Soundgarden reflect on ‘bittersweet’ Rock Hall induction and final recordings with Chris Cornell

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Soundgarden, one of the most important bands to come out of the Seattle grunge scene, was honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday night at a glamorous ceremony. Before accepting their awards and performing hits like “Black Hole Sun” and “Rusty Cage,” the band members reminisced backstage about their often unpredictable path to rock and roll legend status, and remembered their late singer, Chris Cornell, and his enduring influence.

Bassist Ben Shepherd expressed his excitement and gratitude, saying he was honored and thrilled for the band’s fans. He’s eager to get on stage and perform.

Kim Thayil, the guitarist, feels a sense of confirmation with the band’s induction, recalling conversations he had with Chris Cornell. Cornell used to say, “Do you remember when you, Hiro [Yamamoto, the bassist], and I would just talk about the bands we loved? That’s what made us want to play music together.” The idea was to create a band that inspired that same feeling – a group that genuinely excited them to collaborate and make music.

It felt amazing to finally see Soundgarden inducted! They’d been building to this for so long – they started way back in 1984, really grinding it out. I remember reading about how they tirelessly toured the country in an old red Chevy van, slowly becoming leaders in the underground indie rock scene with labels like Sub Pop and SST. Kim Cameron once described those early days as almost like a camping trip, everyone sleeping in the van with sleeping bags. He even remembered bringing a specific blue blanket to sleep on – it really paints a picture of how dedicated they were, and how far they’ve come!

Yamamoto explained that he preferred to bring his own breakfast, like cereal and yogurt in a cooler. He noted that his colleagues went to Denny’s daily, which wasn’t for him.

After signing with A&M Records, Soundgarden released a string of highly influential and powerful albums throughout the 1990s, including “Badmotorfinger,” “Superunknown,” and “Down on the Upside.” The band initially broke up in 1997, but reunited in 2010 after a 13-year hiatus, and continued to create music and perform live.

While being inducted into the Rock Hall was a great honor, the absence of Chris Cornell, who tragically passed away in 2017, cast a shadow over the celebration. Drummer Matt Cameron explained, “It’s wonderful to recognize the impact of our music, but it’s incredibly sad that Chris isn’t here to share it with us.” He added that the few times the band has performed their music since Cornell’s death, it’s been both powerful and deeply emotional.

It’s been really tough, but Cornell’s bandmates and I are working on finishing the songs we were recording with him before he passed away. Once we started listening again, we were all struck by how incredibly powerful and meaningful the music still is. We’re approaching it with the goal of keeping it authentic and real, and honestly, some of it is already sounding fantastic. It feels like a way to honor his memory and share something special with everyone.

Having Yamamoto, who had been with Soundgarden around 1989, join them for the Rock Hall performance really energized the event. Drummer Matt Cameron remembered that as soon as they started rehearsing their early song, “Entering,” in Seattle, it immediately sounded like the classic Soundgarden sound he remembered.

Yamamoto admitted he might have needed a YouTube tutorial to remember how to play, and shared the story with a laugh. Shepherd, amused, quickly captured the moment in a photo and sent it to their friends.

Honestly, we were a little unsure going in, but Hiro is just so incredibly talented and flexible that it clicked right away. The sound had a really full, deep bass – which isn’t surprising, we’ve always been a band with a strong low end – but it just felt good, you know?

To recreate Chris Cornell’s iconic vocals during their performance at the Peacock Theater, Soundgarden invited two rising stars: Brandi Carlile and Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless. Both artists are long-time fans of Soundgarden, demonstrating the band’s lasting influence on a new generation of musicians – something the band members find especially rewarding.

Honestly, even though we secretly hoped for it, it’s still incredibly surprising and wonderful to see this happen. I think if we’re truly genuine in our work and how we connect with each other, these kinds of things should happen, but it’s still such a heartwarming feeling when they do. It really feels special!

Cameron said it feels good to be part of the ongoing story of music and to potentially inspire younger musicians. He hopes they’ll take to heart the band’s focus on expressing themselves, working together, and trusting their own musical instincts, and that he can share those values with them.

When asked about which band should be inducted into the Hall of Fame next, Kim Thayil immediately mentioned Alice in Chains. He was also surprised that Sonic Youth, Motörhead, Iron Maiden, the Pixies, the New York Dolls, and the Black Crowes haven’t yet been inducted.

“And the Melvins!” Cameron added.

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2025-11-09 21:01