Kim Thayil reveals insight about Soundgarden’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Soundgarden will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year, according to a statement made by guitarist Kim Thayil to Billboard on April 27. The multi-platinum group, which has already received two nominations, will formally be inducted into the Hall on November 8th as part of a ceremony that will take place at the Peacock Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, California. Given the death of its singer/guitarist Chris Cornell in 2017, Thayil told the aforementioned magazine that the nomination is somewhat sad. Thayil clarified that he was initially disdainful of the idea of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame because of his own subterranean beginnings.

I kinda came from a subculture of rock that didn’t quite get what all the fuss is about. Back in the ’80s, ’90s, when the Hall started, I probably was not alone in being part of a punk rock or indie metal scene that had an aversion to the idea. It was kind of hard to wrap my head around both a qualitative appraisal and a quantitative assessment.

However, he claimed that inductions from his friends in bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam (which includes drummer/vocalist Matt Camreon from Soundgarden), and others, along with a previous induction featuring Cornell, helped alter his viewpoint.

Chris lived the experience and said the enthusiasm of the fans was eye-opening for him, and understanding how important that was — and Matt seconded it. In so many ways the fans got some kind of validation by having a band that was important to their heart and that they championed get (the honor). I know I felt that way about bands I believed in, whether the MC5 or the Ramones or Kiss. Chris explained that to me, and that kind of changed things. Plus I heard this from the Nirvana guys, the Pearl Jam guys, other friends and other bands. So it really changed my perspective.

Continuing, he said:

[Chris was] the one who convinced me how appreciative the fans and our peers and the Soundgarden community — that includes the people that we work with and work for us — would be about it. He realized how important that was, and he understood that would be important to us because it’s important to people who cared about us and helped us and supported us all along. That’s how I believe Chris would respond to this. I think he’d be very appreciative and thankful to all the people who have believed in him and believed in the work he did and the work that we all did, collectively.

Regarding how they intend to use the induction to commemorate the contributions and legacy of their late vocalist, Thayil revealed:

It’s a high bar, not just technically, but emotionally. There has to be a reverence for the missing brother and founder, and there also has to be reverence for the legacy — both for Chris’ work and Chris’ creativity, as well as the regard and reverence we have for ourselves collectively and for each other. Some suggestions have come out; I’m not prepared to share that, but I’ll just say it’s a higher bar than the usual composite of guitarists and drummers or singers.