ABOUT

It all started in May of 2017 with the tragic and sudden loss of Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell to suicide while the band was in the middle of their spring tour. The world was shocked that someone so brilliant who had transcended the Grunge genre his band arose from to become a world-renowned, mainstream solo artist would take his own life, seemingly at the height of his career. Our hearts were broken.

We as a band knew that we needed to pay special homage to him in a way that was more profound than just playing our typical set of classics. What we came up with was a career-spanning set of songs, and using the tribute to Chris as a way to raise money and awareness for suicide prevention. Our first annual Chris Cornell tribute and Suicide Prevention benefit took place a month after Chris’ death in front of a sold-out crowd at the legendary San Francisco venue Slim’s.

The band’s mission statement was born: Help us Help others. We realized that we were in a unique position to play the music that people love while bringing people together to support causes that we are passionate about. Here we are now 7 years into it and have raised tens of thousands of dollars that have gone directly back to our community.

A collage of six posters and flyers for events and tributes to musician Chris Cornell, featuring colorful artwork, band photos, and event details.

Every life matters, and together we can make a difference. We are honored to partner directly with SF Suicide Prevention through Felton Institute to help ensure that no one has to face life's darkest moments alone. Your support provides critical crisis intervention, compassionate care, and hope for those who need it most. Be part of this mission by making a donation today through our official fundraiser, joining us at our upcoming event, or purchasing merchandise and an event ticket bundle when it becomes available. Every act of generosity brings hope and helps save lives.

Donate Today

A band performing live on stage with five male musicians playing guitars, drums, and singing. The stage is lit with colored lights.

Four people standing in front of a stage with a sign that reads 'Club Fox' and 'Swamp Hammer & Rusty Chains'. They are posing for the photo, with one person making a peace sign. The setting appears to be a bar or music venue.

Four men standing in a dimly lit room with colorful, psychedelic lighting and artwork on the ceiling, one holding a microphone, suggesting a musical performance or band.

Four men standing in a room with a decorative ceiling, one of whom is holding a microphone. The text overlay reads "Rusty Chains" in bold yellow and red letters.

Four men standing together in a dimly lit room with blue and yellow wall lighting, wearing dark band T-shirts.

Band performing live on stage with colored lighting, including red and green lights, in an ornate venue with decorative columns and ceiling.

A musician playing an electric guitar on stage with colorful lighting and ornate decorations in the background.

A musician playing a bass guitar on stage with red lighting, wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a black t-shirt with a necklace, in an ornate venue.

An elderly man with a long gray beard, wearing a plaid shirt and a baseball cap, playing an electric guitar on stage with red and blue lighting.

An older man playing an electric guitar on stage, with a focused and intense expression, illuminated by stage lighting.

Musician playing an electric bass guitar in a dimly lit stage setting with colorful lighting.

A live music performance showing a male singer passionately singing into a microphone on stage, with a drummer in the background and a large screen projecting his close-up face to the audience. The stage has ornate decorations with red and gold accen

Two male singers performing on stage with microphones, one in front wearing a green beanie and purple plaid shirt, the other in the background with short blond hair, green stage lighting shining behind them.

A man playing an electric guitar on stage during a live performance, wearing a black T-shirt and a gray cap with the word 'PRIMAL' on it, with colorful stage lighting in the background.

Band performing on stage at a concert, with audience in front and balcony seating above, colorful stage lights illuminating scene.

Live music performance at a venue with multiple band members on stage, colored stage lights, and an audience in the foreground.

A live music performance on stage at the GDN Lounge with a band of young women playing guitars and singing, surrounded by an audience. A skeleton figure is on the left side of the stage, and vibrant blue and purple stage lighting illuminates the scen

A live music performance at the DNA Lounge, with a band playing on stage under blue lighting, featuring a skeleton decoration hanging above and audience members capturing the show with their phones.

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press email: rustychainsgivesback@gmail.com