Chris Cornell, the Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman, was found dead in his hotel bathroom by a family friend in what is believed to be a suicide, Detroit Police has confirmed to Mirror Online.

Michael Woody of Detroit Police Department said officers were called to the MGM Grand hotel in Detroit at midnight last night in response to an emergency call from one of Chris' friends.

When police arrived, they forced entry to the hotel room and found the rocker unresponsive in the ensuite bathroom, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.

"We are investigating this as a suspected suicide," he confirmed to us. "That is the line we are proceeding along."

(Image: Getty)

Police then rang Chris' wife Vicky to break the awful news to her, he added.

Chris Connell's official cause of death will not be recorded until the medical examiner has conducted an investigation, the results of which could be made public later today or tomorrow morning.

The philanthropic rocker, who spent his life fundraising for charity, was 52 at the time of his death.

Chris had been performing with Soundgarden at Detroit's Fox Theatre on the evening of May 17 2017, where his last song In My Time Of Dying poignantly referenced his deathbed.

(Image: WENN)

The singer returned to the MGM Grand hotel where the band were staying after the gig, which also featured Gossip Girl star Taylor Momsen's band The Pretty Reckless as a support act.

One news outlet claims Chris' wife Vicky Cornell called a family friend and asked him to check on the singer.

(Image: WENN.com)

It came after Chris' rep described the rocker's loss as "sudden and unexpected", adding that it had left his family "shocked".

Chris leaves behind wife Vicky Karayiannis-Cornell, who he recently described as "an angel, a lioness and the perfect wife and mother", their 12-year-old daughter Toni and son Christopher, 11.

He also leaves his daughter Lillian Jean, 16, who he shares with his ex-wife Susan Silver, who he divorced in 2004.

(Image: Rex Features)

Just days ago, Chris shared a picture of some pink roses on America's Mother's Day and told Vicky that he loved her.

He also thanked Vicky's mum Toni Karayiannis for giving him "the love of my life".

"Happy Mother's Day to my mom ToniKaras you thank for giving me the love of my life...," he wrote in the sweet message.

Chris' last tweet from his official account came just after 7pm local time, hours before he was due to take the stage in Detroit's Fox Theatre.

He captioned a picture of the venue: " Detroit finally back to Rock City!!!! soundgardennomorebulls**t ."

(Image: Getty)

The gig was sold out and Soundgarden were being supported by The Pretty Reckless, whose lead singer is Taylor Momsen of Gossip Girl fame.

She had posted a message before the gig telling fans it was her band's last ever gig with Soundgarden.

"Tonight is our final show with @soundgarden at the Fox Theater in Detroit, great band, great people, wonderful crew, new family, thanks to all #tprtour2017 ," she wrote.

The last song Chris Cornell ever sang on stage before his "sudden and unexpected" death contain lyrics referencing Jesus and heaven.

Soundgarden had been two-thirds of the way through their North American tour and were due to travel to Columbus, Ohio for a concert on May 19.

(Image: Uncle Sam - Alive in Detroit/YouTube) (Image: Uncle Sam - Alive in Detroit/YouTube) (Image: Uncle Sam - Alive in Detroit/YouTube)

They were then scheduled to appear in Maryland Heights, Denver, Houston, Dallas and Oklahoma where their tour would end on May 27.

According to the set list posted online by fans, Chris' last ever song was In My Time Of Dying, which contains the lyrics: "In my time of dying, I want nobody to mourn / All I want for you to do is take my body home."

It continues with the verse: "Jesus, going to make up my dying bed / Meet me, Jesus, meet me /

Meet me in the middle of the air.

"If my wings should fail me, Lord /Please meet me with another pair."

(Image: Reuters)

(Image: NBCUniversal)

The song has been covered by the likes of Bob Dylan and Led Zeppelin and is thought to have originated with Louisiana street performers in the 1920s.

It is inspired by a Bible passage from the Book of Psalms and closes each verse with a line about the singer's deathbed.

The original Bible passage is: "The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing, thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness."

His representative Brian Bumbery said in a statement: "His wife Vicky and family were shocked to learn of his sudden and unexpected passing.

"They would like to thank his fans for their continuous love and loyalty and ask that their privacy be respected at this time."

The statement also said the family would be working closely with the medical examiner to determine the cause and asked for privacy.