The band that really got Hard Rock music going all over the world certainly was Led Zeppelin, the group formed by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham. They were a huge influence to bands and artists in the following decades and one of them was the late Chris Cornell, known for being the frontman of Soundgarden and Audioslave. One of the greatest singers of his generation, Cornell had a really broad taste in music. He loved many different groups, but obviously, was a big fan of Hard Rock. Once he mentioned a band from his hometown, which in his opinion, was the American version of Led Zeppelin. The band Chris Cornell called "the American Led Zeppelin" Born in Seattle, Washington back in 1964, Chris Cornell grew up seeing a group of musicians that he considered his local heroes. That band was Heart, fronted by the sisters Nancy and Ann Wilson. It was in an interview with VH1 for the TV special "Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" back in 2000, he mentioned them as being the American version of Led Zeppelin. "I didn't make any discernment between them or any of the Rock bands that I listened to. To me, they were like an American version of Led Zeppelin," the musician said. The interesting thing is that he had the chance to know the Wilson sisters still in the 80s. It was when Soundgaden still wasn't a very succesful band. Nancy and Ann used to help the local Seattle groups a lot. They would invite them to their house to play together and would help some of the musicians to pay their bills and to continue to try to get a record deal. Cornell that Ann Wilson was a vocal role model for him Over the years Soundgarden obviously became one of the most famous bands from that Grunge Seattle scene. Alongside them were groups like Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains and Nirvana. Cornell went on to have a praised solo career and also to release some great albums with the supergroup Audioslave. In 2013, Heart was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and it was Chris who inducted them. He gave a long speech talking about the importance of Heart not only for Seattle and the local bands, but for music in general. He praised the sisters and the other classic members of the band, even saying that Ann was a vocal role model for him. (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage) "I'm here tonight to induct an amazing band and they also happen to be my hometown heroes. A band called Heart. Let's now praise the sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. As well as guitarist Roger Fisher, bassist Steve Fossen, guitarist and keyboardist Howard Leese and drummer Michael DeRosier. Somehow it never occurred to us that Ann and Nancy Wilson were women existing authentically in a world dominated by men." "Heart, with two Joana D'Arc's standing up front kicking total ass backed by a surprisingly powerful and unique band. (They) blasted down any sexual barriers in front of them, armed with pure ballsy power of Rock and Roll. Heart was important to us, not just as musicians. But also as proof of the fact that Seattle could produce something beautiful and rocking. (Something) that the rest of the world might actually care about". He continued: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZjEC4WhCvg&pp=ygUMY3Jhenkgb24geW91 "When you first heard the great albums these men and women wrote, played and sang. Like 'Dreamboat Annie', 'Little Queen', 'Dog and Butterfly'. You had the sense that: 'Here's a band that knew exactly what they were doing, where they were going, taking a queue from Zeppelin and displaying astonishing range. When I say range, I'm not just talking about Ann Wilson's epic soulful voice. But also the wide range of what they could do musically." "The heart of that band comes from the singular synergy in the sisterhood of Ann and Nancy Wilson. They have some unknowable connection emotionally that makes them so great when they sing or play together. Imagine siblings being together that much for that long and having such harmony. Years of touring, writing, reinventing themselves and surviving all the crazy ups and downs that a long career like theirs always throws at you." Chris Cornell continued: "Is a testament to how close they really are. How deep their relationship is tied to their love of Rock and Roll. Having worshiped these women for afar and now close up I have to say that Ann Wilson is a uniquely vocal force of nature. I've sat in the living room with Ann, Nancy and acoustic guitars. I can tell you it's some of the best live singing I've ever heard from anyone in my entire life." "As a vocalist, she stands out as one of the few vocal role models I look to. (I) think 'Wow, it is possible to get better with age. Always reaching for more and actually finding it sometimes. I love Nancy equally for kicking ass on guitar," Chris Cornell said. Heart was formed in Seattle, Washington back in 1973 and remained active until 1998. They reunited from 2002 to 2016, in 2019, and have been active once again since 2023. They released 15 studio albums and 9 live albums so far. Their most recent album is “Beautiful Broken” released in 2016. The band have sold an estimated amount of more than 35 million records worldwide. Some of their most famous songs are “Barracuda”, “Alone”, “Crazy On You”, “These Dreams” and “All I Wanna Do is Make Love To You”.
