Soundgarden's Kim Thayil Talks Chris Cornell

[@TD-sw3kv]

I love how humble and real Kim is here.

[@anthonylardo6969]

I cannot imagine a world in which Chris stayed on drums and his voice was never recorded.

[@TammyM36]

My thoughts exactly!

[@TrivellaORama]

Dave Grohl likes this comment.

[@TheFrayman]

In some horrible multiverse somewheres 🤣

[@miguelelgueta5830]

they could have landed Layne Staley since they were all close back then. That would have been a crazy universe, maybe both would still be alive

[@RafaelDelVillar-oo9gl]

I can't imagine a world without knowing how good Chris was on drums!

[@GymHasafit]

Chris is my favorite singer and possibly songwriter too. "No one sings like you anymore!"

[@mymodel6]

@GymHasafit "Nobody sings like you anymore" It's "No-one sings like you anymore".. You know favourite songwriters songs so well...

[@linkinlady79]

@@mymodel6They actually said “possibly” favorite songwriter plus,Chris’s handwritten lyric’s say “know one sings like you anymore”…soo,evidently YOU don’t know what you’re talking about so stop being a jerk! Thanks✌🏼

[@smokerise]

@@linkinlady79 Chris was a rare talent we get maybe once every generation...these so called modern musicians can't carry a tune without auto tune, Chris was just raw talent who could write, and sing better than a lot of hacks getting airtime these days.

[@erikbossard2635]

Richie Kotzen carries the tradition on, but Chris' demise is an eternal heartbreak.

[@GymHasafit]

@@erikbossard2635 I know his guitar playing a little. Have to check out his singing now. Thank you Erik.

[@stephananderson21]

Seattle had so many talented musicians because it rains every other day. Being stuck indoors all the time gives people time to practice and hone their skills

[@treff9226]

I've often though that same thing!

[@marcusberns3746]

Same with England

[@mick-i3y]

You missed the whole point: that rain actually sews melancholy/ brooding, and that is the fertilizer for creativity. Had nothing to do with practice.

[@woah6958]

They say the cities that are known for a good music/arts scene usually have the worst weather.

[@hoot7588]

That's an interesting point and makes me feel better about our wet English weather!

[@CaseyFraysier]

Kim Thayil is such an underrated guitar player! freaking love his style

[@jcoats5529]

Noodle style 😅

[@murk4552]

​@jcoats5529 that's all you have to say? You should be a pro music critic and get paid for your half baked takes

[@Agent_Riot-2000]

Well, in fact, some time ago Jerry Cantrell said that in his opinion, Thayil was the best guitarist from all the bands of the so-called Seattle Scene/"Grunge". Even when you consider that he's such a skilled guitar player too

[@drn13355]

Define what you mean "underrated"? They hav e sold 30 million plus records. He is better known than 99% of guitar players. You don't even make any sense. Who is "underrating" him?

[@eduardomonteclar392]

Yup i love kim men

[@briancoburn6903]

One regret's not seeing Soundgarden live. Incredible band.

[@onlee49ers76]

I’m thankful to have seen em in 2011

[@leonardomartins8662]

Same here

[@acousticmagnum5200]

Have you heard his first band "Temple of the Dog"? Its one of those CDs that you just put in and let it all play.

[@briancoburn6903]

@@acousticmagnum5200 i've got that album at home. Will have to dig it out.

[@v4v819]

They weren't that good live...

[@gerardsloan1593]

What a voice. Amazing. I enjoyed everything Chris touched from Soundgarden, totd, audioslave etc. Great voice, he is missed. I remember his passing happened after I graduated, so I have distinct memories. Rusty cage is one of my favourite tunes of Soundgarden, it has everything going for it. Have a good day reader

[@Hulkamaniac418]

No “celebrity” death crushed me more than Chris.

[@clintevans1921]

Same for me

[@Steph-hk7ik]

I said hello to him at Lollapalooza 1992…silly but I felt a connection to him. I was literally devastated when he passed.

[@springfieldmugshotshouser5113]

I went through a deep depression that summer

[@iancostigan5047]

It's a bummer..

[@RC-nj1by]

True....altho Anthony Bourdain also hit me hard. I would *LOVE* to go all around the world and see all the things he did. I saw it as "if that can't make him happy enough to stay, I don't stand a chance"

[@adlwilliams]

Imagine having chris cornell in your band and you are all like "we gotta find a singer"

[@afonsodeportugal]

🤣😂😅

[@dudermcdudeface3674]

That's the reason to let people try different stuff. Even push them to try it. There's hidden magic, everywhere.

[@Jay-qg2mb]

Makes you wonder how many great drummers could him crushed it vocally but didn't

[@Povlennebo]

I am screaming!!!lmao

[@ExcitedAnacondaSnake-hg8ec]

@@Jay-qg2mb a lot of drummers became singers. Steven Tyler, Kurt Cobain, Mark Lanegan, Phil Collins, Dave Grohl, Iggy Pop

[@travisfletcher900]

Chris sings the soundtrack of my life. Growing up in the 90s, every great memory has a Soundgarden or Alice In Chains song playing in the background. Such a better time.

[@nicholasgordon5013]

I absolutely loved then and love now, the whole grunge phenomenon! For me it was such a relief from the terrible music that we had to put up with in the 80's. With a few notable exceptions.

[@romangarcia608]

yeah i think civilization/times pretty much peaked in the 90’s.

[@cinsta8]

​@@romangarcia608💯💯💯

[@brandonbergh2585]

Ive loved them since I was a kid also, but now the songs speak to me on the daily since im in my 30s and life feels so shitty so often lol

[@palmereldritch_6669]

Oh man Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Tool, Sublime. Bless them all.

[@blakeadams8570]

Saw Soundgarden from the touring with a Ryder truck, to Europe with G&R to arenas in the US to the final tour. They are a part of my life, each chapter. It’s amazing when I can refer back with clarity times triggered by different songs from different albums.

[@willtheangrydudeist9120]

Room A Thousand Years Wide is still one of my favorite riffs of all time... Basic? Yes..... Intentensely effective? Yes

[@rubaidaallen2764]

It’s such an amazing song indeed 🤘

[@Sc-Runner]

If it was basic I guess we’d hear riffs like that all the time , we don’t though. If you mean basic because it’s not hard to play well that’s true, but it’s no secret that a great riff doesn’t need to be hard to play.

[@Schaz42]

And written by Matt Cameron, the lyrics were by Thayil 😉

[@levismithdrums]

Didn't know this song existed till seeing your post. Thank you so much for your comment. Made my day🤘

[@Guido.Fawkes.1]

I was fortunate enough to meet Kim and Chris at soundcheck in 1990 when they were opening for Danzig. Cool guys, down to earth.

[@henrys.6864]

I watch that whole video when it came out. Man i'm glad Rick put out a clip of Kim explaining how Chris became the singer. It totally gave me chills and excitement in full interview as it does now! Chris, singer, was already there, in the band and they didn't fully realize it, even Chris! So amazing how things unfold and Chris becoming this incredible singer! Layne is also on another level! We got two incredible singers at the same time! 👍👏👏👏🎙

[@shanebowles4854]

Chris was the greatest to ever stand in front of a mic. Such an inspirational guy 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘love ya Chris

[@healthymealthy775]

Chris was unique in how good his music got. Higher Truth was phenomenal.

[@suzannealdridge1404]

yeh i agree, euphoria morning and higher truth are sublime

[@splinteredspace3469]

When I listen to it, I want to say he really did hit the HIGHEST PEAK, the Higher Truth. Lots of little things he says to wonder about on that album and how he ended up. He sounded tired but happy to sing, its crazy for me. A somewhat "goodbye" it seemed

[@evanwalters63]

I have to respectfully disagree. His solo albums are abysmal. If you took the best tracks off of all four you'd have enough decent songs for one good album and it still wouldn't compare to anything else he'd ever done.

[@splinteredspace3469]

@@evanwalters63 Its just a different side of the same coin. I get what you are coming from. I like early Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog. The only solo I really like is Higher Truth, i didn't care for some of his other songs from solo albums.

[@mad_cat_1st]

Badmotorfinger was my introduction to Soundgarden, and I was blown away by Slaves and Bulldozers. If I had enough Jack Daniels, I could actually sing it, but my cigarette smoking made it really difficult. Then my friend Gabe introduced me to the earlier stuff on Deep Six, Screaming Life/Fopp, and Ultramega OK. Nothing to Say and Beyond the Wheel blew me away. As a matter of fact, the riff from Beyond the Wheel is very similar to Slaves and Bulldozers. All of the old school Seattle stuff that was released on cassette or CD by SubPop or C/Z records and ANYTHING engineered and produced with Jack Endino is amazing. Hearing the early sounds/germs of the developing music explosion is even better than the post-Nirvana scene. I love this interview. Rick Beato asks a question and Kim Thayil says something like "Dude. This was 30 years ago", but then he rehashes it like it was yesterday. To Layne Staley, Andy Wood, Chris Cornell, Kurt Cobain, Mark Lanagan, Kristen Pfaff (jeez - there's too many), and anyone I missed - THANK YOU for your artistry and I hope you're in a better place.

[@SO-ym3zs]

Rick, you really should interview Thayil again, but focus on Thayil's guitar playing. The man has a unique, underappreciated style that was a defining element of Soundgarden's sound.

[@stephenparis9595]

Yeah, Kim is a monster. I looove his playing.

[@theguynextdoor4978]

Tayil looks like an Indian grunge guru with that awesome grey beard. Soundgarden was definitely one of my favourites. I still have fond memories of watching Black Hole Sun video on MTV back in the mid-90s. Recently been listening a lot to 3rd Secret as well.

[@jo6731]

Ann Wilson was another legendary Seattle singer. She blows the doors off the place.

[@McCready12]

One of the all time greatest singers in Rock

[@user-ir9jw9yo8v]

Always wonderful to hear someone talking about Chris Cornell. Could watch these interviews forever!

[@Jason31256]

He always seemed happy and so did Chester. It scares the hell out of me sometimes. I still don't understand what happened. I will never take antidepressants because of what happened to them

[@montlejohnbojangles8937]

Kim has been one of my absolute goddamn guitar heroes since I was a kid, an absolute legend.

[@Melinda_B62]

Same. Seeing Thayil come alive thrills me to no end. Grateful for 3rd Secret, I really hope they’ll keep it together & take it somewhere - for years. Awesome stuff!

[@Fakename70]

I had detected his influence on Adam Jones 30 years ago but never had confirmation of it until reading a Tom Morello interview from within the last few years.

[@travzimmerman1340]

Absolutely

[@elizabetheaton3882]

Agreed

[@jcoats5529]

Totally disagree. He's a horrible player. Has been noodler

[@AZIZAxBLUE]

In my opinion, the greatest loss to the music industry ever! Rest in peace Chris, your genius will never be forgotten 🤍🙏🏼

[@srhlmusic]

Loved this convo. Important reminders to consider the hidden talents among ourselves and our collaborators, and that great vocalists don't always just come out of the ether. Consistency and experimentation are both key... So grateful for all of these musicians and for their willingness to engage in these conversations.

[@leefiutko6358]

I agree love this video.

[@maxmeeks9910]

This was an awesome interview. Thank you. I've spent years developing the ability to cover Chris's vocals. Can't do everything, nor play an instrument to save my life, but have sung some of his stuff in front of people. His voice, IS the mountain. He IS the highway. Thanks again.

[@MrLuigiFercotti]

Your brave to try.

[@maxmeeks9910]

@@MrLuigiFercotti it took about 5 years, following the previous 20 years of singing until getting his sound clicked for me. Started with the Higher Truth album, more recently Euphoria Morning stuff, but the sound garden stuff is still taking time, but slowly developing. I smoked for one year just to help fill out my voice, just for Chris's stuff. Not heavy, and I'm not recommending this, and did stop, but it certainly seemed to help. Just being honest. I think focusing hard enough, for long enough, and wanting it bad enough allowed the impossible to become doable.

[@mick-i3y]

I could just sing like him naturally - except for the very highest stuff (I did have to dig down deep), especially by the time my band covered a bunch of Audioslave (and Alice In Chains, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Green Day, 3 Doors Down, Godsmack and STP). My bandmates and I were all 50-55, and boy was it awesome to hear all the 20-35 year olds that hung with us going NUTSO 1st time we did "I Am The Highway" and "Like A Stone". They all Loved Chris' songs more than any of those others, and btw, those were all a piece of cake to sing in comparison.

[@user-ei9ns9hq6b]

Would have been a better interview if Rick didn't keep interrupting his guests like 8:07 for example. Clearly the guy just loves to hear himself talk.

[@JohnGauge790]

They where such a huge part of my life. Seems forever ago. So good. Re Chris’s singing: heard stories about him blowing up mics he sang so loud.

[@Banana_Split_Cream_Buns]

It's an excellent point about how phenomenal all the grunge singers were. One of my favorite songs is "Right Turn" featuring Chris Cornell with Mark Arm and of course Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell on that "Alice Mudgarden" track. Absolutely brilliant both separate and together.

[@klm4446]

Alice Mudgarden should've made an entire album.

[@DevourTheBleak]

Chris, how much we miss you cannot be put in words. I even had the fortunate opportunity to meet him at Much Music so long ago. My very first concert as a young turd was Soundgarden right up in front at the gate…I saw them again after King Animal. Kim is one of my fav guitarist and the whole band are legacy to be cherished forever.

[@theaquariancontrarian3316]

Thayil is such an underrated guitarist

[@nicholasgordon5013]

Thayil is credited by musical historians as the creator of the grunge sound.

[@aarongarcia4381]

best guitarist of the 90s

[@jcoats5529]

No he is not. He's a noodler

[@jcoats5529]

​@@aarongarcia4381wtf?

[@murk4552]

​@@jcoats5529he doesn't shred, what the hell are you talking about?

[@shawnstarks1743]

Sometimes you can’t see the forest from the trees. Thank God Kim and crew finally realized Chris could sing.

[@ericfreeman7642]

I got to see Soundgarden in Memphis! May 07, 2017! Soundgarden was and is still the soundtrack of my life! ❤️❤️

[@juneauz]

The dude is an absolute legend and also sporting an A Perfect Circle cap. Gotta love that.

[@michaelaiello9525]

Kim Thayil is such an interesting and incredible guitarist. Super unique. I'm convinced most still don't know what the heck he is doing to sound so singularly awesome.

[@beerman3876]

I love how Chris noveselic of nirvana and kim thayil are actually friends. Huge fans of both can tell noveselic is a fan of Soundgarden and noveselic is so cool. My mom met him in a bar and he took a pic with her!

[@kristopherkrueger4617]

Kim & Chris have worked together with Alfredo Hernandez from Kyuss/QOTSA.

[@booberry6715]

To this day, Badmotorfinger is one of my favorite albums of all time. I put it on at work, and I definitely get looks, but it's my jam and I'll never forget those days in the early 90's.

[@Janaesp12]

Awesome to see hes a fan of A Perfect Circle..... Great hat, Kim!!!! :)

[@MrAllDay2u]

IMO, Geoff Tate absolutely has to be brought up in any "the best Seattle based vocalists" conversation. GREAT interview... Chris Cornell is definitely on my favorite vocalists ever list. I am hopeful that WP is treating him well 🙏

[@smokerise]

Agree, Tate is a great vocalist.

[@babywah3290]

Shawn Smith was amazing and not mentioned in this interview.

[@shawnpaul6620]

Geoff Tate changed everything. Truly one of the best

[@MrAllDay2u]

@@shawnpaul6620 💯%

[@terryduffield5860]

So does Nancy Wilson

[@splinteredspace3469]

Kim Thayil did a great tribute for Alice in Chains at MoPop. Loved ya in Soundgarden and now 3rd Secret! Love your solos and riffs. World always needs good music! Great interview! Mia Zapata was a great singer, check out the band she was in THE GITS. You can find it on KZbin. Even 7 Year Bitch did a tribute to her on one of their album covers, and they are great too.

[@jackorion7157]

Been listening to a of Chris' recently I didn't know he was a drummer and I didn't know he was in a cover band playing Doors songs. Makes me appreciate him more

[@Melinda_B62]

Hands down my favorite interview of Rick’s - this one was a long time coming. Rick is the man!

[@Garythefireman66]

We lost such a treasure when Chris died.

[@donaldbutcher1260]

He didn't die, he committed suicide. There is a difference. 😢

[@stigbeve]

@@donaldbutcher1260not trying to be a jerk but what do you mean?

[@billysunday7507]

Suicidal people are weak

[@EddieMak1]

​@@donaldbutcher1260I guess you know everything. Take a look at his autopsy.

[@c3N3q]

Yeah well, Chris was one of those highly creative and incredibly talented guys who work on multiple projects, have happy families, kids, loads of friends and supporters... and as a logical result of this depressive lifestyle they then decide to hang themselves on a doorknob with a tie. Just like that. Chester Bennington, Avicii, Anthony Bourdain... Nothing to see here, move along... 😒

[@KristinaFerrarino]

7 new songs will be released soon. Man, are we going to enjoy it.

[@earthpart3]

a great singer can carry a mediocre band but a great band can't carry a mediocre singer. lucky for soundgarden they had great everything. i still think superunknown is a top 10 album all time

[@thegood9]

meh, not true (not gonna list all the mediocre singers backed by great bands that are successful)...but, I agree with the sentiment!

[@imikewillrockyou]

It can happen the other way around, great singer with a mediocre band and song writing, and they're gone after one LP. Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson was in a mediocre band that flopped before he was recruited by Iron Maiden, and that guy can sing!

[@louiebee6745]

​@@imikewillrockyouand Iron Maiden was a great band with an OK singer in Paul Di'Anno. Once Bruce came on, the rest is history.

[@GeriatricGuitarist]

Well put

[@bothellkenmore]

Superunknown has many great songs but I really like "Limo Wreck". Great song that was rarely played on the radio even in Seattle.

[@pablocuneo4611]

Chris was such a great vocalist. Every word hit you so hard especially the vocals from Superunknown.

[@clintevans1921]

Love seeing Kim wearing the A Perfect Circle hat. My 2 favorite singers are Chris Cornell and Maynard James Keenan! 🤘🤘

[@spandrel1858]

I could listen to this all day, endlessly fascinating. As for "why were there so many great singers at that time in Seattle?", it made me think of Detroit and the hey day of Motown: how does all that iconic majestic talent come from the same neighborhood in Detroit? Or the British Invasion - The Beatles, The Who, The Kinks, the Stones, Beck, Clapton, Page, McLaughlin, etc all born roughly between 1941 and 1945.

[@gzo313]

But isn’t Britain a country versus a city… nvm

[@jhamler1]

Jack said there's something in the water and he might be on to something. Ann Wilson, Kenny Loggins, Chris Cornell, Layne Staley, Kurt Cobain, Geoff Tate, Shawn Smith, and Kevin Martin (Eddie Vedder was from southern California but maybe he got supergood after drinking Seattle beer?) all grew up imbibing from what they call ARTESIAN WELLS. A relatively rare aquifer worldwide in which a king's share of them can actually be found in Western Washington State. It's a flimsy theory, but maybe worth exploring? Probably not.

[@reidhansen7030]

​@@jhamler1maybe more to it than you know.

[@jhamler1]

@@reidhansen7030 Please elaborate.

[@reidhansen7030]

@@jhamler1 water memory frequencies vibration. Something is in the water in town not far from me but its not musical talent. Genderational confused.

[@jessedorsettii9988]

Love the band. Love the music. RIP Chris. He will always be missed, but we have tons of music to last generations.

[@DiscoMaiden]

6 yrs and it is still so difficult for me to hear Chris talked about in the past tense, I can only imagine that feeling for Kim. 😭

[@lahaza6515]

It is pretty weird

[@GIBKEL]

Oh man…I hope you have some more of this! That was gold!

[@roscoemuttley]

I love how they just saw Chris as one of the group. He wasn't this god like, gorgeous singer, he was just Chris

[@stevenmonte7397]

At 8:20, I find that fascinating about the singers developing. I recall Brian May saying Freddie was once all over the place and early on he changed into a different singer. That's a topic i would love to see a deep dive on with singers.

[@sonoftheredfox]

Rick (to Kim Thayil): "How did you not know you had this great singer?" Novilselic (to Kim Thayil): "It's because you weren't a pot smoker."

[@SatanSplainer]

I still haven't gotten over getting the news that day. It broke me. It's never gonna make sense. I miss Chris so much. There will never be another one like him. He was the greatest musician of our generation. I wish we'd had him longer...

[@MrTL3wis]

It was so amazing how they could put out a song that was specific to them, but spoke for us all. I fuckin' love these guys.

[@JavonandBrad]

great interview. Be wonderful if you could get AIC and hear some stories like this about layne

[@seanohalloran384]

Cornell was in a class by himself. Great video!

[@romangarcia608]

SG was always my favorite of the “Big 4 of Grunge” mostly bc of Matt’s drumming and Chris’s voice (and i had no idea he started on drums - too cool!) R.I.P. CC 🙏🏼

[@denverrandy7143]

I love Kim's a perfect circle hat.👍

[@jamesmurphy5358]

Just noticed that…so dope

[@jamescone6359]

Isn't it like so fucking cool. A man of honor and great taste.

[@user-ei9ns9hq6b]

That's not a perfect circle hat

[@denverrandy7143]

​@@user-ei9ns9hq6bThen what is it? Cause that's the APC emblem

[@denverrandy7143]

Lol actually it is...Just type into Google "Kim Thayil APC Hat" and there's actually a lot of ppl that caught it and he speaks about how Tool and APC are two of his favorite bands.soooo um yea.👍

[@bobthebear1246]

Chris Cornell is one of the 10 greatest male singers ever. Also one of the 20 greaest songwriters ever.

[@CP-kb1du]

Top 5 easy .... ;Layne Freddie Steve Anne Wilson

[@randall9000]

He’s in my top 3 with Robert Plant and Peter Gabriel

[@robertlindblad9617]

My all time favorite singer goes back and forth between Chris and Andrea Bocelli 😂

[@leedutton7683]

These interviews are important historical documents, thank you Rick x

[@margiechavez1989]

Chris is so very much missed 😢

[@thebomb78]

As a child of the 80s whos music was this shit, excellent interview. Now im 45 n still listen to these dudes 🤘🏻

[@Beermalls]

Man last week I woke up from a nap down in my basement lair! The sun was shimmering through the window and on my radio I had going Audio Slaves “ Like a Stone” had just started! I Just layed there catching my bearings from the nap and enjoying the song! Man great song and I thought about how good Cornell really was! Heard it 1000 times but the song hit me differently that day! 🤟😎

[@fullonkevinsmom3382]

Amazing interview omg!! Chris Cornell lives on, his spirit is with us every day 🩵🩵 I’m so happy they brought up Andy Wood!! So many incredibly talented gorgeous men blossomed in Seattle 🩵🩵

[@joecrowaz]

I worked in a mobile recording truck, recording Lallapalossa in Seattle. I sat with Kim talking Guitars, watching him fly hamburger patties across the food tent 😂.

[@clarkconstantine9440]

I will never forget the day in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania in 1992... I still have the T-shirt... When I saw Soundgarden at Lollapalooza 92...

[@jeffvandenberg8422]

Timeless music that will never be re created or die.

[@TheDemonAnjel]

I still cry...he was the greatest....EVER!

[@TerriResists]

Amazing interview. I’m an analyst. Words, though. Law and creative nonfiction. Complex stuff, but vastly different than blending words and sounds. I think that marriage is what fascinates me. I discern the nuances. But that’s altogether different than having the talent to create them. And to hear Kim Thayil - or you, for that matter - discuss blending the components of a piece of music by instrument and with words is a powerful gift. And it elevates my appreciation of the piece and enchantment with the music and its creators. Thank you.

[@garyv2498]

This was such a great interview.

[@angiec3512]

We love you Kim!!!! I miss Chris so much!

[@bold810]

This is actually the first time I have heard from Kim , like ever. Kim and the Lead Guitarist from Corrosion of Conformity are my guitar heros.

[@evanwalters63]

Hiro's basswork was incredibly influential to alt rock and upcoming grunge acts. These were the early years before Pearl Jam. It had a newness to it was was mysterious and exciting. You could do a fluid bassline that grooved and rocked hard at the same time. It was a breakthrough. I Love Ben but Hiro laid the groundwork for the vibe of grunge rhythmically.

[@gergg]

😢 I'm embarrassed to cry every time I think about Chris.I never met him but I was fortunate to meet many of the Seattle musicians and friends of Chris and he was loved.I know Jack Endino after I met him at the SubPop 25 and he also was playing in a band called Purple Strange a few years ago with Ron Nine(Love Battery)and Kurt Danielson(TAD).

[@billyidol2115]

Man I could listen to these guys for another hour. Thayil is so informative and so insightful as to what was going on. And when he mentioned we literally almost lost Chris as a singer? Like they were just going to let him stay with drums and get a singer instead, just imagine what that would have been like? No Soundgarden without Chris Cornell on vocals? How crazy different would life have been for these last 30 years listening to one of the greatest lead vocalist of all time

[@martianpops7785]

Excellent🙌 thank you for sharing! @ 5:40 the talk is loudness, got me thinking 🤔 it would be neat to have a vocal loudness scale. Tiny Tim Vs Shirley Temple, Chris Cornell Vs ? Chris was special, cut from different cloth that was on fire...❤️

[@imthegrk]

Hearing about the songwriting process is fantastic.

[@rawxtir]

Had no idea about alot of this , hearing them all talk is fricken rad. Cheers for doing this

[@LarryHovis]

Kim Thayil is so self-deprecating - and he always is - for being such a great rock musician. I mean, he's the total package.

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

Sabbath and Soundgarden sot together as my two bands. But to hear Kim tell it and how Chris was their drummer, just floored me. I never knew this. And to think they might jave gotten a singer? They jad the VOICE of a generation there already. They way it worked out is... thank God for Matt Cameron coming in and freeing Chris. Astounding story. Thanks Rick!

[@babywah3290]

James Hetfield once wanted someone else to sing for Metallica while he focused on guitar and when Steve Marriott started Humble Pie, he suggested Peter Frampton be the lead vocalist. Plus Tony Iommi left Black Sabbath in the beginning for Jethro Tull and can be seen playing with them in the Rolling Stones’ Rock and Roll Circus.

[@stevew6910]

4 great song writers came out of Seattle, Plenty of others who wrote a few popular songs, But Kurt, Chris Layne and Eddie set the stage,, What is even crazier is many of them was good to great friends,

[@MrThebigredone]

It's a pity Jerry Cantrell is forgotten in these conversations, for me the driving force behind AIC.

[@davidholmer6099]

@@MrThebigredoneCantrell is a song writing machine.

[@jakebsowders357]

Kim Thayil is my #1 guitarist

[@keithclark2873]

Nobody ever mentions Candlebox out of that era from Seattle. Kevin Martin killer vocals as well

[@stevenrandolph1654]

Kevin might have the strongest voice of that era that is still around and sounding 100% of his prime .

[@nabilandre]

@@stevenrandolph1654i agree he still sounds fantastic

[@vendrachapman8759]

Still love Candlebox!! Great band.

[@JasonNewYork]

Amazing band. Love them!

[@MrHyde11976]

Candlebox blows gtfoh

[@Mary-t5d5c]

Thank you. RIP Chris.

[@pnr9730]

Chris was my mentor I will miss his songwriting and his powerful voice...

[@tom33pr]

Kim's guitar tone and playing is unreal!

[@KordTaylor]

Such a great interview! And yes, I WILL send links to my family and friends. Did you ever do a show on London Bridge Studios here in Seattle? Great people and awesome history. Thanks Rick! ❤️

[@keithgrillo8096]

Superunknown: the album that captured the nineties and provided a musical direction into the 2000s.

[@clarkconstantine9440]

When you saw Soundgarden live On stage it was like something out of a dream... I will never forget how I discovered Soundgarden... I was clocking out at a screen printing company in West Virginia that I worked at.. we predominately did shirts for punk rock bands and stuff like.. which went on to be a huge screen printing company called Balzout... And I was clocking out one day and there was a cassette tape waiting in the floor... I normally wouldn't have thought anything of it but I walked over and picked it up... It said Soundgarden louder than Love... And I put it in my walkman and listen to it as I walked home... I was like oh my God this is incredible!!! And I am a second-generation punk-rocker I was listening to social distortion and stuff like that at the time... But I gave this to benefit of the doubt because I was a katar player changed everything.

[@WornDownSaint]

Mentions my boy Layne at 7:12. When he talked a minute later about how the singers were developing, he didn’t mention how Chris actually suggested to Layne to start using his lower voice when recording and singing since Layne ALWAYS used only his highs in his and AIC’s early days. So without Chris, AIC probably would have become an entirely different sounding band.

[@williamweiss6128]

Great band. If you like Chris's voice, listen to Ian Thornley of Big Wreck. Phenomenal guitarist plus he kinda sounds similar to Chris. I like both.

[@99Maddux]

Ian isn't even close to Chris.

[@stonerdemon]

If there's a band that truly deserves more praise and success, that's Big Wreck. A friend of mine told me once, "Big Wreck is elite hard rock, they will never be huge. It's only for elite listeners". I think he's right. You really need to know your music game to fully appreciate how great they are.

[@williamweiss6128]

@stonerdemon I live in Idaho. Sadly. Will never get to see them. Oh well. Guess I've seen a lot in 62 yrs. And cheaply, too. $7-$10 back in the day.

[@stonerdemon]

@@williamweiss6128 Have you watched their performances at the Suhr concerts? Good lord, they're ridiculously good. Oh, by the way, their ex drummer, Forrest Williams, has a music project called Forrest Williams Democracy. It's just him and a singer for now, and they're recording at home, but they sound really good, akin to the grungy and downtuned old 97' Big Wreck sound. Check them out when you can!

[@thepooz7205]

⁠@@99Maddux”he kinda sounds similar” is fact. Kinda looks similar too. Responding with “isn’t even close” looks like misplaced defensiveness. Do you think vague comparisons in some way diminish Chris’s legacy or something?

[@MOTLrBlaze]

Love that kim mentions Lanegan as one of the seattle greats. Hes underrated as hell.

[@ComaDave]

"Beyond the Wheel"... When I heard that, Down Under, sometime late 1990...I could not believe my ears.

[@rubaidaallen2764]

One of my biggest regrets was never seeing Soundgarden live. Such an incredible band. Chris Cornell. What can I say? Miss him so much.

[@scottmitchell2757]

Many years ago online someone asked me about Soundgarden.. I gave an unconventional answer that wasn't recieved as it being understood as it stood out. I said : Soundgarden has a very deep understanding of time in music. To hear why that is was soo cool for me here in this video. To just be an unoticed fly on the wall to observe that genius coming together. Would have been enough for me. That distant cautious feeling of something very special in the air somewhere. What an amazing time in music. I miss Chris so much and i didnt even know him. I did connect with him and this band on so many deep levels though. Chris and Soundgarden really touched my life. Many times expressing things and themes that noone else around had but me. The Day I tried to live. The structure of that song.. Wow. The pain in the Gutiar on the intro. Then the lyrics . that i interperate as a view of being a highly intelligent and highly compassionate soul ...enough to look at the world as it is.. And how hard that is to reconcile and rationalize when the ignorance isnt bliss any longer. That was very important for me .. a deep thinker with some intelligence and compassion.. To not feel so alone in this world. The deep lonlyness that is the curse of highly intelligent critical thinkers. When no matter how much love is around and even if some people try. To have the time it takes to explain some of your arising thoughts.. Is not always recieved.. Nor should it always be but they come just the same. I hear that in Chris's lyrics and the handful of interviews ive seen. Which i dont watch many besides Rick because its allway like a PR answer that you can tell its the 1000th time they answered. It came out in Chris's and his bandmates .. ( but im guessing alot from Chris) lyrics that even then.. He must have worried about how far down that road he could take people. That can easily be misconstrued. "Words you say never ... " I dont just hear.... if at all .. only doom and gloom in these lryics and the music. And the label most choose just pisses me off. TDITTL kind of addresses that as well within it as well. Thats just one of many great songs that touched my life.. Then all the time signatures and changes and the tones that are so rich.. It leaves new stuff to enjoy that stands the test of time. Chris never stopped searching and learning and i can see where the structure of that was cultivated too in this short interview. It explains alot. In thier short description of the foundation of all these things. I love Soundgarden. I think Superunknown kind of displays all of this very well.. Yet i like the older stuff as well. Singing during that crazy time signature in Rusty Cage and playing it. Man.. how many beers before you mess that up so royally you have to stop? I mean it was always there but you can hear and see the development. To me Soundgarden are the OGs of that whole Music Scene that im so thankful blew up so big. You can say the Mainstreaming of Nirvana was the catalyst... in that mixture. Its true... credit where do.. They were great and Kurt could pump somgs out... But to think Soundgarden PJ and AIC at least... were not destined for greatness .. Ya .. idk about that. To me .. its seems Soundgarden were the glue in many ways that held it all together to even make it possible . And yes.. Years later now people can appreciate my observations of your mastery of time. 😆 Maybe that means nothing to anyone but me .. But ive said that alot about this band and people go ya. Butt.... Thank you Soundgarden for Everything. ❤ Much ❤. And to Rick .. The best interviewer in Music.

[@TheMrdhyde]

Gun is musically the coolest friggin timing ever. Put in ear buds crank that shit as loud as you can and friggin rock the hell out!!! I'm 50 years old and this was my generation. I was a singer in a rock band mid 90's. We recorded a little and played out a little. I still go every 4 or 5 years to a open mic around town and do a couple songs just to get that high you get again. I get crazy good compliments on my "Where did you sleep last night" acoustic Nirvana version. Makes me feel so damn good. Go home and can't sleep for hours!

[@rushmore3927]

Louder Than Love is a masterpiece of rock.

[@StatingTheObviouslyObvious]

Lost my brother this last May to fent poisoning. He was a huge fan of Chris. The last song he told me was his favorite was Moth by Audioslave. I fucking hate drugs.

[@thelieinbelieve6594]

Kim got A Perfect Circle hat on, nice.

[@clanrobertson1]

God, this is amazing. Thank you Rick!