Cornell’s Not-So-Silver Lining

Ex-Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell filed suit in Los Angeles Superior Court November 28th accusing the manager of his former band of conspiring with other members and their business reps to deprive him of income.

The manager in this case is Susan Silver, Cornell’s ex-wife.

The singer, who now fronts Audioslave, divorced Silver in 2002 after 12 years of marriage and three years after he left Soundgarden. She continues to manage the affairs of the group even though it disbanded, according to court documents.

Silver’s “personal animus” toward Cornell is not just a result of the split, Cornell alleges, but is “an attempt to further her goal of continuing the lucrative representation of other members of Soundgarden.”

Further, the complaint alleges Silver, in her role as manager, failed to advise Cornell that he needed to protect his interests in copyrighted musical compositions created before the marriage.

Cornell also accuses his ex of promising to deliver his business and personal effects to him with no intention of actually doing so, out of a “desire to harm” him. The items include two Grammys, various demo tapes, personal recordings, journals, music sheets and lyrics.

Cornell places the amount of damages at more than $1 million; however, the complaint does call for unspecified real and punitive monetary damages to be decided at trial, and Silver’s removal as Soundgarden’s manager.

“The actions of Silver were willful and intentional and performed with fraud, oppression and malice against [Cornell] and with a conscious disregard of [Cornell’s] rights,” according to the complaint.

“Silver’s conduct under these circumstances is despicable and warrants the imposition of exemplary damages in an amount appropriate to punish Silver and deter future similar conduct.”

Silver could not be reached for comment.