Soundgarden, the band that made the 'Black Hole Sun' an anthem for all dazed & confused teenage growing-up in the grunge movement. The band was formed in Seattle, with lead singer and rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto, and drummer Matt Cameron.
Soundgarden was formed in 1984 by Cornell, Yamamoto,and Thayil. Cornell originally played drums while singing, but in 1985 the band enlisted Scott Sunquist to allow Cornell to concentrate on vocals. In 1986, Sundquist left the band to spend time with his family, and was replaced by Matt Cameron.
Though the band was being courted by major labels, in 1988 it signed to the smaller label SST Recordsfor its debut album, Ultramega OK, released on October 31, 1988. Soundgarden supported Ultramega OK with a tour in the United States in the spring of 1989 and a tour in Europe, which began in May 1989 and was the band's first overseas tour. Ultramega OK earned the band a Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal Performance in 1990.
After touring in support of Ultramega OK the band signed with A&M Records, which caused a rift between Soundgarden and its traditional audience. Thayil said, "In the beginning, our fans came from the punk rock crowd. They abandoned us when they thought we had sold out the punk tenets, getting on a major label and touring with Guns N' Roses. There were fashion issues and social issues, and people thought we no longer belonged to their scene, to their particular sub-culture."
Soundgarden began working on its fourth album after touring in support of Badmotorfinger. Released on March 8, 1994, "Superunknown" became the band's breakthrough album, driven by the singles "Spoonman", "The Day I Tried to Live", "Black Hole Sun", "My Wave", and "Fell on Black Days". Superunknown made number one on the Billboard Charts.
Following the worldwide tour in support of Superunknown, the band members began working on what would become their last studio album for over 15 years. The band chose to produce the record themselves. Even then tension rose up over Cornell wanting to leave the hard guitar riffs that had become the band's trademark. "Down the Upside would be the last album they recorded for years to come.
Then in 2012, the band recorded King Animal. Soundgarden is still alive & well, still tearing up live performances for many years to come.
Soundgarden was formed in 1984 by Cornell, Yamamoto,and Thayil. Cornell originally played drums while singing, but in 1985 the band enlisted Scott Sunquist to allow Cornell to concentrate on vocals. In 1986, Sundquist left the band to spend time with his family, and was replaced by Matt Cameron.
Though the band was being courted by major labels, in 1988 it signed to the smaller label SST Recordsfor its debut album, Ultramega OK, released on October 31, 1988. Soundgarden supported Ultramega OK with a tour in the United States in the spring of 1989 and a tour in Europe, which began in May 1989 and was the band's first overseas tour. Ultramega OK earned the band a Grammy Award nomination for Best Metal Performance in 1990.
After touring in support of Ultramega OK the band signed with A&M Records, which caused a rift between Soundgarden and its traditional audience. Thayil said, "In the beginning, our fans came from the punk rock crowd. They abandoned us when they thought we had sold out the punk tenets, getting on a major label and touring with Guns N' Roses. There were fashion issues and social issues, and people thought we no longer belonged to their scene, to their particular sub-culture."
Soundgarden began working on its fourth album after touring in support of Badmotorfinger. Released on March 8, 1994, "Superunknown" became the band's breakthrough album, driven by the singles "Spoonman", "The Day I Tried to Live", "Black Hole Sun", "My Wave", and "Fell on Black Days". Superunknown made number one on the Billboard Charts.
Following the worldwide tour in support of Superunknown, the band members began working on what would become their last studio album for over 15 years. The band chose to produce the record themselves. Even then tension rose up over Cornell wanting to leave the hard guitar riffs that had become the band's trademark. "Down the Upside would be the last album they recorded for years to come.
Then in 2012, the band recorded King Animal. Soundgarden is still alive & well, still tearing up live performances for many years to come.