Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell has denied suggestions that he criticised Kanye West while on stage in Australia.

The grunge band were playing at the Big Day Out festival on Sunday (January 22) as West was performed on a nearby stage.

However, after apparently being distracted by the noise from West's stage, Cornell said:

"Sounds like there's children playing music there, retarded children, retarded as in held back. There's no other word for it."

Cornell took to Twitter to address reports that he was slagging off West's music. confirming that he was infact criticising "poor tour production". He said:

"My comments @ BDO were directed solely at inadequate tour production. Kanye had nothing to do with it! We love him."