The music world is still recovering from the tragic death of Chris Cornell, and a fan has shared a short but poignant story reminding us that Soundgarden’s remaining members are hurting most of all.

Soundgarden fan James took to Facebook back in June, Alternative Nation reports, to describe his brush with bassist Ben Shepherd, and his short account was gut-wrenching.

“I met Ben Shepherd this morning from Soundgarden, he bought me a cup of coffee,” James began. “You can tell he’s hurting.

“I didn’t know who he was at first. When I asked him what he does, he said I used to be in a rock band. I asked him what band, he said Soundgarden.

“I didn’t know what to say really,” James finishes. “How sad, for him.”

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Soundgarden were planning to release their next record in 2017

It’s only a small story about a chance encounter, but it makes it seem as if Soundgarden have, of course, decided not to continue on without the iconic Chris Cornell.

It’s also a window into the lives of the band members who have been left behind in the wake of Cornell’s death by suicide, as they do their best to cope with the tragedy.

Soundgarden were planning to release a new album this year, their first since 2012, with the songs already written and ready to be recorded.

Chris Cornell will now be remembered with a new statue in his hometown of Seattle, commissioned by his widow Vicky, and his daughter Toni recently performed a touching version of ‘Hallelujah’ in honour of her late father, and Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington.

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