Season 1 - Episode 29 - Sound Check, Nerves, and the Pact!
According to Ozzy Osbourne's "Blizzard of Ozz" April 1981 tour schedule, Chris Cornell and the session band members were locked in as the opening act for thirteen grueling dates across the U.S., including:
1. April 7, 1981 at Detroit, Michigan (Cobo Arena)
2. April 9, 1981 at Chicago, Illinois (Chicago Amphitheater)
3. April 11, 1981 at Chicago, Illinois (Chicago Amphitheater)
4. April 13, 1981 at New York City, New York (Madison Square Garden)
5. April 14, 1981 at New York City, New York (Madison Square Garden)
6. April 15, 1981 at New York City, New York (Madison Square Garden)
7. April 17, 1981 at Boston, Massachusetts (Boston Garden)
8. April 20, 1981 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Spectrum)
9. April 21, 1981 at Washington, D.C. (Capital Centre)
10. April 22, 1981 at Washington, D.C. (Capital Centre)
11. April 23, 1981 at Atlanta, Georgia (Atlanta Municipal Auditorium)
12. April 25, 1981 at Tampa, Florida (Sun Dome)
13. April 30, 1981 at Dallas, Texas (Tarrant County Convention Center)
A total of 13 tour dates. It was a grueling month not only for Ozzy Osbourne but also a very great challenge for a 16 year old Chris Cornell. Even with last year's training under different coaches, the intensity of this tight packed schedule was unlike anything Chris Cornell had faced before.
And so, James tasked Joseph Kennedy Sr. to hire a vocal coach who will oversee Chris Cornell's vocal health throughout the month. To which, Joseph Kennedy Sr. followed to a "T".
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1 in the afternoon. April 6, 1981.
James and his Sub Pop Inc. employees and staff were at the stage checking everything for Chris Cornell and the hired sessionist band members. Around 2 in the afternoon, Chris Cornell and the sessionist band members ended the soundcheck rehearsals.
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The day before the first show felt like the calm before a storm. But the moment they stepped into Cobo Hall, the magnitude of what was coming hit like thunder.
Cobo Hall, Soundcheck Day.
Chris Cornell stepped into the massive venue, jaw hanging open just a bit. Cobo Hall was huge. The seats stretched far and wide, and even though it was empty, you could feel the weight of it. Like the ghosts of every band that had played there were still hanging around.
"Damn…" Chris muttered.
Behind him, the band shuffled in, yawning, still shaking off the 6 in the morning hotel coffee. Joseph Kennedy Sr. followed, looking perfectly sharp as always in his pressed black coat, clipboard in hand.
A stagehand in a worn denim vest waved them up. "Alright, you guys are up. Got about 1 hour before the main crew starts tweaking Ozzy's setup again."
Chris Cornell nodded, hopping up onto the stage. The gear was already there, Joseph Kennedy Sr. had it rented locally. The amps were buzzing quietly, drums in place, mics set.
"Let us plug in and run it!" He said, stepping up to his mic. His voice echoed faintly in the empty arena.
One of the roadies handed him a bottle of water. "You are the new kid, huh? Heard you made Ozzy throw his beer mid-track when he first heard your tape."
Chris laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah?"
They started warming up, just a verse from "Head Injury" to check levels. The techs fiddled with dials, moving across the stage, nodding at the soundboard guys in the back. There were a few feedback squeals, a blown monitor that had to be swapped, but overall, it was going smooth.
Joseph Kennedy Sr. stood at the side of the stage, arms crossed, eyes sharp. Always watching.
Chris Cornell belted out the chorus again, pushing his voice hard.
"Alright! That is punchy!" the front-of-house guy yelled from halfway across the venue. "You are good! Just do not blow the mic tonight!"
Chris Cornell gave a thumbs-up, sweat already forming on his brow. "Copy that."
They wrapped about 20 minutes later. Ozzy's crew was already starting to roll in, pulling their gear around, tuning guitars, checking cables.
As Chris Cornell walked offstage, he looked back once more at the sea of empty seats.
"This is real now…" he said, mostly to himself.
Joseph Kennedy Sr. patted his shoulder. "You pass tonight, you will be doing this in every state by summer."
James on the side, sipping his orange juice, nodded, "Yep!"
Chris cracked his knuckles and smirked. "Then let's make 'em remember my name."
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They all went back to their hotels. Chris Cornell and the sessionist band members were all feeling the nervousness as this would be their very first national gig. With James and Joseph Kennedy Sr., along with the Sub Pop Inc staff, they assured them and made them confident.
Along with the locally hired vocal coach, Chris Cornell's vocal practice and warm ups were coming up good.
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Chris Cornell slumped down onto the hotel bed, still in his black jeans and boots. The rest of the guys, John on rhythm guitar, Tom on lead guitar, Ray on bass, and Mike on drums, were scattered around the room, half-sitting, half-pacing, each holding onto that nervous energy like it was buzzing in their bones.
Tom leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Man… Cobo Hall. I never thought we would be on a stage like that."
Ray laughed nervously, sipping from a soda can. "Yeah, I was shaking during soundcheck. My fingers were straight up locking up."
Chris Cornell looked around at them, then smirked. "We all looked like we were about to pass out when the sound guy gave us the thumbs up."
Mike flopped into the chair by the window. "I almost puked in the van this morning. I'm not even kidding."
John added, "No kidding!"
They all chuckled, the laughter helping to break the tension just a bit.
Chris Cornell sat up and grabbed the remote, flipping on the TV but not really watching it. "You know what though? We have been working our asses off for months. Practicing every day. Running through these songs like our lives depended on it."
Tom nodded. "Yeah. James would not even let us miss a beat. That kid's got ears like a hawk."
"Joseph told me this morning," Ray said, "that we sound tighter than most pro bands he heard. That made me feel a little better."
Mike added, "And Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne did not have to give us that shot. But both of them did. That says something."
Chris Cornell looked at all of them. "Tomorrow night, we just gotta go out there and do what we have been doing in rehearsal. Play like no one is watching, except now it is ten thousand people who paid to see Ozzy."
Ray grinned. "We will burn it all on stage, right?"
They all laughed again, this time more relaxed.
Chris Cornell stood up, stretched, and clapped his hands. "Alright. Let us hit the lobby tomorrow. We will head out together. No one dies tomorrow night, alright?"
"Deal," Tom said.
"Speak for yourself!" Mike joked. "I am wearing two pairs of socks in case I pass out on stage."
Chris Cornell smirked. "If one of you trips or drops a stick, just pretend it is part of the act."