Soundgarden, the seminal Seattle grunge rock group, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at the Peacock Theater on Saturday night. Before accepting the honor from Jim Carrey and launching into “Black Hole Sun” and “Rusty Cage,” the band reflected together backstage on their bumpy journey into the ranks of rock immortals and the lasting impact of their late frontman, Chris Cornell.
“I like the honor and I'm very happy for our fans,” said bassist Ben Shepherd. “I can't wait to play.”
For guitarist Kim Thayil, there's a measure of validation in his addition that he recalled from conversations with Cornell. “Chris was saying, 'Remember how you and I, and [bassist] hiro [Yamamato] We would sit in a room and talk about bands that we really liked… and that influenced us. us play together? It's like, 'Well, that's the kind of band we should be.' The band that makes us I want to get together and play music.'”
Soundgarden members Kim Thayil, from left, Matt Cameron, Chris Cornell and Ben Shepherd in 2014.
(Jack Plunkett / Invision / AP)
The addition was a long time coming for Soundgarden. They originally formed in 1984 and steadily moved to the forefront of the underground indie rock scene on labels like Sub Pop and SST while touring the country in a red Chevy pickup truck. “It was almost like a camping trip with sleeping bags,” Cameron recalled. “I remember I brought this blue blanket to sleep in.”
“I would bring my own breakfast. I would bring a cooler and put cereal and yogurt in there,” Yamamoto said. “These guys went to Denny's every day. I can't do that!”
After moving to A&M Records, Soundgarden spent the 1990s creating some of the most innovative, heaviest and most dynamic albums of their generation: groundbreaking records like “Badmotorfinger,” “Superunknown” and “Down on the Upside.” Soundgarden disbanded in 1997, but got back together in 2010 and resumed work in music and touring.
As gratifying as the Rock Hall honor is, the absence of Cornell, who took his own life after a concert in Detroit in 2017, lent a somber note to the festivities. “It's nice to hear the power of the music we create, but it's also extremely bittersweet that we don't have [Chris] with us,” said drummer Matt Cameron. “In the few instances where we've performed this music since his passing (it's only been a few times) it's empowering, but it's also very, very bittersweet.”
Meanwhile, Cornell's bandmates continue working on a collection of songs they were recording with him just before his passing. “Once we were able to work on the music again, it all came back to how powerful the music still is and how meaningful it still is to us,” Cameron said. “I think we're going to approach it with that kind of intention of trying to make it natural and real, and at this stage of the game, there are some things that sound incredible.”
Reuniting with Yamamoto, who left Soundgarden around 1989, for the Rock Hall show did much to liven up the festivities. As soon as the band began playing one of its first cuts, “Entering,” during rehearsals in Seattle, Shepherd recalled with a touch of amazement that it “instantly sounded like Soundgarden.”
“That was one of those things where I could have gone to YouTube and someone else could have taught me how to play it again,” Yamamoto said with a laugh. However, Shepherd took a photo of the moment and happily sent it to his friends.
“We weren't sure how it would work, but Hiro is so adaptable and such an incredible musician that it sounded great from the beginning,” Cameron said. “A lot of bass, but the band has always had a pretty considerable bass presence in our sound. It was just nice.”
Taylor Momsen performs at the opening with Soundgarden's Kim Thayil and Matt Cameron.
(Amy Sussman/WireImage)
To bring Cornell's voice to life at the Peacock Theatre, Soundgarden turned to a pair of younger powerhouses. Brandi Carlile and Pretty Reckless frontwoman Taylor Momsen. Both are true Soundgarden fans and represent the group's impact on the next generation of musicians who followed in their wake. It is something they are especially proud of.
“It's still surprising, but it's something that was probably on our wish list as something we were hoping to look forward to,” Thayil said. “If we're honest with ourselves and what we're creating and how we communicate together, then this should happen. But it's still a surprise and heartwarming.”
“It's nice to be able to contribute to that continuum of music and hopefully have the younger generations be inspired by what we were doing with the band, which was, you know, self-expression and collaboration and trusting your own instincts and stuff like that,” Cameron said. “I think it's good to impart it to other young musicians.”
As for who they think should follow Soundgarden into the Hall next, Thayil has a few ideas. “Alice in Chains is the first thing that comes to mind, of course,” he said. “I'm surprised to learn that these six people are not in the Hall of Fame: Sonic Youth, Motörhead, Iron Maiden, Pixies, New York Dolls and Black Crows.”
“And the Melvins!” Cameron added.
