Soundgarden was an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1984 by vocalist and drummer Chris Cornell, guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. The group became one of the pioneering acts of the Seattle grunge movement, although its music was never limited to that label. Soundgarden combined the weight of 1970s heavy metal with punk's directness, psychedelic textures, unusual guitar tunings, and frequently complex time signatures.
Cornell initially played drums as well as singing, but Scott Sundquist joined in 1985 so that Cornell could concentrate on vocals. Matt Cameron replaced Sundquist in 1986 and became one of the band's defining musicians. Soundgarden's early performances established a reputation for intensity, while Cornell's powerful, wide-ranging voice and Thayil's dense, dissonant guitar work gave the band a distinctive identity within Seattle's developing underground scene.
Soundgarden was among the first bands associated with the Sub Pop label. The single "Hunted Down" and the EP *Screaming Life* appeared in 1987, followed by the EP *Fopp* in 1988. Rather than immediately signing with a major company, the band chose the independent SST Records for its debut full-length album, *Ultramega OK* (1988). The record's raw production and heavy sound attracted attention from alternative and metal audiences and earned the band a Grammy nomination.
The move to A&M Records produced *Louder Than Love* in 1989. It was Soundgarden's first major-label album and expanded the group's audience without removing its abrasive edge. Yamamoto left after the album, and Jason Everman briefly filled the bass position before Ben Shepherd joined in 1990. Shepherd's playing and songwriting became an important part of the band's classic lineup.
Soundgarden's third album, *Badmotorfinger* (1991), included "Jesus Christ Pose," "Rusty Cage," and "Outshined." Although its release coincided with Nirvana's breakthrough and was initially overshadowed by *Nevermind*, the album eventually became a major success. Soundgarden also benefited from the wider international attention directed toward Seattle rock, while Cornell's participation in Temple of the Dog connected the band with members of Pearl Jam and the legacy of Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood.
The band's commercial peak came with *Superunknown* (1994). Debuting at number one in the United States, the album retained Soundgarden's heaviness while broadening its arrangements and lyrical atmosphere. "Black Hole Sun" became an international hit, aided by a surreal music video, and the album also produced notable singles such as "Spoonman" and "Fell on Black Days." *Superunknown* won two Grammy Awards and established Soundgarden as one of the leading rock bands of the decade.
The band members pursued other projects during the following years. Cornell recorded solo albums and fronted Audioslave, while Cameron became a permanent member of Pearl Jam. Soundgarden reunited in 2010 and released *King Animal* in 2012, its first studio album in 16 years. The group continued performing and began developing further material, but Cornell died in Detroit on May 18, 2017. The surviving members later declared that Soundgarden had disbanded again. A filmed 2013 performance was issued posthumously as *Live from the Artists Den* in 2019. Soundgarden's catalog remains influential for its combination of metallic force, experimental songwriting, and the singular vocal presence of Cornell.