Soundgarden Talk 'Superunknown' & 'Spoonman' in Seattle (1994) | MTV Rewind

MTV News caught up with Soundgarden on their home turf in 1994 to talk all things 'Superunknown' and 'Spoonman'.
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[@bunniangi]

This is so 90s it hurts. What a gem.

[@everlong7012]

i miss a time i wasn’t even there for. man the 90s is something i want to experience more than anything.

[@arlenem.6469]

Chris looks so handsome

[@sh1gosen]

chris cornell's presence was so enigmatic. it's like hard to focus on anything but him in this video

[@IrishGuitarGaz]

I know, right? He was just naturally very charismatic and had this presence - being tall, dark and handsome helped, but there was more to it than just that.

[@blackspring3207]

around the 00:58 Ben Shepherd points out the image of former Soundgarden bassist Hiro Yamamoto on the cover of an album by Truly, a band that Hiro was in after Soundgarden. something i love that i'm finding about Ben the more I delve into interviews and such is that he never stopped repping the huge influence that Hiro was upon him. he really had the utmost respect for his predecessor.

[@speedking7224]

Ben shepherd got the treatment in soundgarden which jason newsted deserved in metallica

[@rjo8570]

Ya he was cool to hang out with at The Mix in Gtown Kim as well!!! ✨🤠👍🍻

[@dannahinojosa1934]

Love Soundgarden! Love how they changed music from sexual angst to real feelings and everyday emotions. I really miss this era of music. Chris Cornell. There will never be another voice like yours. Still hurts that you're not in this world.

[@BlowUpTheOutsideWorld]

Soundgarden is the greatest band of all time and Chris Cornell is the greatest man of all time.

[@soundgarden6478]

That's what I love about Soundgarden is how humble they are. It's always a pleasure to listen, watch and see them have fun. They are my all time favourites.

[@BlowUpTheOutsideWorld]

Same!

[@evelangdon3086]

Mine too!! I love Hiro though, have you heard him on Down by the Water by Maki Mae? kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3XZq5dtrduSp9k

[@justinwilliams1728]

Hell yeah! Do you like Alice in chains?

[@whatsuphotdog]

hell yes. possibly the greatest rock album of the 90s in my opinion. Michael Beinhorn is a genius.

[@janjose5647]

And one of the greatest albums of all time

[@monkeyliver1986]

Nope. Mellon collie

[@krism8950]

@@monkeyliver1986 haha you can’t be serious.

[@PeteWaan]

@Alejandro Fonseca Me too, Down on the Upside & Dirt are the best “Seattle” albums, although Superunknown is naturally amazing record also. ✌️

[@matthewverhage1282]

Mellon Collie definitely up there too, but IMO Siamese Dream has it beat out in terms of quality vs quantity. Both are absolutely amazing albums in their own right, but Mellon Collie is a tad bit more... overbloated, from being a double album. Siamese Dream is a perfect single album. @@monkeyliver1986

[@ChineseJCVD]

Man. Seattle in the 90s would’ve been the shit.

[@Feynayara]

God…Chris was so gorgeously beautiful…!

[@ASR970]

I went to SubPop head office in Seattle and they have this polaroid of Chris and Matt taken in this shop near Moore. The funny thing is that I took a picture of it without knowing the story behind it (I discovered it when I saw this video few minutes ago).

[@LucasPenido]

Cooool story!

[@rjo8570]

RAD!!! ⚡️⚡️⚡️👍

[@chrissmith4723]

How the hell eminem gets in r n r hall of fame and Soundgarden doesn’t is beyond me

[@MsLadyK1987]

The rock n roll hall of fame has officially become like the scammys...

[@Danjoker.]

They lost their credibility decades ago.

[@Jock-mj4zd]

When you go onto the SG wiki page, and you notice that it says “Soundgarden WAS an American rock band…”. That really is an absolute kick in the teeth. It all went tragically wrong and ended too soon for SG.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

The bigger kicking is that Pearl Jam _didn't_ quit some ten to 25 years ago. Now that makes me weep like George Harrison's guitar.

[@ReadyMindsetGo]

That's bs. Pearl Jam is still great and I'm glad they're still going at it.

[@speedking7224]

Nothing lasts forever 💔

[@ehLeanne311]

The 90s, best decade of all

[@nicholasartuso4698]

When MTV was good... good times

[@Malpractice2003]

"Billy Graham's an arena god - he can make your will disappear" Kim Thayil! HAHAHAHA LOL

[@Lysimachus]

I'm surprised that didn't get a bigger laugh, maybe all four of them just have that dry a sense of humour.

[@BlowUpTheOutsideWorld]

Chris Cornell is flawless.

[@th1agu]

From the time when Kurt and Chris were still alive.

[@driventoomadness6456]

Maybe they would still be here if they lived in Spokane, city's around the west coast of Washington state had become an ulgy end of life for many. Because of nasty poison ..... and sadly now Spokane too. It's all about one's selfish self , only love I see is the words painted under some Bridges on the 5. ..Or over some beautiful art work on the walls all over the city. Mo8

[@ProfessorKenneth]

Duct tape wallet sounds like a grunge band..lol... soundgarden was a great band.🤘🏻 My then high school girlfriend saw them live. Awesome show 👍🏻

[@aXeL-qr9xs]

you know what? when they said arena gods that struck me as an amazing band name

[@kylehegedus5498]

I should start a band called Duct Tape Wallet. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@bluesslider76]

These guys represent so much of that time in my unimportant life. I’ll never forget that feeling of discovery and jamming in a work truck.

[@tambert3897]

I liked when Spoonman went "BRA CAPADAPACA (POP) BRA CAPADAP POCCO (POP)." That was awesome.

[@davidoverstreet6900]

Holy shit!!!! Does anyone remember how epic 1994 was? That's when the 1990s got so much better. In every way. Making the 1990's the best decade ever. The memories and feelings came Flooding back from that year. And the fact that the real Spoonman, the one and only person this song is about, was actually a part of the video! Epic, awesome, stellar, classic! I ordered the cassette of this album in 1994 along with about 12 other classic 1994 albums, from the BMG mail order promotion. I listened to the album for 2 weeks straight!! I've never listened to a new album for more than a week, before or since that time. Incredible! My favorite rock and roll album from the 1990s.

[@rjo8570]

Seattle was getting overhyped and we lost Kurt ….the high deflated especially in Seattle (I was there) and the music world had to regroup and find itself again.. Thank God for the Deftones and the many other bands that came along later to top off the last great decade of the 20th century!!! 🥳👍🍻

[@IrishGuitarGaz]

I read Mick Wall's book recently about Led Zeppelin, called "When Giants walked the Earth". Somehow the title of that book floated into my head when watching this video. Soundgarden weren't just a rock band with a talented frontman - all 4 guys were amazing musicians, multi-instrumenalists, and Chris IMO remains the greatest male rock vocalist of our time - who also happened to have amazing songwriting ability, natural frontman attributes and much more. I've listened to their music much of my adult life and been amazed by it, so to watch a video like this and see such icons just strolling round with a coffee and floating between shops in Seattle ............ man, what I'd give to have been standing in that record shop at the time.

[@connormatthews522]

man i love the early 90s style

[@robertshulenberger]

Rest in Peace Chris Cornell 🤘🤘🤘 I still think it's a shame what happened to him..

[@icecoldleone3988]

Still Lived longer than Kurt

[@icecoldleone3988]

@Layla McNear because I wish he was here

[@VaughnBrown1965]

This is the essence of the Seattle scene. I miss those days so bad

[@davu9027]

The video quality here... It looks like it's 2010 instead of 1994

[@angiec3512]

Hell yea!!!! One of my favorite albums of theirs. RIP Chris 🖤🕯️

[@aspjake123]

Been to Seattle many, many times. Next time I walk the paths they walked I will reflect on these streets where legends have walked.

[@eatnosenuggets]

4:23 -- Every damn day at school someone yelling "d'oh!". lol

[@Stringmeme]

Awesome, hopefully we can see more from the Down on the Upside era

[@Jock-mj4zd]

@EndofMusic we need to see it, they have to release it!

[@PalmettoStateSirens]

Their best album

[@Wolfdragon92584]

I love this so much, it's almost eerie in a sense. This was a month or so before Cobain died. It was the end of the early 90s, but Soundgarden would absolutely blow up the following summer. I still remember being mesmerized by their music and videos. Rest well, Chris.

[@CristinaF210]

the king of kings of voices the master who sings like no other with his incredible bandmates in the history of planet earth and here he is just walking around like hes one of the guys😇 RIP CC ♥

[@dferrari3215]

I saw Spoonman when I was 16. There must’ve been 30 people or more standing around watching. Even then I thought he was amazing.

[@handsomerube]

I wonder when in 1994 this was filmed? I was living in Seattle when Superunknown came out, and it was such a pivotal album at the time.

[@handsomerube]

With the mention of “Kerrigan wins silver!”, I’m guessing this was filmed on or around February 26, 1994, since she won silver the day before. Amazing to see this footage since I had just moved to Seattle earlier in the week.

[@nicholasstevenson7574]

I always just assumed Spoonman was a metaphor for the dope man

[@renatadomarco2026]

Chris, beloved, dearest!!! So sad hes gone... He s been so gourgeous since ever

[@Wesley_C]

RIP Cornell

[@markstaley6757]

That fellar was comin together with his hands.

[@drinkingpoolwater]

cool to see a retail shop without computers

[@loudloveen]

The image quality is so good I felt as if I were there with the band. My regards to the cameraman. 💙

[@stelenaledomas4663]

I love this band so much. ❤

[@BlowUpTheOutsideWorld]

I love these guys the most! SOUNDGARDEN FOREVER!

[@arlyh1]

The greatest band ever❤❤❤

[@Demention94]

Masterpiece

[@mrbenoit5018]

I love that wooden spoon sound

[@christinecanty5409]

I wonder how often the other guys watch these old videos?

[@BradyA1124]

This video is February. Superunknown came out in March, in April Kurt was gone and that was it for grunge, it lasted 927 days in the mainstream. That Pigeonhed album on the rack came out Dec 1993.

[@johnvalencia9927]

I disagree. 1995 was totally grunge. Early 1996 is when the Oasis sound erased grunge.

[@BradyA1124]

@@johnvalencia9927 1995 was Boyz 2 Men and Collective Soul

[@johnvalencia9927]

@@BradyA1124 Yeah I remember that, but Los Angeles KROQ was still awesome all throughout 1995. I remember Presidents, NIN, White Zombie, Pork soda, Mellon Collie....it was still very much 1994ish. 1996 early is when I remember 7 mary three and Silverchair type stuff taking over. I guess we all have different memories of the past though.

[@BradyA1124]

@@johnvalencia9927 Silverchair hit around 1995 when their SNL appearance happened. But I understand where you're coming from. Rap took over in 1995

[@ColtraneTaylor]

@@BradyA1124 But also Van Halen. Debut at no. 1, most televised tour of the year.

[@meonlybro]

Terrific documenting

[@nateanderson7916]

My favorite album

[@puppysandwich2609]

Back when seattle was actually a fun place to be

[@rjo8570]

..no doubt soooo many kids (yutes) running around the city in their Doc’s!!! ☔️👋🥹👍

[@emuhojoxparad7589]

RIP Soundgarden Vocals

[@Spankydoodle]

Defiantly my favorite band and album of theirs.

[@AZIZAxBLUE]

Miss you Chris! 💔👊🏼♾ r.i.p

[@cathyledin3221]

Love this!

[@ReadyMindsetGo]

It's weird because I was only 8 or 9 around the time of this filming and grew up mostly in Europe, but somehow it brings up memories of those days and specifically a kind of general feeling of life back then. I guess it's a response to seeing the fashion and all, and ofc it's how I was feeling at that age. However I think it maybe also speaks to memories of a largely pre internet time, where you had to walk to the store to hear new music etc. instead of clicking some buttons on a phone screen and either hear or see music being played instantly at high quality or order physical recordings and receive them often the next day. We live in an abundance of convenience yet everyone's stressed and angry...

[@rodiondissonance]

Damn! It's so great)

[@Reboundfifty]

This is gold

[@hobo1704]

Amazing album

[@johnnyborg9835]

That was cool.

[@StephenAndrew777]

Spoonman is almost like a Motörhead song. Always been my favourite one.

[@osagiee.guobadia-secondytc4624]

I wasn't born when this interview with Sound Garden happened on MTV.

[@nroks]

cool story, bro

[@kylehegedus5498]

I was only 2.

[@kimerleviccaro1957]

I was 37🙂

[@osagiee.guobadia-secondytc4624]

@@nroks thanks?! 😀

[@osagiee.guobadia-secondytc4624]

@@kylehegedus5498 Ok.

[@clintevans1921]

Can you imagine being in that record store, and all of a sudden, Soundgarden walks in!!!

[@exchangedspider]

Damn it took me back like 28 yrs.

[@ThaRuralJuror]

Watching this is like seeing the seattle grunge scene Spinal Tap

[@oldrock80]

4:56 Travis Bickle

[@merlepatterson]

You caught it too. Exactly Travis Bickle

[@arlenem.6469]

Yeah

[@kevinmyers3357]

Gods lonely man

[@Demitrival]

Chris Cornell fashion😍😍

[@BigAl_12]

I just realized this a month before Kurt's passing RIP Chris and Kurt

[@dyr234]

Chris cornell's hilarity is unmatched beyond belief

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

Chris Cornell, nacido Christopher John Boyle (Seattle, Washington, 20 de julio de 1964-Detroit, Míchigan, 18 de mayo de 2017), fue un cantante estadounidense y guitarrista que adquirió fama por ser el vocalista de Soundgarden, Audioslave y Temple of the Dog. Comenzó su carrera como batería antes de convertirse en guitarrista y cantante.

[@danieljohnpeters]

Love Soundgarden, wish I focused on them more back in the day. I had too much love for Pantera…even now. Never got to see SG live :(

[@mercuryonjupiter6377]

❤️Ben❤️

[@OGGOAT23]

Rip chris

[@BlowUpTheOutsideWorld]

Kim Thayil: What's Entertainment Weekly? Me: BUUUUUUUUUUUURN 🤭

[@Fabio90s]

Good times....☹️

[@feedmyoffspring]

What’s the song playing at the store from the beginning of the video?

[@lagibizar]

Wait. At the end, playing guitar with Spoonman, was that Marc Maron?

[@Bottomfeederonfire]

Spoon man was written about Cobain’s intravenous hobbies.

[@sarahssentongo2587]

I wish my hand was big enough to hold a coffee cup like that

[@ktakyon]

Chris Cornell is kinda giving me a Post Malone vibe, and Ben kinda looks like Jason Newsted

[@dferrari3215]

You see the Moore Theater In this video now go check out Voices by Alice In Chains.

[@anshul404]

5:26

[@sararichi1463]

Anyone catches the "random" illuminati earring... " They also had a throng of highly-distraught crew and tour team members already in or headed to Columbus who needed support. So they organized a vigil in a conference room at their Columbus hotel, where they were accompanied by their crew, assistants and friends who hugged, wept and attempted to console each other for many hours.”

[@tranepinnee]

4:56 Taxi Driver

[@Fender420]

Tabitha Sore-End

[@Metfan722]

So this would've been late February of 1994 going off of the Nancy Kerrigan newspaper.

[@jamesfox8930]

i never knew spoonman was an actual man. interesting................................................... for some reason i thought it was about heroin.

[@icecoldleone3988]

Ok I saw Kurt at the beginning so I see what u doing ...release that Kurt cobain

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

Ben Shepherd (20 de septiembre de 1968) 55 años es un músico estadounidense conocido por haber tocado el bajo en la banda de grunge Soundgarden desde 1990 hasta su ruptura definitiva en 2019.

[@imaXkillXya]

Back in the future when 01/Vecna was a drummer in a rock band. And 11 didn’t sent him to the upside down

[@davidmreyes77]

1994 seems like it was almost 30 years ago.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

Maybe because it was 29 years ago?

[@osagiee.guobadia-secondytc4624]

I listened to Soundgarden's one song called 'Black Hole Sun' this year. Everyone must be sad that Chris Cornell (leader of soundgarden died, in 1994). I wonder if there's another MTV Rewind : Behind the scenes of every past MTV VMA's and/or MTV Movie Awards throughout the years.

[@osagiee.guobadia-secondytc4624]

@Lochie oh 😀😬

[@Sagah]

@Lochie thank you, I was so confused. This guy clearly don’t know what he’s saying 🤣🤣

[@uniqe23]

Xanax ?

[@osagiee.guobadia-secondytc4624]

@@uniqe23 What's Xanax? : 0

[@longhorn2615]

Superunknown 27

[@heightenedsenses9605]

The year Soundgarden get famous is the year Kurt Cobain became a legend. I say Kurt was jealous of Black Hole Sun...it was the closet grunge song to the beatles.

[@RG-ww6hp]

Chris Cornell so hot

[@minnesota7010]

Is SpoonMan still alive?

[@angelg.s.1053]

He is, in Port Townsend, WA.

[@joshuateubanks4302]

Kerrigan wins Sliver!!!

[@bobbyhollowayiii4684]

Back when MTV was cool

[@ColtraneTaylor]

It was not.

[@fastsavannah7684]

W.O.W.

[@zeroelliott]

sorry,dudes-split enz did a spoon solo in 1976...we've got the edge!-Still love your song,tho....

[@FeelOfWartune]

#retitle spoonman #spoondrop