Next day came. There were 2 cars parked outside Chris Cornell's house, and then he saw Jason in one of the cars. He quickly called his mother, who was already prepped for the long ride that day, along with his 3 younger siblings.
When they got out of the house, they greeted Jason, and he greeted them back. He introduced them to the other driver, who would be their driver going to the office.
They all got into the car while Jason drove his. After a couple of hours or so, they arrived at Westport City. And in one of the areas, there was a 2 story building to which they stopped and found a parking lot.
Upon walking to the entrance, Chris and his mother saw what was written on the building, "SUB POP INC.". It was designed as per the original, it was James' idea to keep the original design, and to which Joseph Kennedy Sr. followed.
They went inside the building and the family was greeted by Joseph Kennedy Sr., who warmly welcomed them into the label's office. The space was full of energy, with walls adorned by posters of the hottest and greatest rock bands of the time, reflecting the vibrant music scene.
Karen gave a nervous but hopeful smile as Joseph Kennedy Sr. introduced himself. "Welcome, Chris Cornell. I have heard things about your voice from Jason. It is good to finally meet you all." He gestured for them to sit down.
As they settled in, Joseph handed Chris Cornell a demo tape, the song titled "Flower" from the upcoming Ultra Mega OK album.
"This is a rough cut made by the creator of the sound I believe will change rock and roll as we know it. I would love for you to give it a listen."
Chris Cornell, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness, took the tape from Joseph and popped it into the cassette player. The room was filled with raw, powerful music. As the song played, He could feel every note and rhythm pulsed through him. The sound was new, unique, and unlike anything he had heard before. The lyrics and melody resonated deeply.
When the song ended, Joseph turned to Chris Cornell. "What do you think?" he asked.
Chris Cornell paused, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. "It is... it is incredible," he said, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "There is something raw about it. Feels different, but... powerful."
Joseph smiled. "I am glad you think so. Well, I would like you to meet the person who created it. The mind behind this revolution in sound. I believe you two have a lot in common."
"But the man behind this sound is actually not far from here. I would like you to meet him. Why don't we head over to his place in Westport City? I think you will find his vision for rock and roll aligns with yours."
Chris Cornell glanced at his mother, Karen, who, though still uncertain about the whole situation, could see the spark in Chris's eyes. "Alright, Chris," she said, her voice steady, "Let us go. You are going to meet someone who might help you with your dreams."
—--------------------------------------NEXT SCENE--------------------------------------------------------
The drive from the office to James' home was smooth and quiet, the family chatting nervously as they approached the impressive estate. Chris Cornell sat in the front, while his mother and his siblings were in the back seat. The car slowed to a halt as they reached the massive gate of James' mansion, a sight that left them all momentarily stunned.
As they entered the huge property, the house itself looked more like a mansion than a home. Joseph Kennedy Sr. led the family up to the entrance, and the door was opened by James himself, a boy no older than Chris, but with an air of confidence that belied his youth.
"Mr. Kennedy, welcome! And you must be Chris Cornell?" James said, his voice surprisingly calm and clear for someone so young.
Chris Cornell gave a small smile, feeling a little awkward but impressed by the house and the boy's demeanor. "Yeah, that is me."
"Please, come in," James said, stepping aside to allow them into the lavish foyer. "I am glad you could make it. Let me show you around."
The family followed James through the expansive house. He had the maids prepare some food and refreshments for Chris Cornell's mother and siblings while he separately invited Chris Cornell to his room.
James led him to a room where several speakers and musical instruments were arranged. He gestured to the vinyl player. "This is where the magic happens," he said with a grin.
Joseph Kennedy Sr. smiled knowingly. "James has quite an ear for music," he said politely.
"Do you play?" Chris Cornell asked, his curiosity piqued.
James nodded, walking over to an adult sized drum set. He had the small drum set replaced from last year. Then, he paused, looking over at Chris Cornell with a gleam in his eye. "I do. But first, I want you to hear something."
He motioned to the turntable, where a vinyl was placed. "This is a drumless track of 'Achilles Last Stand' by Led Zeppelin. I want to see how well you can imagine the drums, and then... I will show you what I can do."
James started the record, and the guitar and bass of "Achilles Last Stand" filled the room. It was a raw, powerful sound, with the track missing only one key element: the drums.
James stood behind the drum kit, adjusting his seat as he listened to the song. As the music played, he began tapping along to the rhythm, growing in confidence with each beat. Soon, he was pounding the drums with a ferocity and precision that would have made any seasoned musician proud.
As the song reached its crescendo, James hit the final crash of cymbals with perfect timing, his youthful energy matching the iconic Led Zeppelin track.
'I practiced this song an unknown number of times in my previous life, so my playstyle of this song was like a replica of John Bonham's drumming.'
Chris Cornell stood frozen for a moment, eyes wide. "That was... amazing," he said, his admiration evident.
James smiled modestly, though there was a spark of pride in his expression. "Thanks. This is just what I do for fun. But you know, I've got a lot of ideas for the future, and I think you and I could make something legendary together."
Chris Cornell looked at James. He could feel the weight of the moment—the possibilities opening up before him.
"I think I am ready," Chris said quietly, a new sense of determination in his voice. "Let us do this."
James looked at him, his smile widening. "We will make history, Chris. Rock and roll will never be the same again."
'And I meant that literally.'