VH1 ranked Soundgarden at number 14 in their special 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. ==History== ===Formation and early recordings (1984–1988)=== Soundgarden's origins began with a band called the Shemps, which performed around Seattle in the early 1980s, and featured bassist Hiro Yamamoto and drummer and singer Chris Cornell.
Joel McIver stated: "Soundgarden are one of the bands I've heard closest to the original Sabbath sound." Soundgarden, like other early grunge bands, were also influenced by British post-punk bands such as Gang of Four and Bauhaus which were popular in the early 1980s Seattle scene.
Soundgarden was an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984 by singer and rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil (both of whom are the only members to appear in every incarnation of the band), and bassist Hiro Yamamoto.
Cornell and Yamamoto stayed in contact, and after the Shemps broke up Cornell and Yamamoto started jamming together, and were eventually joined by Thayil. Soundgarden formed in 1984 and included Cornell (drums and vocals), Yamamoto (bass), and Thayil (guitar).
Cornell originally played drums while singing, but in 1985 the band enlisted Scott Sundquist to allow Cornell to concentrate on vocals.
It includes previously released songs, such as "Live to Rise", "Black Rain", "Birth Ritual", and others, as well as a newly recorded rendition of the song "The Storm" from the band's pre-Matt Cameron 1985 demo, now simply titled "Storm", which was, like the original, produced by Jack Endino.
Matt Cameron became the band's full-time drummer in 1986, while bassist Ben Shepherd became a permanent replacement for Yamamoto in 1990.
Their first recordings were three songs that appeared on the 1986 compilation album for C/Z Records called Deep Six—"Heretic", "Tears to Forget" and "All Your Lies".
In 1986, Cornell's then-girlfriend and future wife, Susan Silver started managing Soundgarden.
Soundgarden signed to Sub Pop, and the label released "Hunted Down" in 1987 as the band's first single.
Through Sub Pop, the band released the Screaming Life EP in 1987, and the Fopp EP in 1988, and a combination of the two, Screaming Life/Fopp, in 1990. ===Ultramega OK, major label signing, and Louder Than Love (1988–1990)=== Though major labels were courting the band, in 1988 they signed to the independent label SST Records for their debut album, Ultramega OK, released on October 31, 1988.
Through Sub Pop, the band released the Screaming Life EP in 1987, and the Fopp EP in 1988, and a combination of the two, Screaming Life/Fopp, in 1990. ===Ultramega OK, major label signing, and Louder Than Love (1988–1990)=== Though major labels were courting the band, in 1988 they signed to the independent label SST Records for their debut album, Ultramega OK, released on October 31, 1988.
Soundgarden was also one of the first grunge bands to sign to a major label (A&M Records in 1989), though they did not achieve commercial success until they popularized the genre in the early 1990s with Seattle contemporaries Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana. Soundgarden achieved its biggest success with the 1994 album Superunknown, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and yielded the Grammy Award-winning singles "Spoonman" and "Black Hole Sun".
Soundgarden promoted Ultramega OK on a tour in the United States in the spring of 1989, and a tour in Europe, which began in May 1989—the band's first overseas tour.
The band toured North America from December 1989 to March 1990, opening for Voivod, who were supporting their album Nothingface, with Faith No More and the Big F also serving as opening acts at the beginning and end of the tour.
Entering that information unlocked a video for the song "Get on the Snake", from 1989's Louder Than Love.
Alice in Chains guitarist and vocalist, Jerry Cantrell stated that Soundgarden was a big influence on his band. Soundgarden was the first grunge band to sign to a major label when the band joined the roster of A&M Records in 1989.
Matt Cameron became the band's full-time drummer in 1986, while bassist Ben Shepherd became a permanent replacement for Yamamoto in 1990.
Soundgarden was also one of the first grunge bands to sign to a major label (A&M Records in 1989), though they did not achieve commercial success until they popularized the genre in the early 1990s with Seattle contemporaries Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana. Soundgarden achieved its biggest success with the 1994 album Superunknown, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and yielded the Grammy Award-winning singles "Spoonman" and "Black Hole Sun".
Through Sub Pop, the band released the Screaming Life EP in 1987, and the Fopp EP in 1988, and a combination of the two, Screaming Life/Fopp, in 1990. ===Ultramega OK, major label signing, and Louder Than Love (1988–1990)=== Though major labels were courting the band, in 1988 they signed to the independent label SST Records for their debut album, Ultramega OK, released on October 31, 1988.
Ultramega OK earned the band a Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal Performance in 1990. After touring to promote Ultramega OK, the band signed with A&M Records, which caused a rift between Soundgarden and its traditional audience.
Louder Than Love became the band's first album to chart on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 108 on the chart in 1990. A month before touring for Louder Than Love was to begin, bassist Hiro Yamamoto, who was becoming frustrated that he was not making much of a contribution, left the band to return to college.
The band toured North America from December 1989 to March 1990, opening for Voivod, who were supporting their album Nothingface, with Faith No More and the Big F also serving as opening acts at the beginning and end of the tour.
Thayil said that "Jason just didn't work out." Louder Than Love spawned the EP Loudest Love and the video compilation Louder Than Live, both released in 1990. ===Established lineup, Badmotorfinger, and rise in popularity (1991–1993)=== Bassist Ben Shepherd replaced Jason Everman and the new lineup recorded Soundgarden's third album in 1991.
Wilson proclaimed the band's music as "a brilliant display of technical proficiency tempered by heart-felt emotion". Soundgarden is one of the bands credited with the development of the genre of alternative metal, with Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic stating that "Soundgarden made a place for heavy metal in alternative rock." Ben Ratliff of Rolling Stone defined Soundgarden as the "standard-bearers" of the rock riff during the 1990s.
Thayil said that "Jason just didn't work out." Louder Than Love spawned the EP Loudest Love and the video compilation Louder Than Live, both released in 1990. ===Established lineup, Badmotorfinger, and rise in popularity (1991–1993)=== Bassist Ben Shepherd replaced Jason Everman and the new lineup recorded Soundgarden's third album in 1991.
The band released the resulting album, Badmotorfinger, on September 24, 1991.
The first single from Badmotorfinger, "Jesus Christ Pose", garnered attention when MTV decided to ban its music video in 1991.
Badmotorfinger was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1992, and was among the 100 top-selling albums of the year. Following the release of Badmotorfinger, Soundgarden went on a North American tour in October and November 1991.
Badmotorfinger was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1992, and was among the 100 top-selling albums of the year. Following the release of Badmotorfinger, Soundgarden went on a North American tour in October and November 1991.
The band also opened for Skid Row in North America in February 1992 on its Slave to the Grind tour, and then headed to Europe for a month-long headlining theater tour.
The band returned for a tour in the United States, and then rejoined Guns N' Roses in the summer of 1992 in Europe as part of the Use Your Illusion Tour along with fellow opening act Faith No More.
It was a bizarre thing." The band played the 1992 Lollapalooza tour with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Ministry and Ice Cube among others.
In anticipation of the band's appearance at Lollapalooza, they released a limited edition of Badmotorfinger in 1992 with a second disc containing the EP Satanoscillatemymetallicsonatas (a palindrome), featuring Soundgarden's cover of Black Sabbath's "Into the Void", titled "Into the Void (Sealth)", which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1993.
The band later released the video compilation Motorvision, filmed at Seattle's Paramount Theatre in 1992.
In anticipation of the band's appearance at Lollapalooza, they released a limited edition of Badmotorfinger in 1992 with a second disc containing the EP Satanoscillatemymetallicsonatas (a palindrome), featuring Soundgarden's cover of Black Sabbath's "Into the Void", titled "Into the Void (Sealth)", which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1993.
The song is included on the soundtrack, as is a Cornell solo song, "Seasons". In 1993, the band contributed the track "Show Me" to the AIDS-Benefit album No Alternative, produced by the Red Hot Organization. ===Superunknown and mainstream success (1994–1995)=== Soundgarden began working on its fourth album after touring in support of Badmotorfinger.
Soundgarden was also one of the first grunge bands to sign to a major label (A&M Records in 1989), though they did not achieve commercial success until they popularized the genre in the early 1990s with Seattle contemporaries Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana. Soundgarden achieved its biggest success with the 1994 album Superunknown, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and yielded the Grammy Award-winning singles "Spoonman" and "Black Hole Sun".
Released on March 8, 1994, Superunknown became the band's breakthrough album, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart and being driven by the singles "Spoonman", "The Day I Tried to Live", "Black Hole Sun", "My Wave", and "Fell on Black Days". The songs on Superunknown captured the creativity and heaviness of the band's earlier works, while showcasing the group's newly evolving style.
He also stated, "At its best, Superunknown offers a more harrowing depiction of alienation and despair than anything on [Nirvana's final studio album] In Utero." The music video for "Black Hole Sun" became a hit on MTV, and received the award for Best Metal/Hard Rock Video at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards, and in 1995 the Clio Award for Alternative Music Video.
Superunknown has been certified five times Platinum in the United States and remains Soundgarden's most successful album. The band began touring in January 1994 in Oceania and Japan, areas where the record came out early and where the band had never toured before.
This round of touring ended in February 1994.
In March 1994 the band moved on to Europe.
They began a theater tour of the United States, first with a stop on May 27, 1994 at the PNE Forum in Vancouver, with the opening acts Tad and Eleven.
In late 1994, after touring in support of Superunknown, doctors discovered that Cornell had severely strained his vocal cords, and Soundgarden canceled several shows to avoid causing any permanent damage.
By 1994's Superunknown, the band began to incorporate more psychedelic influences into its music.
We never were Grunge, we were just a band from Seattle." They were ranked No. 14 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. In 1994, Electronic Arts approached Cornell about featuring Soundgarden's music in a CD-based entry in the Road Rash video game series.
He also stated, "At its best, Superunknown offers a more harrowing depiction of alienation and despair than anything on [Nirvana's final studio album] In Utero." The music video for "Black Hole Sun" became a hit on MTV, and received the award for Best Metal/Hard Rock Video at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards, and in 1995 the Clio Award for Alternative Music Video.
Soundgarden won two Grammy Awards in 1995—"Black Hole Sun" received the award for Best Hard Rock Performance and "Spoonman" received the award for Best Metal Performance.
The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 1995.
You don't buy a ticket to see some guy croak for two hours! That seemed like kind of a rip off." The band made up the dates later in 1995.
Superunknown spawned the EP Songs from the Superunknown and the CD-ROM Alive in the Superunknown, both released in 1995. ===Down on the Upside and breakup (1996–1997)=== Following the worldwide tour in support of Superunknown, the band began working on what would become their last studio album for over 15 years, choosing to produce the record themselves.
But there was stuff we were discovering." The band's fifth album, Down on the Upside, was released on May 21, 1996.
Despite favorable reviews and modest sales, the album did not match the sales or critical praise of Superunknown. The band took a slot on the 1996 Lollapalooza tour with Metallica, who had insisted on Soundgarden's appearance on the tour.
They released "Spoonman" live at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego, California from 1996.
The band dissolved in 1997 and re-formed in 2010.
In 1997, the band broke up due to internal strife over its creative direction and exhaustion from touring.
"Pretty Noose" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1997.
That's the point where we hate touring." At the tour's last stop in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 9, 1997, Shepherd threw his bass into the air in frustration after suffering equipment failure, and then stormed off the stage.
On April 9, 1997, the band announced it was disbanding.
The band released a greatest hits collection entitled A-Sides on November 4, 1997, composed of 17 songs, including the previously-unreleased "Bleed Together", which had been recorded during the Down on the Upside recording sessions. ===Post-breakup activities (1998–2009)=== Cornell released a solo album in September 1999, entitled Euphoria Morning, which featured Matt Cameron on the track "Disappearing One".
In 2017, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Pearl Jam. Shepherd was the singer on Wellwater Conspiracy's 1997 debut studio album, Declaration of Conformity, but left the band in 1998.
It was the first public appearance of Soundgarden since their breakup in April 1997.
Soundgarden played their first show since 1997 on April 16 at the Showbox at the Market in the band's hometown of Seattle.
"Black Rain" hit rock radio stations on August 10, 2010, and was the band's first single since 1997.
He then worked briefly with the Smashing Pumpkins on the band's 1998 album, Adore.
In 1998, he played drums for Pearl Jam's Yield Tour following Jack Irons's health problems, and later joined Pearl Jam as an official member.
In 2017, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Pearl Jam. Shepherd was the singer on Wellwater Conspiracy's 1997 debut studio album, Declaration of Conformity, but left the band in 1998.
The band released a greatest hits collection entitled A-Sides on November 4, 1997, composed of 17 songs, including the previously-unreleased "Bleed Together", which had been recorded during the Down on the Upside recording sessions. ===Post-breakup activities (1998–2009)=== Cornell released a solo album in September 1999, entitled Euphoria Morning, which featured Matt Cameron on the track "Disappearing One".
Cornell also wrote the lyrics and provided vocals for the song "Promise" on Slash's debut solo album Slash, released in 2010. Thayil joined forces with former Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra, former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, and drummer Gina Mainwal for one show, performing as The No WTO Combo during the WTO ministerial conference in Seattle on December 1, 1999.
Later, in 2001, Cornell formed the platinum-selling supergroup Audioslave with Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk, then-former members of Rage Against the Machine, which recorded three albums: Audioslave (2002), Out of Exile (2005), and Revelations (2006).
Thayil contributed guitar tracks to Steve Fisk's 2001 album, 999 Levels of Undo, as well as Dave Grohl's 2004 side-project album, Probot.
During an encore, Temple of the Dog reunited for the first time since Pearl Jam's show at the Santa Barbara Bowl on October 28, 2003.
Thayil contributed guitar tracks to Steve Fisk's 2001 album, 999 Levels of Undo, as well as Dave Grohl's 2004 side-project album, Probot.
While they were members of Soundgarden they were part of the side-project band Hater, and in 2005 Shepherd released the band's long-delayed second album, The 2nd. In a July 2009 interview with Rolling Stone, Cornell shot down rumors of a reunion, saying that conversations between the band members had been limited to discussion about the release of a box set or B-sides album of Soundgarden rarities, and that there had been no discussion of a reunion at all.
In 2006, Thayil played guitar on the album Altar, the collaboration between the bands Sunn O))) and Boris. Cameron initially turned his efforts to his side-project Wellwater Conspiracy, to which both Shepherd and Thayil have contributed.
Cornell left Audioslave in early 2007, resulting in the band's break-up.
His second solo album, Carry On, was released in June 2007, and his third solo album, Scream, produced by Timbaland, was released in March 2009, both to mixed commercial and critical success.
Cornell agreed, as him and his band members were big fans of the games and frequently played them on their bus while touring the country. Regarding Soundgarden's legacy, in a 2007 interview Cornell said: "I think, and this is now with some distance in listening to the records, but on the outside looking in with all earnestness I think Soundgarden made the best records out of that scene.
The band's interest in new releases emerged from a 2008 meeting about their shared properties, both financial and legal, where they realized Soundgarden lacked online presence such as a website or a Facebook page.
His second solo album, Carry On, was released in June 2007, and his third solo album, Scream, produced by Timbaland, was released in March 2009, both to mixed commercial and critical success.
While they were members of Soundgarden they were part of the side-project band Hater, and in 2005 Shepherd released the band's long-delayed second album, The 2nd. In a July 2009 interview with Rolling Stone, Cornell shot down rumors of a reunion, saying that conversations between the band members had been limited to discussion about the release of a box set or B-sides album of Soundgarden rarities, and that there had been no discussion of a reunion at all.
On March 2009, Thayil, Shepherd and Cameron got onstage during a concert by Tad Doyle in Seattle and played some Soundgarden songs.
Cornell stated that the moment "sort of sparked the idea: If Matt, Kim, and Ben can get in a room, rehearse a couple songs, and play, maybe we all could do that as Soundgarden." On October 6, 2009, all the members of Soundgarden attended Night 3 of Pearl Jam's four-night stand at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, CA.
The band dissolved in 1997 and re-formed in 2010.
After more than a decade of working on projects and other bands, Soundgarden reunited in 2010, and Republic Records released their sixth and final studio album, King Animal, two years later. As of 2019, Soundgarden sold more than 14 million records in the United States, and an estimated 30 million worldwide.
Cornell also wrote the lyrics and provided vocals for the song "Promise" on Slash's debut solo album Slash, released in 2010. Thayil joined forces with former Dead Kennedys singer Jello Biafra, former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, and drummer Gina Mainwal for one show, performing as The No WTO Combo during the WTO ministerial conference in Seattle on December 1, 1999.
Consequently, rumors of an impending reunion were circulating on the Internet. ===Reunion, Telephantasm and King Animal (2010–2013)=== On January 1, 2010, Cornell alluded to a Soundgarden reunion on his Twitter account writing: "The 12-year break is over and school is back in session.
On March 1, 2010, Soundgarden announced to their e-mail subscribers that they would be re-releasing an old single "Hunted Down" with the song "Nothing to Say" on a 7-inch vinyl record.
The band headlined Lollapalooza on August 8. Telephantasm: A Retrospective, a new Soundgarden compilation album, was packaged with initial shipments of the Warriors of Rock video game and released on September 28, 2010, one week before the CD's availability in stores on October 5, 2010.
"Black Rain" hit rock radio stations on August 10, 2010, and was the band's first single since 1997.
In November 2010, Soundgarden was the second musical guest on the show Conan, making their first television appearance in 13 years.
It was the first newly recorded song the band had released since re-forming in 2010.
In March 2011, Soundgarden released their first live album, Live on I-5. In February 2011 Soundgarden announced on their homepage that they had started recording a new album.
On March 1, 2011, Chris Cornell confirmed that Adam Kasper would produce it.
Although Cameron claimed the album would be released in 2011, the recording was prolonged as Thayil said that "the more we enjoy it, the more our fans should end up enjoying it".
There are some heavy moments, and there are some fast songs." The next day, Cornell reported that the new album would not be released until the spring of 2012. In April 2011, Soundgarden announced a summer tour consisting of four dates in July.
The band headlined for Voodoo Experience at City Park in New Orleans on the 2011 Halloween weekend.
There are some heavy moments, and there are some fast songs." The next day, Cornell reported that the new album would not be released until the spring of 2012. In April 2011, Soundgarden announced a summer tour consisting of four dates in July.
In March 2012 a post on the band's official Facebook page said a new song, "Live to Rise", would be included on the soundtrack of the upcoming movie The Avengers, based on the Marvel Comics franchise.
The band released "Been Away Too Long", the first single from their new album King Animal on September 27; the album was released on November 13, 2012.
The band released a video for "By Crooked Steps", directed by Dave Grohl, in early 2013.
and Cornell's death (2013–2017)=== On November 15, 2013, drummer Matt Cameron announced he would not be touring with Soundgarden in 2014, due to prior commitments promoting Pearl Jam's album Lightning Bolt.
Bassist Ben Shepherd has not been receptive to the grunge label, saying in a 2013 interview "That's just marketing.
and Cornell's death (2013–2017)=== On November 15, 2013, drummer Matt Cameron announced he would not be touring with Soundgarden in 2014, due to prior commitments promoting Pearl Jam's album Lightning Bolt.
On March 16, 2014, Soundgarden and Nine Inch Nails announced they were going to tour North America together, along with opening act Death Grips.
Former Pearl Jam drummer Matt Chamberlain replaced Cameron for live shows in South America and Europe on March 27, 2014. Soundgarden announced on October 28, 2014, they would release the 3-CD compilation box set, Scattered Tracks Across the Path, on November 24.
One day before its official announcement, on October 27, the band posted a copy of "Storm" on YouTube. Thayil mentioned in several interviews it was likely the band would start working on material for a new album in 2015, and in August 2015, Cornell stated they were doing so.
In rare footage from the 2015 documentary Montage of Heck, Cobain can be seen impersonating Chris Cornell singing "Outshined".
On January 19, 2016, The Pulse Of Radio announced that Soundgarden had returned to the studio to continue working on their new album.
On July 14, 2016, bassist Ben Shepherd and Cameron stated that the band had written "six solid tunes" for the new album, with more writing to be done in August. On May 18, 2017, Cornell was found dead, "with a band around his neck", according to his representative, Brian Bumbery.
Following Cornell's death in 2017 and a year of uncertainty of the band's future, Thayil declared in October 2018 that the band was finished; they did, however, reunite in January 2019 for a one-off concert in tribute to Cornell. Soundgarden was one of the seminal creators of grunge, a style of alternative rock that developed in Seattle, and was the first of a number of grunge bands to sign to the record label Sub Pop.
In 2017, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Pearl Jam. Shepherd was the singer on Wellwater Conspiracy's 1997 debut studio album, Declaration of Conformity, but left the band in 1998.
On July 14, 2016, bassist Ben Shepherd and Cameron stated that the band had written "six solid tunes" for the new album, with more writing to be done in August. On May 18, 2017, Cornell was found dead, "with a band around his neck", according to his representative, Brian Bumbery.
Following Cornell's death in 2017 and a year of uncertainty of the band's future, Thayil declared in October 2018 that the band was finished; they did, however, reunite in January 2019 for a one-off concert in tribute to Cornell. Soundgarden was one of the seminal creators of grunge, a style of alternative rock that developed in Seattle, and was the first of a number of grunge bands to sign to the record label Sub Pop.
But we definitely are thinking of our fans and love them very much." In September 2018, guitarist Kim Thayil told Billboard that he and the other surviving members of Soundgarden were still unsure about the future of the band.
We're going through natural healing, then thinking about the natural next step." In an October 2018 interview with Seattle Times, Thayil stated that the Soundgarden band name would be retired.
Following Cornell's death in 2017 and a year of uncertainty of the band's future, Thayil declared in October 2018 that the band was finished; they did, however, reunite in January 2019 for a one-off concert in tribute to Cornell. Soundgarden was one of the seminal creators of grunge, a style of alternative rock that developed in Seattle, and was the first of a number of grunge bands to sign to the record label Sub Pop.
After more than a decade of working on projects and other bands, Soundgarden reunited in 2010, and Republic Records released their sixth and final studio album, King Animal, two years later. As of 2019, Soundgarden sold more than 14 million records in the United States, and an estimated 30 million worldwide.
When I say 'at this point,' I mean perhaps ever." In January 2019, the remaining members of the band reunited in a tribute concert and fundraiser in The Forum in Inglewood, California, organized by Cornell's widow, Vicky Cornell.
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