Soundgarden, the seminal Seattle grunge rock group, have 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 Hole Sun,” and “Rusty Cage,” the band mirrored collectively backstage on their topsy turvy journey into the ranks of rock’s immortals and the lasting affect of their departed frontman Chris Cornell.
“I like the honor of it and I’m really happy for our fans,” 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, ‘Remember how you and I, and [bassist] Hiro [Yamamato] would sit around in a room and talk about the bands we really liked…and that influenced us to play together?” It’s like, ‘Well, that’s the type of band we needs to be. The band that makes us wish 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 almost like a camping trip with sleeping bags,” Cameron recalled. “I remember I brought this one blue blanket to sleep on.”
“I’d bring my own breakfast. I’d bring a cooler, and I’d put cereal and yogurt in there,” Yamamoto stated. “These guys would go to Denny’s every day. I can’t do that!”
After shifting to A&M Data, Soundgarden spent the Nineties crafting among the most modern, heavy and dynamic albums of their era. Groundbreaking information like “Badmotorfinger,” “Superunknown” and “Down on the Upside.” Soundgarden disbanded in 1997 however received 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 notice into the festivities. “It’s nice to hear the power of the music that we created, but it’s extremely bittersweet as well that we don’t have [Chris] with us,” drummer Matt Cameron stated. “In the few instances where we have performed this music since his passing — it’s only been a few occasions — it’s empowering, but it’s also really, really bittersweet.”
Within the meantime, Cornell’s bandmates are persevering with to work on a group of tunes they have been recording with him simply earlier than his passing. “Once we were able to work on the music again, it all just kind of came back to just how powerful the music still is and how meaningful it still is to us,” Cameron stated. “I think we’re going into it with just those types of intentions of trying to make it natural and real, which at this stage of the game, there’s a few things that sound amazing.”
The reunion with Yamamoto – who left Soundgarden round 1989 — for the Rock Corridor present went an extended approach to livening the festivities. As quickly because the band kicked into one in every of their early cuts, “Entering,” throughout rehearsals in Seattle, Shepherd recalled with a touch of awe that, “It instantly sounded like Soundgarden.”
“That was one of those things where I might have gone to YouTube and had somebody else teach me how to play it again,” Yamamoto stated with fun. Nonetheless, Shepherd snapped an image of the second and gleefully despatched it round to pals.
“We weren’t sure how it would work, but Hiro’s so adaptable and he’s such an amazing musician that it sounded great from the get-go,” Cameron stated. “A lot of low end, but the band has always had a pretty sizable bass presence in our sound. It was just nice.”
Inductee Kim Thayil of Soundgarden, Taylor Momsen and inductee Matt Cameron of Soundgarden carry out onstage in the course of 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 signify the group’s affect on the following era of musicians that adopted of their wake. It’s one thing they’re significantly proud about.
“It’s still surprising, but it is something that was probably on our wishlist as something we would hope to expect,” Thayil stated. “If we’re honest with ourselves and we’re honest with what we’re creating and honest in how we communicate together, then this should happen. But it’s still a surprise and still heartwarming.”
“It is sort of nice to be able to contribute to that continuum of music and have younger generations hopefully be inspired by what we were grooving on with the band, which was you know, self-expression and collaboration and trusting your own instincts and things like that,” Cameron stated. “I think is a nice thing to impart on other young musicians.”
As for who they assume ought to observe Soundgarden into the Corridor subsequent, Thayil has some ideas. “Alice in Chains is the first thing that comes to mind, of course,” he stated. “I’m surprised to learn that these six people aren’t in the Hall of Fame: Sonic Youth, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, the Pixies, the New York Dolls and the Black Crows.”
“And the Melvins!” Cameron added.
