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Soundgarden are one of nine new additions to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year, and founding guitarist Kim Thayil feels that the late Chris Cornell would “definitely be stoked” about their imminent induction.
In a new interview with Billboard, the guitarist and songwriter expressed plenty of gratitude towards the Rock Hall and the band’s fans for recognizing their impact after all these years. According to Thayil, Cornell would be just as proud. “He’s 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,” said Thayil.
“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.”
While Thayil, drummer Matt Cameron, bassist Ben Shepherd, and original bassist Hiro Yamamoto are “very happy” about the news, they weren’t always so enthused by being in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. “I kinda came from a subculture of rock that didn’t quite get what all the fuss is about,” Thayil said. “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, his perspective changed when Cornell went on to induct Heart, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam into the Rock Hall in the 2010s before his death. “Chris lived the experience and said the enthusiasm of the fans was eye-opening for him, and understanding how important that was — and Matt seconded it,” he explained. “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.”
2025 was not the first year that Soundgarden was nominated for induction, previously getting a nod in 2020 and 2023. Thayil acknowledged that the reality of accepting the honor without Cornell has felt complex — especially when it comes to finding a vocalist to sit in with them for their induction performance. “It’s a high bar, not just technically, but emotionally,” he said. “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.”
Thayil also referenced the collection of unreleased Soundgarden songs that were the subject of a legal dispute between the band and Cornell’s widow, Vicky Cornell. The dispute was settled in 2023, but there aren’t any concrete plans to share the unearthed songs just yet: “Certainly the catalog will continue to be addressed,” Thayil said. “It’s been kinda shelved for a few years, but it will be addressed.”
Thayil previously had refrained from any major Soundgarden reunions with Cameron and Shepherd after Cornell’s death in 2017, but the trio did perform at a Seattle Children’s Hospital benefit in December 2024 with singer Shaina Shepherd. They previously reunited in 2021 for Brandi Carlile’s show at The Gorge in Washington for a couple Soundgarden covers.
Meanwhile, Thayil and Cameron currently members of the rock supergroup 3rd Secret. Thayil also recently made our list of the 100 Best Guitarists of All Time. Check out the rest of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2025, which includes The White Stripes, Cyndi Lauper, and more.
English (US) · 