Soundgarden have finally taken their place among rock’s immortals. The Seattle legends were officially inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday night, in a ceremony that honoured their trailblazing sound and the lasting power of Chris Cornell’s voice.
Actor and lifelong fan Jim Carrey took the stage to induct the band, sharing a personal connection that stretches back nearly three decades. He recalled hosting Saturday Night Live in 1996 and insisting Soundgarden perform. “When the Seattle music scene exploded, it resurrected rock & roll for me,” Carrey told the audience, before revealing that Cornell had gifted him his Fender Telecaster, a guitar Carrey described as his “most prized possession.”
The night was a mix of celebration and reflection, with emotional tributes from friends, family, and peers. Lily Cornell, Chris’s daughter, spoke about her father’s passion for creation:
“I am just really, really happy that he got to make music with his friends. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about.”
The musical performances captured everything Soundgarden represented, raw power, complexity, and emotional depth. Surviving members Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron, and Ben Shepherd were joined by Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell, Brandi Carlile, and Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless for soaring renditions of ‘Rusty Cage’ and ‘Black Hole Sun’.
Original bassist Hiro Yamamoto, who left the band in 1989, returned to pay tribute to Cornell and offer words of encouragement to rising artists:
“Chris Cornell, we are so missing you tonight on this stage. To everyone else out there – especially all you brown kids – let’s rock!”
The ceremony closed on a quiet, intimate note as Cornell’s daughter Toni performed ‘Fell on Black Days’ with Heart’s Nancy Wilson, a stripped down arrangement inspired by her father’s Songbook tour.
“I was always really touched by just him and his voice, his guitar, and eventually with a cellist,” Toni said.
Ahead of the induction, drummer Matt Cameron reflected on Cornell’s endless artistic drive:
“He was always seeking that next phase of his writing career, performing career. Maybe down the line he’ll get recognised as a solo artist or for Temple of the Dog, because his contribution to music has been absolutely massive.”
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