The three remaining Soundgarden members have responded to the lawsuit filed by Cornel’s widowed wife, Vicky.
In her lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court Western District of Washington, Cornell said that Kim Thayil, Ben Shepherd, and Matt Cameron offered her “the villainously low figure of less than $300,000,” despite having allegedly received a $16 million offer from an outside music investor for Soundgarden’s master recordings.
Thayil, Shepherd, and Cameron issued a statement, saying:
“The buyout offer that was demanded by the Estate has been grossly mischaracterized and we are confident that clarity will come out in court.
“All offers to buy out our interests have been unsolicited and rejected outright.
“For more than a year, Soundgarden‘s social media accounts have been hijacked; misleading and confusing our fans.
“Being a band from Washington State since 1984, we are proud of Soundgarden‘s musical legacy, work, and career. We look forward to completing the final Soundgarden album.”
In a statement released on February 17, a spokesman for the band said that the offer was based on a valuation determined by Gary Cohen, a forensic accountant, and business manager who conducts royalty investigations. That statement said: “The band members have elected to offer multiple times more than the amount calculated by Cohen.” It also said: “This dispute has never been about money for the band. This is their life’s work and their legacy.”