CHICAGO, May 18 (Xinhua) -- Chris Cornell, lead singer of famous American rock band Soundgarden hanged himself at a hotel in Detroit Wednesday night, according to a statement announced Thursday by local government of Wayne County.
Medical Examiner's Office of the Wayne County in Michigan state said in a statement the cause of death has been determined as suicide and a full autopsy report has not yet been completed.
Cornell, 52, was in Detroit performing with Soundgarden, which had embarked on a U.S. tour in April. Brian Bumbery, his representative, called Cornell's passing "sudden and unexpected."
The Grammy-winning rocker performed Wednesday night at the Fox Theatre in Detroit.
According to local media, police spokesman Micheal Woody said Cornell's wife called a family friend to check on Cornell. The family friend then forced open the hotel room door and found the singer on the bathroom floor with "something around his neck."
Cornell began his career in the Seattle rock scene by forming the band Soundgarden in 1984.
