Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard Pays Tribute to Chris Cornell

Letter shared on what would have been singer's 53rd birthday

On what would have been Soundgarden/Audioslave singer Chris Cornell's 53rd birthday, Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard shared a moving letter to his friend and bandmate in Temple of the Dog. The letter was posted on Pearl Jam's website, and can be read in its entirety below:

Happy Birthday, Chris

I keep waking up in the middle of the night and remember, fresh again, that you are gone. An absence grows in my stomach and slowly turns circles like a far off galaxy on a grainy tv.

The same questions follow and my heart races...searching for reasons and what ifs..

I'm so selfishly sad that I'll never get to see you again, never play with you again, never feel the bask of your approval or be part of your life.
Fuck....
We all miss you so much...it was always a given in my mind we would all spend more time together when we got older, we would play more music and love and be loved like we dreamed...this was your time and you shared it with us...thank you.

You were too much...
Your talent was jaw dropping...your songs, lyrics, your voice...how could you have all 3...
And then, the not so obvious...your wicked sense of humor and your playfulness...
all of us are heartsick and we will never get over losing you.
We hope you're in peace and that your particles are mutating and transforming in harmony with nature. We wish your family our utmost condolences and sympathies.

We love you Chris,
Happy Birthday