces the most significant creative outbursts in people with a predisposition to expressing themselves through various artistic mediums. I disagree that it has nothing to do with being a good artist! The genius behind creativity is connecting with people and expressing emotions without actually interacting with them.

He was taken away in a lusty majority.

Never heard of Cornell before.
I'm an old toppie.
I only know of Elvis and the Beatles.
And Elvis is dead, and two of the Beatles are dead.