Kim thayil Reflects on Chris Cornell’s Last Moments in New Memoir
Initially hesitant about penning a memoir, Kim Thayil, the iconic guitarist of Soundgarden, expressed his reservations when the idea was first proposed to him years ago. The thought of focusing on himself felt overly self-promotional, clashing with his passion for collaborative endeavors.
However, he eventually partnered with co-writer Adem Tepedelen to create A Screaming Life: Into the Superunknown with Soundgarden and Beyond (William Morrow), a compelling narrative that dives deep into his journey.
“I’ve always been drawn to bands and teamwork, much like superhero squads or sports teams, rather than individual accolades,” Thayil, now 65, shared during a zoom interview from his Seattle home. “What captivated me about groups like The Beatles or Kiss was not just Paul or John, but the synergy they created with George and Ringo.”
“It was the unique blend of Ace, Gene, Paul, and Peter that made songs like ‘Rock and Roll All Nite’ so exhilarating. The essence lies in the collaboration of diverse talents working towards a common goal, and that’s what resonates with me.”
(Image credit: Kevin Nixon/Metal Hammer Magazine/TeamRock)
The essence of this collaborative spirit is evident throughout the 296 pages of A Screaming Life, which chronicles Thayil’s beginnings as the son of Indian immigrants in chicago, where he first explored music alongside high school friend and original Soundgarden bassist Hiro Yamamoto.
After completing their education, the duo relocated to Seattle, where Thayil pursued a ideology degree at the University of Washington and worked as a DJ at KCMU. Most importantly, it was during this time that he co-founded Soundgarden in 1984 with Yamamoto and Chris Cornell, who initially joined as a drummer before stepping into the spotlight as the band’s frontman.
This memoir serves as the first authentic insider account of Soundgarden’s journey, detailing their rise, breakup in 1997, reunion in 2010, and the tragic loss of Cornell in 2017. While the book includes a photo from the band’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, it primarily focuses on the unreleased material the surviving members were crafting at the time of Cornell’s passing, alongside Thayil’s other musical ventures, including collaborations with MC5 spinoffs and the all-star project 3rd Secret.
(Image credit: Courtesy William Morrow)
Thayil,who admits to altering some names for privacy reasons,felt a profound sense of duty in narrating this story. “I wanted to ensure that the immense talent within the group was recognized,” he stated, referring not only to himself, Cornell, Yamamoto, bassist Ben Shepherd, and drummer Matt Cameron, but also to former members Scott Sundquist and Jason Everman.
“I wanted to ensure that the immense talent within the group was recognized.”
– kim Thayil
“Both of them were incredibly skilled at what they did.Even though they may not have been documented in our recordings,they contributed considerably,” Thayil reflected. “I take great pride in our collaboration and teamwork.”
“My friends might think I’m being overly meticulous, but I strive to tell the story as accurately as possible.I didn’t want it to be overly sentimental or self-congratulatory. My aim was to convey, ‘we accomplished this, but we also faced losses. Here’s the context of our achievements and the circumstances surrounding them.’”
The Heart of the Matter
The most profound loss, of course, was Cornell, who tragically took his own life in a Detroit hotel on May 17, 2017, shortly after a performance at the Fox Theater. While thayil has frequently enough reflected on whether he noticed any warning signs that evening, he candidly shares in A Screaming Life that he sensed something was off with Cornell as they prepared for the show.
“I remember thinking Chris looked troubled,” Thayil recalls. “Having known him for so long,I could tell he was in distress,prompting me to check on him twice,which is unusual for me. He assured me he was just tired.”
“He did rest; he returned to his dressing room after soundcheck. When people wanted to ask him questions about our set,the tour manager or security woudl say,’Oh,he’s sleeping. he’s out.’ So I thought, ‘He was right. He wasn’t distressed; he was just weary.’”
(Image credit: Paul Rovere/getty Images)
In the chapter titled Slaves & Bulldozers, Thayil elaborates on his observations from that fateful night, recounting the rocky start of the show and a guitar malfunction that forced him to take over during “Been Away Too Long.” Afterward, Cornell remarked, “‘See, you don’t need me at all,’ and the way he said it felt unsettling.”
“It was almost this futile thing: ’I want you to know this or that.’ What does it achieve? It doesn’t make time go backwards.”
– Kim Thayil
Thayil admits these feelings are new to him. “I struggled to articulate my emotions,” he confesses. “Even when speaking with bandmates and crew who shared the experience, it was challenging to express my thoughts coherently.”
“We were all devastated, and that emotional turmoil made it hard to find meaning in our observations. When trying to organize these thoughts, I realized it didn’t change the outcome; we were still left with our grief.”
“It felt almost pointless to say, ’I want you to understand this or that.’ It doesn’t rewind time, and you come to terms with being just another person with aspirations, ultimately powerless in the face of such loss.”
Reflecting on a Legacy
Despite the sorrow, Thayil’s portrayal of Cornell in A Screaming Life is largely positive and enlightening. “One revelation while compiling this book was recognizing how dedicated Chris was to preserving the band’s unity,” Thayil shares. “he consistently worked to support his bandmates, which often went unnoticed due to his role as the charismatic frontman.”
“looking back, I see that Chris was a champion for the band, even when I felt isolated in that role. He was always there, navigating the complexities of fame.”
Continuing the Soundgarden Legacy
Though nearly a decade has passed since Cornell’s death, his spirit remains alive within Soundgarden. Following discussions with his widow, Vicky Cornell, regarding the unreleased tracks the band was working on before his passing, Thayil, Cameron, and Shepherd have been diligently crafting those songs alongside early producer Terry Date. Thayil mentions there could be “possibly more than nine” tracks,though no specific release timeline has been established.
“we’re still working. I still have things to do. So does Ben. There’s no schedule here, because it’s a different process.”
– Kim Thayil
“we’re still in the creative process,” he explains. “There’s no set timeline as this project doesn’t follow the traditional recording schedule.While we have a final product in mind, we’re also committed to ensuring it meets our standards and honors Chris’s legacy.”
Thayil describes the new material as “very much in line with Soundgarden’s signature sound, yet emotionally and creatively distinct. It’s introspective and powerful, lacking the variety of Down on the Upside or the raw energy of Ultramega OK, but it will have a unique identity that resonates with our fans.”
(Image credit: Martin Philbey/Redferns)
Throughout the recording process, Thayil has been utilizing his trusted Guild S-100 guitar, for which he has a signature model, alongside a Fender Stratocaster introduced during the Superunknown era, a Gibson ES-335, and a Guild acoustic. Although he no longer uses the Telecasters from Down on the Upside, he has been experimenting with a Fender Jazzmaster semi-acoustic, which his guitar tech recommended.
“It’s a engaging guitar that I’m eager to learn more about,” Thayil shares. “It plays beautifully and has a unique sound that I absolutely love. It’s refreshing to feel this excited about an instrument again.”
“I’m not the type to walk into a guitar shop and drool over gear. I don’t have a wish list or a close relationship with my equipment. We’ve acquired some new amps and pedals,but I’m not the kind of person who obsessively tracks every detail.”
Currently, Thayil’s focus is on the Soundgarden recordings and A Screaming Life, with his other band, 3rd Secret, taking a backseat. He plans to hold some book signings in Seattle and possibly expand to other locations.
“We’ll see how it unfolds,” he concludes. “If things go well, we might consider branching out. I’m still navigating the book publishing landscape.”
