Soundgarden, the seminal Seattle grunge rock group, had been inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame at a star-studded ceremony on the Peacock Theater on Saturday evening. Earlier than they accepted their awards from comic Jim Carrey and ripped into “Black Gap Solar,” and “Rusty Cage,” the band mirrored collectively backstage on their topsy turvy journey into the ranks of rock’s immortals and the lasting influence of their departed frontman Chris Cornell.
“I like the respect of it and I’m actually completely happy for our followers,” bassist Ben Shepherd stated. “I can’t wait to play.”
For guitarist Kim Thayil, there’s a measure of validation of their induction which he recalled from conversations with Cornell. “Chris would say, ‘Keep in mind the way you and I, and [bassist] Hiro [Yamamato] would sit round in a room and speak in regards to the bands we actually favored…and that influenced us to play collectively?” It’s like, ‘Effectively, that’s the sort of band we ought to be. The band that makes us need to get collectively and play music.’”
Soundgarden members (from left) Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron, Chris Cornell and Ben Shepherd in 2014.
(Jack Plunkett / Jack Plunkett/invision/ap)
The induction was a long-time coming for Soundgarden. They initially fashioned in 1984 and steadily moved to the forefront of underground indie rock scene on labels like Sub Pop and SST whereas touring the nation in a purple Chevy van. “It was nearly like a tenting journey with sleeping luggage,” Cameron recalled. “I bear in mind I introduced this one blue blanket to sleep on.”
“I’d deliver my very own breakfast. I’d deliver a cooler, and I’d put cereal and yogurt in there,” Yamamoto stated. “These guys would go to Denny’s day by day. I can’t do this!”
After shifting to A&M Information, Soundgarden spent the Nineties crafting a number of the most progressive, heavy and dynamic albums of their era. Groundbreaking information like “Badmotorfinger,” “Superunknown” and “Down on the Upside.” Soundgarden disbanded in 1997 however acquired again collectively 13 years later in 2010 and resumed engaged on music and touring.
As rewarding because the Rock Corridor honor is, the absence of Cornell –- who took his personal life after a live performance in Detroit in 2017 – carried a little bit of somber be aware into the festivities. “It’s good to listen to the facility of the music that we created, but it surely’s extraordinarily bittersweet as nicely that we don’t have [Chris] with us,” drummer Matt Cameron stated. “Within the few cases the place we have now carried out this music since his passing — it’s solely been a couple of events — it’s empowering, but it surely’s additionally actually, actually bittersweet.”
Within the meantime, Cornell’s bandmates are persevering with to work on a group of tunes they had been recording with him simply earlier than his passing. “As soon as we had been in a position to work on the music once more, all of it simply sort of got here again to only how highly effective the music nonetheless is and the way significant it nonetheless is to us,” Cameron stated. “I feel we’re going into it with simply these kinds of intentions of attempting to make it pure and actual, which at this stage of the sport, there’s a couple of issues that sound wonderful.”
The reunion with Yamamoto – who left Soundgarden round 1989 — for the Rock Corridor present went a protracted method to livening the festivities. As quickly because the band kicked into considered one of their early cuts, “Getting into,” throughout rehearsals in Seattle, Shepherd recalled with a touch of awe that, “It immediately appeared like Soundgarden.”
“That was a type of issues the place I might need gone to YouTube and had anyone else train me the right way to play it once more,” Yamamoto stated with fun. Nonetheless, Shepherd snapped an image of the second and gleefully despatched it round to pals.
“We weren’t certain how it could work, however Hiro’s so adaptable and he’s such a tremendous musician that it sounded nice from the get-go,” Cameron stated. “A variety of low finish, however the band has at all times had a reasonably sizable bass presence in our sound. It was simply good.”
Inductee Kim Thayil of Soundgarden, Taylor Momsen and inductee Matt Cameron of Soundgarden carry out onstage throughout the 2025 Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame Induction Ceremony at Peacock Theater on November 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
(Amy Sussman/WireImage)
To deliver Cornell’s vocals to life on the Peacock Theater, Soundgarden turned to a pair of youthful powerhouses. Brandi Carlile and the Fairly Reckless frontwoman Taylor Momsen. Each are tried and true Soundgarden followers and characterize the group’s influence on the subsequent era of musicians that adopted of their wake. It’s one thing they’re significantly proud about.
“It’s nonetheless stunning, however it’s one thing that was in all probability on our wishlist as one thing we might hope to count on,” Thayil stated. “If we’re trustworthy with ourselves and we’re trustworthy with what we’re creating and trustworthy in how we talk collectively, then this could occur. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless a shock and nonetheless heartwarming.”
“It’s form of good to have the ability to contribute to that continuum of music and have youthful generations hopefully be impressed by what we had been grooving on with the band, which was , self-expression and collaboration and trusting your personal instincts and issues like that,” Cameron stated. “I feel is a pleasant factor to impart on different younger musicians.”
As for who they assume ought to comply with Soundgarden into the Corridor subsequent, Thayil has some ideas. “Alice in Chains is the very first thing that involves thoughts, after all,” he stated. “I’m stunned to study that these six folks aren’t within the Corridor of Fame: Sonic Youth, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, the Pixies, the New York Dolls and the Black Crows.”
“And the Melvins!” Cameron added.
