Jane’s Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro recently responded to renewed online theories about the late Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell and their decision to perform Temple of the Dog’s “Hunger Strike” together during Linkin Park’s Projekt Revolution tour in 2008.
Navarro stated that he understood why the speculation has persisted, while stopping short of claiming he knows the full truth.
In a statement posted to Instagram, Navarro said there has been “a lot of talk” that Cornell and Bennington were trying to expose alleged wrongdoing involving children within the entertainment industry, and that some fans have attached that idea to their “Hunger Strike” performances.
“There has been a lot of talk about Chris [Cornell] and Chester [Bennington] trying to expose what was happening to children in the dark, unseen shadows of the entertainment industry,” Navarro said. “There is a lot of discussion about their performances of ‘Hunger Strike’ and the meaning behind their choice to sing that song together.”
Navarro, who said he knew both singers personally, added that he could see why people make those assumptions. He said he does not know “flat out” whether the theory is true, but noted he is “inclined to believe it.” Navarro shared the comments alongside an older video of himself performing “Hunger Strike” with Bennington, bringing fresh attention to the song’s history and its high-profile guest performances.
“I knew them both and I can easily see why people are making those assumptions,” he continued. “I don’t know flat out if there is any truth behind that theory but I am inclined to believe it.”
Navarro’s remarks arrive amid continuing discussion around the two musicians’ deaths in 2017, when Cornell passed away in May and Bennington died in July. In recent years, Navarro has been in the spotlight for other band-related headlines as well, including reports that Perry Farrell’s wife claimed Navarro blocked him during Jane’s Addiction tensions.
While Navarro did not provide new evidence about the theories, his willingness to address the topic publicly underscores how “Hunger Strike” remains a flashpoint for fans processing Cornell and Bennington’s legacy. Any further clarity would likely depend on direct documentation or statements from those closest to the 2008 tour and the artists involved.
