Soundgarden In Their Own Words - "Black Hole Sun"

In this episode, dive into the creation of Soundgarden's iconic song "Black Hole Sun" and the groundbreaking album "Superunknown" with insights from band members Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil, and Matt Cameron, producer Michael Beinhorn, and mixer Brendan O'Brien.
ORIGINAL INTERVIEWS HERE:
The Brendan O'Brien Interview: • Brendan O'Brien Interv...
In the Room with Nirvana and Soundgarden: • In the Room with Nirva...
The Michael Beinhorn Interview: • Michael Beinhorn: Prod...
The Matt Cameron Interview: • The Matt Cameron Inter...
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[@johnjjohningtoniii2439]

Everybody talks about "Black Hole Sun" like it was the only song on the album or something, but back in the day the song I would listen to again and again and again was "4th of July".

Me too. Black Hole Sun got played to death on the radio and MTV so I got pretty tired of it back then but now, in the later years, I have found a new love for it.

[@mikebaron4264]

Totally, radio at the time really made me sick of a lot of these songs but I really liked 4th of July. Its so heavy and sludgy, kind of like the song Gun. As the years have gone by I’ve come to really like these songs now, I guess that happens with age, or not hearing it constantly, maybe both!

[@NorthernStare]

Me too. But I found myself listening to the entire album over and over, honestly, probably a little too much. It's a dark album, but it's honest and imo a piece of art par excellence

[@Billkwando]

Black Hole Sun was a curse on the airwaves and MTV....I would say a lot of those folks love the album in spite of that song. Then again, I was one of the folks who didn't have Under the Bridge ruined for me, because by the time it was released as a single, it was already a stone cold classic in the context of the album as a whole. Soundgarden fans who were on it from day one are the lucky ones.

[@Billkwando]

and yeah when I think of that album, I think of 4th of July.

[@glenh2752]

I remember Chris saying on the Howard Stern show that this entire song came into his head when driving along one day. Amazing songwriter. Rip Chris.

[@quietinterlude770]

I heard they took a lot of acid prior to so maybe that had something to do with the inspiration 😊

[@jcreature11]

@@quietinterlude770wrong that’s completely not true. Not even remotely.

[@electriceyeswatching4415]

@@quietinterlude770 Gfy

[@JeffHull-x2t]

He did not write the songs!!!🖕

[@andrewblack7852]

Epstein Chris and bourdain did not kill themselves

[@Caramelo23606]

So delicate yet apocalyptic, so weird and yet catchy, so happy and sad. Beautiful in a word.

[@chriswiggins1679]

The seattle scene was so wild when hes just casually like "Cantrell(from Alice in Chains) was playing some lead, it wasnt appropriate but it was aight". Just crazy how these guys are all friends and made ot so big.

[@Coach_Brian]

Soundgarden is my favorite band ever. Superunkown is my favorite album of all time. I still have it on cassette. I grew up in Seattle in the same neighborhood as Chris Cornell so it is wild to think of all the times i saw him randomly out and about. Same with Jerry Cantrell and Layne. I used to see Layne all the time.

[@gidge34]

Beato worked hard and it’s all paying off. Remember how sad and dejected her was. And now he’s THE interviewer 💪 proud

[@MrAgmoore]

Sad about what?

[@nicolas.grisanti]

Agree with Michael Beinhorn, Tighter & Tighter is one of my favorite songs ever, is the song that came to my mind, and i listened the day Chris Cornell died, because of the line "Sleep tight for me. I'm gone". And yeah, off course Black Hole Sun is amazing, is one of those song i never get tired to listen. Is a masterpiece in composition and interpretation.

[@PerfectCircle91]

Tighter and tighter is probably my favorite Soundgarden song, and Soundgarden being my favorite band that's a HARD thing for me to do and pick a "favorite" SG song. Down on the Upside is sooooo good it makes me cry. And that's something Soundgarden does to me a lot, I find myself weeping when I don't even know why....

[@frankieboy5859]

No one sings like him anymore. RIP Chris.

[@AnythingGodamnit]

Check out Ian Thornley (Big Wreck). RIP Chris indeed, though.

[@robarnold6998]

“Superunknown”! Soundgarden’s best offering (and that’s saying a lot) and, possibly, one of the top ten Hard Rock albums of the last fifty years. Rest in peace, Chris!

[@GlennTillema]

When I bought it I thought it was a greatest hits album! I wasn't a big fan at the time but it had a few songs I had heard on the radio so I picked it up. Blew my mind that it was just a straight-up album.

[@silentgnome]

But for me, Down on the Upside (the next one) is a better record.

[@hennamay2349]

For me badmotorfinger is the best.

[@robarnold6998]

@@hennamay2349 You make a damn good point. How many bands can claim a trifecta like “BMF“, “superunknown“ and “down on the upside?”

[@ReadyMindsetGo]

@@robarnold6998 And tbh Louder Than Love is a pretty damn excellent already as well..!

[@CFCMahomet]

What makes me sad watching this is that Rick never got to interview Chris.

[@IAMORALANDUS]

I saw the thumbtail to this, saw Chris and I immediately got excited because it has been so long since we've all heard from him. For a brief moment, he was still alive in my mind and I couldn't wait to hear his take on this. Then I remembered.....😢

[@geetarman513]

One of the greatest songs EVER written

[@cfusilier2]

Man, I didn’t realize it until later in life, but that album and that song helped inspire me to pickup a guitar and become a rock musician.

[@criskatan]

Chris was such a genuine guy. He would engage with strangers and talk at length all day long which is why he had to have a handler. You could even tune in to a radio station that was interviewing him live, on the telephone, from his house, and hear him going on and on about a lot of stuff. He is such a people person in that regard. He cared about his fans so much that he made that music video: "I Almost Forgot My Broken Heart" so that they wouldn't be deceived into, or think about, doing the copycat thing.

[@Head_MISFIT]

This was the first CD I EVER bought in my life with my own money like 29 years ago. Still one of the best, complete albums ever

[@AmbrosiousFlume]

Same here! Excellent choice.

[@kickerpunter8414]

Very enjoyable to listen to the Producer Michael Bienhorn. He's very relatable to me. Wisdom is so much fun to hear.

[@AimingWanderously]

I still remember the first time I heard this tune. Listening to a local rock station through a Sony Walkman and cheap headphones on a hotel room floor in Detroit late at night. True story. One of my all time favorite tunes and that will never change.

[@AllofJudea]

I was in high school, my friend had bought the cd sight unseen and he called me and played it through the the phone

[@kendarsin]

The song that I related to the most was "the day I tried to live". It had a different slide piece in the beginning as black hole sun and I thought it was the better song of the two. I'd love to hear the bands take. Also. These interview are pure gold. Love this channel.

[@hamonthecob]

Man it’s wild to hear that Tighter and Tighter could’ve been on Superunknown. That song is absolutely a vibe, and matches the rest of Down On The Upside perfectly. I’m glad they held it for that album. Doesn’t match the feel of Superunknown at all. It’s so good.

[@PerfectCircle91]

With Soundgarden being my favorite band and almost impossible for me to pick a "favorite" SG song, Tighter and Tighter is something that when I hear it I CANNOT help but weep every damn time. Actually Soundgarden makes me weep ALL THE TIME and I don't even know why.....

[@absinthe9691]

The thumbnails of this video are the best. Soundgarden was powerful and gentlemanly now and in the past. Their appearance is the Soundgarden itself of the future that I imagined more than 30 years ago. The only miscalculation was that Chris left this world...

[@benjammin105123]

I have such great memories listening to Superunknown on my sony discman back in the day. Killer song and awesome album!

[@miguelmelchior986]

Same here, magical album.

[@adamschaeffer3614]

Matt's snare/tuning is just so sweet. The sustain on it could fold almost any groove back into the pocket by itself. It sounds like you could play right on the beat and still get a slight slowing effect in the final outcome. Its just not in any kind of hurry whatsoever, just taking its time to get there. Which perfectly fits the psychedelic nature of this song.

[@dooleyfan]

My buddies and I were in a garage band in the 90’s. We tried covering Black Hole Sun; it was impossible. It’s at a glacial pace, switches time signatures innumerable times, plus Cornell’s stratospheric vocal range, and Kim Thayil’s solos. Sometimes you are forced to admire things from a distance.

[@selectedworks9253]

Remember when music like this got into the charts ? I mean the wild crazy avant garde solo for one, what great times!

[@jodymills3138]

I started listening to the garden at ultra mega ok n never stopped, even have a tattoo I was fortunate enough to show Chris. Amazing music n career guys always changing. Thank you for the memories.

[@OldassBoomer]

That snare sounds amazing.

[@AlexCitroen-zt8xv]

I had write more than 1000 poems and songs and no other song has ever influenced me more than Soundgarden Black days . R.I.P C.C.

[@jonathanfloming1045]

I was a Soundgarden fan from the git...Black Hole Sun and Fell On Black Days will always be on my favorites list. RIP Chris Cornell...We miss you. ✌🏽

[@disraelli]

3:10-3:50 - I remember reading somewhere Glenn Gould’s (Canadian pianist, known mostly for his Bach recordings) article on why he stopped doing concerts and focused only on studio recordings - this way he could express himself as an artist and not do what live audience wanted him to do at the moment

[@suffragettefashion]

I read an article years ago about Chris Cornell. The writer was gushing about how Chris’s vocals matured with bad motor finger - used more of his range. If I could have responded to that article, I would have pointed out that Ben shepherd did background vocals starting with that album. Chris’s angelic voice over Ben’s deep, grungie tones were amazing. The dynamic between the two really shines in Rusty Cage, Spoonman, and Burden in my Hand. Those are just the ones that come to mind in this moment, but I always loved Cornell’s highs layered with Shepherd’s lows.

[@vegawinnfield7002]

4:57 My thought exactly when i first heard Black Hole Sun in high school ❤

[@dashboarddevil4713]

Amazing song that hit so incredibly well and has withstood the test of time. RIP Chris Cornell

[@Joel_Powell]

Rick I love seeing the joy in your face as you listen to these guys (and you really listen!) Awesome stuff. Black Hole Sun was a distinct memory for me as I had just moved to Seattle at the time. Feels like yesterday - hard to believe it's 30 years.

[@ReznaQay]

i thought of this song when the eclipse happened

[@jfo3000]

It was on a Spotify play list for the eclipse, and played at an eclipse party that I attended.

[@angiec3512]

Same here!

[@dreaminginnoother]

Super Unknown was the first CD I ever bought with my allowance and I played the hell out of that thing. Still love Soundgarden and go back to their stuff frequently. RIP Chris, one of the best rock singers of all time.

[@joblo2671]

What a great video Rick...thank you for the effort and thought for the fans.

[@soundcreation]

Always such amazing music content!! I Run a small studio in Ottawa Canada and These interviews are so helpful! Thanks Rick!!

[@n2havnfun2]

Superunknown is still one of the best sonically sounding albums of all time. Especially on record!

[@rockerbob949]

Damn, I love all of this shit so much. I graduated high school in 1992 so all of this stuff is the soundtrack to my life.

[@queenbvalerie7858]

R.I.P. Chris, this song brings back great memories from my youth.

[@anthonygreen6219]

I bought Superunknown a few years after it came out when i wS living w some friends at a ski mountIn. It was away from home and that album really meant a lot to me. Its my favorite album from a band thats in my top 3

[@EdwardAbbey-e9w]

The video for the song is as brilliant as the song itself, full of iconic images and themes.

[@thefrisianviking28]

Darn it. For some reason this interview hit me real deep. I can't explain it but I'm on the verge of ugly cry. I still miss Cornell and Wood so much.

[@CopenhagenCollabo]

Chris maybe gone but he will never be forgotten.. I worked for the Band when they played Copenhagen in KB Hallen on the superunknown tour back in the 90th, Chris gave me he’s Pick after the show, I still got it with my backstage pas on the wall off memory from all the bands I’ve worked for Copenhagen🇩🇰 supports

[@RH-xs8gz]

This just confirms what a singular talent Chris Cornell was. Not only was he the greatest rock/metal singer to come along in the last 50 years, but he was also a genius songwriter. His death was a huge loss for the music industry.

[@philplasma]

Superunknown - amazing album, thanks for this.

[@matsetizar65]

Now I gotta listen to the whole album.

[@JosephHaubert]

Superunknown is one of my favorite rock albums of all time! Open to close, every song is amazing. I do have to say Black Hole Sun maybe my least favorite song. I never could get into it. I do think it such and interesting song in the sense of how it came together, layering of instruments and production. Nothing out there like it at the time. Hope to hear more from this interview!!

[@adamcarbone2311]

Loving the content! Thank you so much!

[@ArcherSmash]

I am still hoping for a Ben Sheppard interview. Likely a long shot but I am still hoping. Really loved his and Hiro's playing.

[@CrazyRedd69]

i remember when this album came out i loved 4th of july and mailman was ultra awesome the lyrics was really what got me and the rhythms plus i always wondered what he was thinking about on the Fourth of July lyrics and the mailman wonder what he believed in spiritually

[@bpalpha]

Wow. Superunknown is one of my favorite albums. Thanks so much Rick!

[@phairlever]

Brendan O'Brien the best producer/engineer/mixer combination I've ever heard.

[@dfnymusic3396]

“The tail doesn’t wag the dog”. What a great quote

[@miguelmelchior986]

Gay but ok.

[@heavymetal1330]

In Brazil we say that the “ the lamp post doesn’t piss on the dog”.

[@dfnymusic3396]

@@heavymetal1330 I like that

[@heavymetal1330]

@@dfnymusic3396 🤘🏻🤜🏻🤛🏻

[@jcreature11]

@@miguelmelchior986you are pretty gay…

[@christopherw6309]

In my 50s and this is one of very few albums that I like every song. There is also a lot of songs.

[@hodshonf]

Michael Beinhorn - NY Downtown Scene with Bill Laswell, Fred Maher MATERIAL

[@StephenD71]

There are certain songs that I can listen to over and over. This is one of them. Great songs stand the test of time. So sad about Chris he was one of my all time favorite singers ect

[@haroldbranch7971]

always been my favorite band from this time period. great stuff

[@christopherespinoza7159]

I love every single song on the album and yea black hole sun is probably my favorite

[@ArthurPerez-t2e]

Great format such a good idea to put these together like this

[@ericd4910]

I’d love to hear that Jerry Cantrell collaboration Beinhorn mentions.

[@Sailingbill1]

Great interview Rick!!! Miss you Chris!

[@danielfiori]

amazing video Rick!

[@gillihansmobilewelding]

Dude was definitely hallucinating, but the song is pretty great

[@jpslaym0936]

People throw around “best singer songwriter of all time” a lot but not including Chris in that discussion doesnt compute for me. In my estimation he is up with the best in every facet of such an assessment especially when the scope of his entire body of work is scrutinized.

[@ransbarger]

Top 3 for me.

[@rap3208]

Because he doesn't have the discography. All those greatest singer/songwriter have tons of songs that everybody knows even decades after. Cornell or Soundgarden doesn't have them.

[@tjgadner8896]

@@rap3208 quality over quantity

[@rap3208]

@@tjgadner8896 Yeah, and they only had one song that the general public knows. I don't even think their Black hole sun is known by the general public, perhaps the rockers but not the public that knows hotel california, bohemian rhapsody, stairway to heaven. They are a niche band whose songs are only known by their fans.

[@acason4]

100%

[@rd-um4sp]

absolutely love black hole sun. Probably the song that pushed Soundgarden from a band that I like to top of my listening pile.

[@melchiormike]

Thank you for sharing these stories, Rick.

[@CaptainGuntu]

Really want to hear that demo with Jerry playing on it.

[@sbrave]

The multitracks for "More Than a Feeling" & "Bohemian Rhapsody" are prime examples of pushing up faders and they sound pretty much like the record

[@kromeknifemind]

Pure Gold Rick! Pure GOLD!

[@darrellbarnes2096]

Top 3 of 90s rock. 1.Smells Like Teen Spirit, 2.Under The Bridge and 3.Dark Hole Sun

[@rasheedyekini]

"Everyone seems to remember with great clarity what they were doing [...] at the precise moment they heard" the song Black Hole Sun for the first time.

[@TheRealJayguar]

He was the best, Soundgarden was phenomenal and untouchable even to this day.

[@QueenV14]

I just found this! Didn’t realise there was a RB2 channel 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@buzzfunk]

Why would anyone NOT subscribe to anything Rick? Come on people!

[@Mr.Pojangle]

I saw them at lalapalooza in 96 In Tennessee. When they played black hole sun Chris said it was about Johnny Cash

[@Bhatt_Hole]

It's going to be great when he finally covers Poison in future videos. Not only the greatest band from the 80's, but also... the greatest band of all time. There is music before Poison, and there is music after Poison. Nothing was ever the same again. Sonically, melodically, rhythmically, lyrically, and stylistically. I dare anyone to dispute that they are, without question, one of the top 1,000 bands to come out of Mechanicsburg Pennsylvania, in the year 1983. (though, Butt Dumpling Gangstas, a cover/tribute band from the same year and city, are indeed a bit better than Poison, despite the lead singer's severe learning disability and physical handicaps. Very inspirational band.)

[@willjam71]

Youre a fantastic interviewer

[@Master9754-x4b]

Kym's Perfect Circle Hat. Damn!!!!!!

[@KathleenHandron]

They did not see Chris as the lead singer. Just unbelievable but true.

[@TheStrykerProject]

"Superunknown" and "Badmotorfinger" are two of my all time favorite albums. For me, Soundgarden was the greatest Seattle bands ever. (Ok, since Hendrix)

[@frankblacks.45]

Yo, Rick! I've got a fever and the only cure is MORE SOUNDGARDEN! Seriously, thank you for your awesome work.

[@angiec3512]

I love this interview with the guys. Kim's the best! ❤

[@mcclurep77]

More of a Burden in My Hand fan but these stories are amazing .

[@caseyhaun9578]

Who is the cover. Loving it

[@MadeleineKuhl]

Obsessed Thank you for these videos Oh I love learning the lyrics and how it came to be such a massive human soul need. Thank you

[@eccentric0official]

All these interviews are brilliant. They are all together as well. I’d love to hear the song Chris and Jerry demoed. Does anyone know anything about it?

[@Rickflairshair]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Sunscribed my man

[@Christocalese]

Rick, thank you for this.

[@curiousnomad]

One thing about the song that isn’t discussed much is the tempo. It’s a really hard tempo to keep the music moving along without plodding to death or rushing.

[@curtdupriez3775]

Beinhorn. A hard taskmaster...and just got the best from from the wound-up artists he worked with

[@JQBMusicandTutorials]

Black Hole Sun is one where I think Kurt and Chris could have sang it together in some fashion..

[@jmason61]

It's a rock song masterpiece...SG fans should check out the version done by Brandi Carlyle backed by Soundgarden & her band. It's like a version from an alternative universe & if you think Chris nailed the high registers... she takes it to a different level

[@salbarbaro3577]

Please please do a What Makes This Song Great

[@mickeymassage]

I heard 2 producers use the phrase “in the weeds”. My industry is building and I have a a love for music production as a hobby. I wonder if that’s a common term in the recording industry.

[@BonziRecording]

From O'Bien's story at 11:32 it sounds like they had the internet and could share files like today, but he would have had to wait for them to mail the tapes in if he was working in Atlanta right??

[@jenw3994]

Keep waiting for the final songs.

[@nicola.00]

I would love to hear that Jerry Cantrell song with Chris Cornell

[@heavymetal1330]

One of the greatest record ever!

[@basildog007]

Superunknown forever man 🤟🤟

[@basildog007]

Perfection achieved