 Temple of the Dog was started by Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell , who had been a roommate of Andrew Wood , the lead singer of Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone . Wood died on March 19 , 1990 of a heroin overdose , the day Cornell got back from a tour . As he went on to tour Europe a few days later , he started writing songs in tribute to his late friend . The result was two songs , " Reach Down " and " Say Hello 2 Heaven , " which he recorded as soon as he got back from touring . 
