Today would have been Chris Cornell’s 53rd birthday, and his friends and former bandmates in Pearl Jam have shared a touching note about the late singer, who passed away in May from an apparent suicide in his Detroit hotel room.

The note, posted to Pearl Jam’s website today was penned by guitarist Stone Gossard, Cornell’s Temple of the Dog bandmate along with other members of PJ, but shares a sentiment that seemingly comes from the whole band.

“I keep waking up in the middle of the night and remember, fresh again, that you are gone,” the note begins. “An absence grows in my stomach and slowly turns circles like a far off galaxy on a grainy tv.” The message continues, praising the various talents Cornell shared with his friends, bandmates and fans, along with his “wicked sense of humor and…playfulness.”

Read the full note below:

I keep waking up in the middle of the night and remember, fresh again, that you are gone. An absence grows in my stomach and slowly turns circles like a far off galaxy on a grainy tv.

The same questions follow and my heart races…searching for reasons and what ifs..
I’m so selfishly sad that I’ll never get to see you again, never play with you again, never feel the bask of your approval or be part of your life.
Fuck….
We all miss you so much…it was always a given in my mind we would all spend more time together when we got older, we would play more music and love and be loved like we dreamed…this was your time and you shared it with us…thank you.
You were too much…
Your talent was jaw dropping…your songs, lyrics, your voice…how could you have all 3…
And then, the not so obvious…your wicked sense of humor and your playfulness…
all of us are heartsick and we will never get over losing you.
We hope you’re in peace and that your particles are mutating and transforming in harmony with nature. We wish your family our utmost condolences and sympathies.

We love you Chris,
Happy Birthday