Morning, Westport City. As Chris Cornell began his first day in training. It had only been two days since he left Seattle, and already, his world had changed. No longer just a garage band member with fleeting dreams, a voice hidden behind bedroom walls, he was now at the center of a precise, well-funded plan to turn him into a future rock star.
Inside the large, sunlit guest room of James' home, now Chris Cornell's temporary residence, his schedule was pinned on the wall. Each line reads like a roadmap to greatness.
'Damn, this is real, huh?'
Chris Cornell thought before leaving the room.
Then, he began with a full vocal health evaluation by an ENT specialist first. His range and cords were examined meticulously. After the diagnosis? He was found to be healthy, and a surprisingly hint of untapped power within that voice.
The same day, he met his vocal coach: he was trained in classical technique, then in hard rock growls. It was for twice a week, he would train with the vocal coach, learning to breathe like a tenor but sing like a storm.
By the third day, he was already immersed in exercises for projection, pitch, and endurance. At night, he journaled about the changes he felt in his throat, the new awareness of muscles he never used before. Meanwhile, a physical trainer introduced him to a personalized workout plan, nothing too extreme, but structured for stamina. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays meant conditioning and agility. Saturdays became "boxing" days, a creative addition to build confidence and rhythm.
Every Sunday, Chris Cornell returned home to visit his mother and siblings and told them about his new experiences with the label.
Based on history, Chris Cornell's teen was plagued with substance abuse. And with James stepping in early before he becomes associated with drugs deeper and deeper, his life took a different path, though he might go and do drugs once he blows up in popularity, James and the label will do its best according to the contract about his health maintenance.
With the new path that Chris Cornell was experiencing at that moment, all of it grounded him.
And when Mondays came, he resumed the challenging but fruitful life.
Regarding mental health, it was not left behind. His first counseling session surprised him. It was not just about issues; it was about managing pressure, staying focused, and unlocking confidence. It felt strange to talk so openly, but he appreciated the space.
By the end of July, the hired nutritionist overhauled his diet, less junk, more greens, and hydrating routines. Chris did not complain. He saw how it helped him get healthier and better.
By August, it opened with jam sessions alongside James on lead and rhythm guitar, and a hired session drummer. They played Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and even improvised over slow blues.
He was learning his taste, and the team was carefully profiling his voice. Feedback was constant, sometimes gentle, sometimes blunt.
But every day, Chris Cornell stood straighter. He spoke louder. He looked like someone being sculpted slowly but smoothly.
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One of the songs they practiced was Black Sabbath's song called "Black Sabbath".
Although he only listened to the song and got the lyrics for a week, his voice has started to shape a bit and he could memorize it already.
As James started the riff for the song perfectly, the drummer followed at the same time and tempo. The guitar and drums meshed together, even though there was no bassist present, the heaviness of the tone was still present.
As the guitar riff slowed down, along with the drums, he closed in on the microphone and started the first verse.
"What is this that stands before me?"
"Figure in black which points at me"
"Turn around quick, and start to run"
"Find out I'm the chosen one"
"Oh nooo~"
He moaned and emulated Ozzy Osbourne's sound.
Then, the heavy guitar riff and drums played like in the beginning and then slowed down again. He began the 2nd verse.
"Big black shape with eyes of fire"
"Telling people their desire"
"Satan's sitting there, he's smiling"
"Watches those flames get higher and higher"
"Oh no, no, please God help me"
He quickly removed the microphone from his face and made a move with the microphone stand as if he was feeling the song, his eyes were closed as he was feeling the heavy guitar riff and drums playing, his head was slowly starting to bang up and down.
And then, after a few more lines of the first guitar riff, James completely transitioned to the faster and heavier riffing tempo of the song, along with the drumming, his head started banging harder and then he moved the mic to his mouth and started the 3rd verse.
"Is it the end, my friend?"
"Satan's coming 'round the bend"
"People running 'cause they're scared"
"The people better go and beware"
"No, no, please, no"
After he moaned that last line from the verse, James quickly fastened the heavy riff then started to do the lead guitar part and then continued the heavy riff until the song ended.
He was banging his head hard the whole time while the heavy riff was playing and as it goes, he felt something new, something deep within him that has not been released before.
After the riff ended, he opened his eyes, with sweat, he looked at James and the session drummer with a smile.
'This is rock and roll!'