MUSICARES HONORS CHRIS CORNELL IN 3RD ANNUAL MAP BENEFIT CONCERT

MusiCares honored Chris Cornell at the 3rd Annual MAP Benefit show and David Gahan, Alice Cooper and a few Chili Peppers were all on hand.

MusiCares held their third annual Musicans Assistance Program (MAP) Benefit concert and like each of the previous years, brought together a tremendous lineup of musicians performing together for a great cause. The MusiCares MAP Benefit, which provides members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment regardless of their financial situation, recognized the legendary Chris Cornell with the Stevie Ray Vaughn Award for his dedication and support of the MAP Fund and his devotion to helping other addicts with their recovery. This year, MusiCares featured live performances from Kenney Wayne Sheppard with Stevie Ray Vaughn’s original rhythm section, Double Trouble, Gary David Gahan (Depeche Mode) with John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Army of Anyone and Chris Cornell and his band, among others. Cornell thrilled the packed house with a few songs from his upcoming solo album ‘Carry On.’

We caught up with Chris Cornell, who has over come his own demons with alcohol, to talk about how honored he his to win the Stevie Ray Vaughn Award and how important the MusiCares MAP Fund is to people who can’t afford the high costs of substance abuse treatment.

“You know it’s something that I feel honored to be a part of, not because I’m being honored but because I get to set an example to other people. Here I am tonight being honored by MAP and getting the Stevie Ray Vaughn Award and he was somebody that actually inspired me. As a musician and as a person with substance abuse I can find the other side of it. You know I can look at someone like Stevie Ray Vaughn and stories I’ve heard and say ‘Man that guy was way worse off than I ever was.’ And he got help and dealt with it and became this amazing, positive and almost like this ‘Touched by an Angel’ inspiration. This kind of icon of that, this post sort of problem that he had becoming a really vital person and a really happy person and then I saw performances after he got help and became a sober Stevie Ray Vaughn and it’s like untouchable. He was just an incredibly inspiring musician.”

David Gahan, lead vocalist for Depeche Mode also talked about honored he was to perform ‘Policy of Truth’ and ‘Personal Jesus’ with Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante at the benefit. He also shared how much the people affiliated with MusiCares helped him straighten his own life out.

“Well I was asked to do it, which I was honored to be asked and like I said some of the people involved in it were instrumental in getting me help and pointing me in the right direction, years ago. So, it’s weird that life goes like that, when you’re awake and showing up for it, things happen.” Gahan also went on to discuss how the collaboration with John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers happened. “I think it was a couple of phone calls. I know that John was asked to do it and then I was asked to do it and I was like ‘Is John doing it?’ and it’s one of those kind of things. And the chance to go out and play with him, he’s quite a fan of Depeche Mode and it’s great. I’m a big fan of what he does.”

We also caught up with Alice Cooper who presented Cornell with the SRV Award to talk about how many legendary musicians from his generation really could’ve used an organization like MusiCares and how many of them still might be here today making great music.

“Well anybody that’s from my generation certainly went through the abuse, when I look back at friends of mine. The Lou Reeds and the ones that are still here you know. We didn’t really have this organization and I wish we would’ve. I wish it would’ve been around in the 70’s. It might have even saved a few of us. Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Keith Moon, I can think of everybody. The 27 club we call it. I think there was ten or eleven rock stars that died at the age of 27 from just imploding, from just over doing it. There might have been a few of those people that didn’t do that because of MusiCares.”

MusiCares also presented independent music promoter, Jeff McClusky, with the From the Heart Award for his unconditional friendship and dedication to the mission and goals of the organization. The festivities were hosted by comedian Tommy Davidson and was sponsored by the Gibson Foundation and Liquid Experience. Guests included Anthony Kiedis of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billy Morrison of Camp Freddy and Neil Portnow, President of The MusiCares Foundation and The Recording Academy.