Soundgarden are considered one of 9 new additions to the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame this 12 months, and founding guitarist Kim Thayil feels that the late Chris Cornell would “positively be stoked” about their imminent induction.
In a brand new interview with Billboard, the guitarist and songwriter expressed loads of gratitude in direction of the Rock Corridor and the band’s followers for recognizing their influence in spite of everything these years. In keeping with Thayil, Cornell could be simply as proud. “He’s the one who satisfied me how appreciative the followers and our friends and the Soundgarden group — that features the people who we work with and work for us — could be about it,” stated Thayil.
“He realized how necessary that was, and he understood that will be necessary to us as a result of it’s necessary to individuals who cared about us and helped us and supported us all alongside. That’s how I consider Chris would reply to this. I believe he’d be very appreciative and grateful to all of the individuals who have believed in him and believed within the work he did and the work that all of us did, collectively.”
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Whereas Thayil, drummer Matt Cameron, bassist Ben Shepherd, and authentic bassist Hiro Yamamoto are “very completely satisfied” concerning the information, they weren’t all the time so enthused by being within the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame. “I kinda got here from a subculture of rock that didn’t fairly get what all of the fuss is about,” Thayil stated. “Again within the ’80s, ’90s, when the Corridor began, I most likely was not alone in being a part of a punk rock or indie metallic scene that had an aversion to the thought. It was type of laborious to wrap my head round each a qualitative appraisal and a quantitative evaluation.”
Nonetheless, his perspective modified when Cornell went on to induct Coronary heart, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam into the Rock Corridor within the 2010s earlier than his demise. “Chris lived the expertise and stated the passion of the followers was eye-opening for him, and understanding how necessary that was — and Matt seconded it,” he defined. “In so some ways the followers received some type of validation by having a band that was necessary to their coronary heart and that they championed get (the consideration). I do know I felt that means about bands I believed in, whether or not the MC5 or The Ramones or KISS. Chris defined that to me, and that type of modified issues. Plus I heard this from the Nirvana guys, the Pearl Jam guys, different mates and different bands. So it actually modified my perspective.”
2025 was not the primary 12 months that Soundgarden was nominated for induction, beforehand getting a nod in 2020 and 2023. Thayil acknowledged that the truth of accepting the consideration with out Cornell has felt advanced — particularly relating to discovering a vocalist to sit down in with them for his or her induction efficiency. “It’s a excessive bar, not simply technically, however emotionally,” he stated. “There needs to be a reverence for the lacking brother and founder, and there additionally needs to be reverence for the legacy — each for Chris’ work and Chris’ creativity, in addition to the regard and reverence we’ve for ourselves collectively and for one another. Some recommendations have come out; I’m not ready to share that, however I’ll simply say it’s the next bar than the same old composite of guitarists and drummers or singers.”
Thayil additionally referenced the gathering of unreleased Soundgarden songs that have been the topic of a authorized dispute between the band and Cornell’s widow, Vicky Cornell. The dispute was settled in 2023, however there aren’t any concrete plans to share the unearthed songs simply but: “Definitely the catalog will proceed to be addressed,” Thayil stated. “It’s been kinda shelved for just a few years, however it will likely be addressed.”
Thayil beforehand had shunned any main Soundgarden reunions with Cameron and Shepherd after Cornell’s demise in 2017, however the trio did carry out at a Seattle Kids’s Hospital profit in December 2024 with singer Shaina Shepherd. They beforehand reunited in 2021 for Brandi Carlile’s present at The Gorge in Washington for a pair Soundgarden covers.
In the meantime, Thayil and Cameron presently members of the rock supergroup third Secret. Thayil additionally not too long ago made our checklist of the 100 Finest Guitarists of All Time. Take a look at the remainder of the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame Class of 2025, which incorporates The White Stripes, Cyndi Lauper, and extra.