KING ULTRAMEGA, an all-star rock collective featuring members of Soundgarden, Anthrax, Mastodon, and more, has released its debut single, an emotional cover of the Temple of the Dog classic “Say Hello 2 Heaven.” The release is the first offering from a new, passion-driven project created to honor the life and music of the late Chris Cornell, with proceeds benefiting the MusiCares charity.
The new single, released on Friday, October 10, features a powerhouse lineup of Richie Kotzen on vocals and guitar, Anthrax‘s Charlie Benante on drums, and project mastermind Mark Menghi on bass. For Kotzen, the performance became deeply personal, imbued with his own experience of loss.
“I lost my sister to su**ide in 2022, and that kind of loss changes how you experience certain songs,” Kotzen commented. “It’s not something I set out to bring into the session, but it showed up. That’s when it stopped feeling like just a tribute and became something more personal.”
Project founder Mark Menghi noted the powerful, full-circle nature of the song choice. “The lyrical message in ‘Say Hello 2 Heaven’ strikes a chord when you think back on how Chris wrote about Andrew‘s [Wood] untimely passing, and here we are over 30 years later paying tribute to Chris with his song about his untimely passing. It’s an emotional rollercoaster to say the least,” he said.
The KING ULTRAMEGA project, which launches in conjunction with Soundgarden‘s upcoming induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, earned its ultimate seal of approval with the participation of Soundgarden‘s own guitarist, Kim Thayil.
“I’m super honored to record alongside all the amazing musicians appearing on the KING ULTRAMEGA project,” Thayil said in a statement. “I’m equally proud that it celebrates Soundgarden in this tribute to the songwriting of Chris. Ultra-admirably, everyone’s participation is supporting the work of the MusiCares Foundation.”
The project grew organically from a cover of “Rusty Cage” that Menghi recorded during the pandemic. It has since evolved into a massive undertaking featuring an incredible roster of musicians, including Joe Satriani, William DuVall (Alice In Chains), Bill Kelliher (Mastodon), and Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy). Menghi explained that his guiding principle for the entire project was a simple one: “How would Chris like this?” He stated that the goal “is only about honoring the legacy of Chris Cornell. Nothing more.”
