Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil has spoken with Billboard regarding yesterday’s (April 27th) announcement that the aforementioned grunge legends will be going into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame this year. Having been nominated two times prior, the multi-platinum outfit will now officially be inducted into the Hall on November 08th as part of a ceremony set to be held at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, CA.
As Thayil relayed to the above publication, the nomination is a bit bittersweet, given the 2017 passing of their vocalist/guitarist Chris Cornell. Thayil explained that given his own underground roots, he himself was initially dismissive about the concept of the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. He stated of that:
“I kinda came from a subculture of rock that didn’t quite get what all the fuss is about. Back in the ’80s, ’90s, when the Hall started, I probably was not alone in being part of a punk rock or indie metal scene that had an aversion to the idea. It was kind of hard to wrap my head around both a qualitative appraisal and a quantitative assessment.”
However, he said inductions from his peers in the likes of Nirvana, Pearl Jam (the latter feature Soundgarden drummer/vocalist Matt Cameron) and more helped change his perspective, as did a past induction involving Cornell. Speaking on that, he offered:
“Chris lived the experience [he inducted Heart into the Hall in 2013] and said the enthusiasm of the fans was eye-opening for him, and understanding how important that was — and Matt seconded it. In so many ways the fans got some kind of validation by having a band that was important to their heart and that they championed get (the honor). I know I felt that way about bands I believed in, whether the MC5 or the Ramones or Kiss.
Chris explained that to me, and that kind of changed things. Plus I heard this from the Nirvana guys, the Pearl Jam guys, other friends and other bands. So it really changed my perspective.”
Continuing that line of thought, he went on to say:
“[Chris was] the one who convinced me how appreciative the fans and our peers and the Soundgarden community — that includes the people that we work with and work for us — would be about it. He realized how important that was, and he understood that would be important to us because it’s important to people who cared about us and helped us and supported us all along.
That’s how I believe Chris would respond to this. I think he’d be very appreciative and thankful to all the people who have believed in him and believed in the work he did and the work that we all did, collectively.”
As for how they plan to honor the works and legacy of their late frontman via the induction, Thayil shared:
“It’s a high bar, not just technically, but emotionally. There has to be a reverence for the missing brother and founder, and there also has to be reverence for the legacy — both for Chris’ work and Chris’ creativity, as well as the regard and reverence we have for ourselves collectively and for each other. Some suggestions have come out; I’m not prepared to share that, but I’ll just say it’s a higher bar than the usual composite of guitarists and drummers or singers.”
The elephant in the room that is the final collection of songs recorded by Chris Cornell was also touched upon briefly in this new chat. Seven songs have been at the heart of those disputed works, which the band have claimed were being written with the intention for a new album from Soundgarden.
However, ownership and the intention behind those recordings became embroiled in legalities and a bitter war of words that played out publicly between the band’s surviving final lineup and Cornell‘s estate, which is headed up by his widow, Vicky.
In April of 2023, the two parties gave fans of the band a glimmer of hope when they announced they had come to an agreement regarding the final recordings. However, by November of that year, drummer Matt Cameron revealed that the dispute with Cornell‘s estate was still in play.
Speaking now to Billboard on the fate of those songs, Thayil offered, “Certainly the catalog will continue to be addressed. It’s been kinda shelved for a few years, but it will be addressed.”
