King Ultramega has released a captivating version of Chris Cornell’s “Dead Wishes,” featuring Brann Dailor of Mastodon. You can listen to the track below.

Over the past year, the all-star collective, led by Mark Menghi of Metal Allegiance, has been sharing a series of reimagined versions of songs from across Cornell’s career, drawing on his work both solo and with Soundgarden and Audioslave.

Each recording is made in loving memory of the legendary vocalist (who passed away in 2017), with the aim of raising funds and awareness for MusiCares, the Recording Academy’s nonprofit organization that provides mental health services, addiction recovery services, and emergency assistance to members of the music community.

How Did Brann Dailor Get Involved?

He had strong emotional ties to the project, even though he admits he wasn’t entirely familiar with “Dead Wishes” when Menghi first approached him about singing on it. The prospect of tackling the vocal parts on the track, which originally appeared on Cornell’s 2015 album Higher Truth, was also daunting.

Still, the drummer had grown up as a fan of both Soundgarden and Cornell. This was something he shared with his mother, who was also a devoted fan of the band and all things Cornell. “She was a rabid fan of Chris Cornell,” he tells UCR. “She really loved his solo work.”

“I knew this was for a really great cause and paying homage to one of my biggest vocal and rock heroes [also meant a lot],” he shares. “You know, I got to meet him. We played shows with Soundgarden, and Kim Thayil played a guitar solo on our last album [2021’s Hushed and Grim]. We have a deep admiration and rich history with the Soundgarden guys and Chris.”

“My mom passed this past February, so I thought, ‘Mom would be so thrilled about me singing a Chris Cornell song.’ There were many reasons I wanted to participate,” Dailor explains. “My sister committed suicide when she was 14, so mental health issues are very important to me. Everything sort of aligned with all of it. I was really excited that he reached out to me to try my hand at singing the song.”

Listen to King Ultramega’s ‘Dead Wishes’ Featuring Brann Dailor of Mastodon

Support from Soundgarden

“I don’t think King Ultramega would exist without Kim Thayil’s blessing and support,” Menghi tells UCR. “When we did ‘The Day I Tried to Live,’ he recorded the guitars for that back in 2020 or 2021. I sat on it for four or five years, unsure if I wanted to pursue this path.”

Understandably, covering material by Soundgarden and Cornell was a daunting thought. Thayil, he shares, was the one “poking the bear,” encouraging him to move forward and asking who he planned to have sing on the various tracks. “Kim’s really into this; his management is really supportive. Ben [Shepherd] and Matt [Cameron] are really into this. Vicky Cornell is really supportive too; it’s important to have their blessing.”

“It’s humbling that people like Brann, Richie [Kotzen], Joe [Satriani] and all these artists are taking the time to do this,” he says. “Because again, it’s for a great cause. It’s a charity that means a lot to me. Mental health awareness is crucial for me. This has been an amazing experience. I appreciate all the artists involved; it’s truly humbling.”

What Other Songs Has King Ultramega Recorded?

The new version of “Dead Wishes” is the sixth single released by the band, joining previous recordings such as Audioslave’s “Be Yourself” (featuring Satriani), Temple of the Dog’s “Say Hello 2 Heaven” (with Kotzen and Anthrax’s Charlie Benante), and Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage” (featuring William DuVall of Alice in Chains).

Fans can find information and watch/hear all released songs on the group’s official website, which also offers various merchandise items available to raise additional funds for MusiCares.

Mental health struggles affect everyone. Don’t hesitate to ask for help if you need it. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers free and confidential help and can be reached at 988, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Watch King Ultramega’s ‘Rusty Cage’ Video Featuring William DuVall of Alice in Chains