Soundgarden finally earned their place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . The induction ceremony took place on Saturday, November 8th, at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Furthermore, the evening was marked by emotional speeches and a musical performance that reunited the remaining band members with a truly all-star lineup.
Actor and comedian Jim Carrey was responsible for introducing the Seattle grunge legends. In his speech, Carrey explained his deep connection to the band: “When the Seattle music scene exploded, it resurrected rock and roll for me,” he declared. He also recalled insisting that Soundgarden be the musical guest on his debut as host of “Saturday Night Live” in 1996, an event that ended with Chris Cornell gifting him his guitar, one of his “most prized possessions” to this day.
A musical performance and tribute to Chris Cornell.
The highlight of the evening was the musical reunion of the surviving members of Soundgarden: Kim Thayil , Matt Cameron , and Ben Shepherd , along with original bassist Hiro Yamamoto . To celebrate their catalog, they invited a heavyweight team.
First, Taylor Momsen ( The Pretty Reckless ) and Mike McCready ( Pearl Jam ) joined the band for a powerful version of “Rusty Cage.” Then, Brandi Carlile and Jerry Cantrell ( Alice in Chains ) took the stage for a chilling rendition of “Black Hole Sun.”
To conclude the tributes, Chris Cornell's daughter, Toni Cornell , accompanied by Nancy Wilson (Heart), performed a moving acoustic version of "Fell On Black Days".
Emotional speeches and the identity of Seattle
Naturally, emotion filled the speeches. Chris's daughter, Lily Cornell , expressed her happiness: "I'm so, so happy that he was able to make music with his friends. In the end, that's what it's all about."
The band members also paid tribute. Hiro Yamamoto said, “Chris Cornell, we miss you so much tonight.” Kim Thayil also remembered his friend: “If any of us hesitated to share an idea, Chris was the first to say, ‘Let’s try it and see what happens.’ I miss him. I love him.”
According to the band, the choice of guests was intentional. Matt Cameron and Kim Thayil explained that they wanted to keep the celebration "as Seattle-centric as possible," inviting colleagues, friends, and collaborators who have been part of their identity from the beginning. "Geography is very important to our identity. It's where we come from. It's who we are," Thayil stated.
Finally, for Matt Cameron, this was his second induction (the first was with Pearl Jam in 2017). The drummer admitted that Soundgarden's induction has a special meaning, as it was a band he "helped build from the beginning."
Check out some special moments from the ceremony:
READ ALSO: Soundgarden plans to release final album with Chris Cornell
