According to Billboard, Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron, Ben Shepherd and their business manager Rit Venerus have requested a US District Court judge order Chris Cornell’s widow to hand over the passwords or include a final posting stating "Soundgarden has temporarily suspended its official social media accounts due to pending litigation."
The band members claim Vicky has locked them out of their social media accounts – including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vimeo, YouTube, Snapchat, Tumblr, Top Spin and Pinterest, as well as Soundgarden's official website – and changing all the passwords.
In the March 25 court filing in a U.S. District Court, Soundgarden claim – despite repeated requests for access – that Vicky has been "holding hostage the login information" since litigation between the two parties over control of unreleased hris Cornell recordings began in 2019.
The group states that their former management company handed over the passwords to Vicky upon their termination, and that not only are their social accounts "in a state of neglect," but that Vicky is identifying herself as "Soundgarden" and has removed fan comments and posted images and comments to the Soundgarden social media pages.
News of the social media control battle comes just days after a federal judge recommended the court toss out two of Vicky’s six claims against the remaining Soundgarden members as they battle various issues since the 2017 death of Chris Cornell after he took his own life in a Detroit hotel room while on tour with the band.
A hearing on the band's request is set for April 16; learn more about the latest court filing at billboard.com.
Soundgarden were among the nominees under consideration for entry into the 2020 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame; the Seattle band failed to garner enough music industry support to be inducted on their first nomination.
See also:
Judge updates Vicky Cornell lawsuit against Soundgarden
Soundgarden respond to Vicky Cornell lawsuit
Chris Cornell’s widow sues Soundgarden over buyout terms
Chris Cornell streams cover of John Lennon classic
Search Soundgarden at hennemusic
