Jack Black Teams Up with James Hetfield for an Unforgettable Chris Cornell Tribute at The Forum
Los Angeles’ Forum became the setting for *“I Am the Highway: A Tribute to Chris Cornell,”* a massive gathering that pulled together musicians, friends, and admirers who wanted to honor his life and legacy. Coordinated with the late artist’s family, the evening unfolded as both a heartfelt celebration and a powerful reminder of his impact, offering tender, reflective passages alongside earth-shaking performances that electrified the entire audience.
Stretching across nearly six hours and more than forty performances, the concert took listeners on a journey that moved from the grit of grunge into classic rock, detoured through pop, and circled back again. Cornell’s songs and influence served as the thread linking all of it together. It was long, but it felt generous and full of purpose, a kind of marathon that rewarded endurance with constant surprises and unpredictable collaborations.
One such surprise came when Jack Black bounded onto the stage to present Metallica. True to form, he avoided a flat reading of a teleprompter and instead turned the moment into a lively improvisation. He spoke with humor and awe about Cornell’s incredible vocal reach, joking that some of his higher notes could rip holes in the universe. The crowd, ready for joy as much as reverence, embraced his mixture of comedy and respect.
As his introduction built, Black escalated things further by bursting into a sudden a cappella rendition of Soundgarden’s *“Spoonman.”* What could have been just a quirky aside instead became a raw mini-tribute, both rough-edged and full of heart. It carried the sort of spontaneity that only happens in a room fully alive with emotion, when a performer senses the current of the crowd and chooses to ride it.
The audience roared as James Hetfield stepped into view, guitar in hand. In that instant, Black’s impromptu performance gave way to a short, playful trade-off that hinted at Metallica’s *“One.”* The exchange wasn’t a polished duet but a symbolic gesture: a comedian saluting Cornell and then passing the spotlight to one of metal’s greats. The transition struck with adrenaline and authenticity, setting the stage for what followed.
Metallica’s set broke with routine. Rather than leaning only on their biggest hits, the band mixed their standards with deep pulls from Soundgarden’s earliest catalog, including songs like *“All Your Lies”* and *“Head Injury.”* The choices weren’t casual; they reflected careful consideration of Cornell’s origins as well as his towering legacy. In doing so, the band conveyed a sincerity that elevated the tribute beyond obligation and into genuine homage.
Black’s ability to stretch his time onstage without stealing the focus became a highlight of the evening. Fans later admired how he riffed just long enough to cover the changeover behind him and then stepped aside at precisely the right second. What looked like spontaneous chaos was actually keen instinct, maintaining the flow of the show while keeping attention centered firmly on Cornell’s memory rather than the presenters themselves.
Observers later described the moment as quintessentially Jack Black—bold, funny, slightly reckless, yet warm and genuine. Even as he sang *“Spoonman”* with exaggerated comic delivery, the crowd felt his sincerity. That unpolished looseness helped the tribute feel vital and alive. It prevented the event from becoming stiff or overly formal, instead making it feel like a living celebration full of heartbeat and pulse.
The choice of *“Spoonman”* was symbolic too. Beyond being a crowd favorite, it had been the breakout single from Soundgarden’s *Superunknown,* the 1994 record that propelled the band into global recognition. To hear its jagged hook shouted in the middle of a solemn introduction captured the balance the night strove for—mourning mingled with celebration, grief tempered by vitality and defiance.
The staging around Metallica reinforced those themes. They stayed firmly rooted in their own identity while still acknowledging Cornell’s Seattle foundations. It was a delicate balance, but it echoed the philosophy of the night itself: don’t copy the man, honor his contribution and the community he inspired. The audience, filled with devoted fans and casual listeners alike, responded to the clarity and conviction of that approach.
Other performers widened the scope even more. Appearances from Foo Fighters, Miley Cyrus, Brandi Carlile, and members of Soundgarden and Audioslave turned the concert into something closer to an anthology of Cornell’s influence. The breadth of genres and generations demonstrated just how far his songs reached, traveling beyond the boundaries of one style or one moment in music history.
The pacing of the event also proved crucial. Tribute shows this long can often lose momentum, but this one used brisk sets and surprise cameos to maintain energy. The unplanned spark between Black and Hetfield became the turning point that shifted the room’s mood, moving the crowd from solemn reflection into roaring excitement just as the night threatened to weigh too heavily on grief.
For Metallica, diving into Soundgarden’s formative tracks carried symbolic weight. Those early songs revealed the raw creativity that came before fame, capturing Cornell not only as a gifted singer but also as an architect of an entire sonic movement. By spotlighting those moments, the band highlighted the foundation that gave rise to one of rock’s most unforgettable voices and legacies.
The production further reinforced the sense of occasion. Expansive screens, rotating stage equipment, and smooth transitions kept the focus on the music while preventing the show from stalling. Photographers captured striking contrasts—from stripped-down duets to ferocious full-band performances—without overshadowing the songs themselves, ensuring the tribute remained centered on artistry rather than spectacle.
By the time the final notes rang out, what lingered most was not the celebrity cameos but the sense of unity threaded through the entire night. Comedians, pop stars, grunge veterans, and heavy metal icons all stood side by side without irony. The fleeting Jack Black–James Hetfield collaboration encapsulated that feeling: spontaneous, heartfelt, a little imperfect, yet absolutely fitting for a memorial that wanted people to laugh, cheer, and remember together.
If a tribute is judged by its honesty to its subject, this one exceeded the mark. It offered space for both humor and sorrow, honored history while staying alive to the moment, and allowed community to carry the weight of remembrance. In that charged arena, a comedian shouted *“Spoonman,”* a thrash legend responded, and a sea of voices turned memory into gratitude through music.
