Synopsis

Soundgarden's "Spoonman" music video places Artis the Spoonman at its center. The Seattle street performer opens his case of spoons and launches into a rhythmic performance, filmed with an unvarnished, documentary-like energy. Soundgarden appear only through stark black-and-white photographs, making the real-life performer rather than the rock band the video's visual focus. The contrast gives the clip an unusual feel: part portrait, part performance piece, and part tribute to an artist working outside the traditional music industry.

Factoids & Trivia

• Artis the Spoonman is the real performer who inspired the song. He plays his spoons on the recording and appears as the video's central figure.

• The band members are not shown performing in conventional concert footage. Instead, they appear in black-and-white still photographs, an uncommon choice for a major rock single of the period.

• The title originated with a list of possible song names assembled by Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament for the fictional band Citizen Dick in the 1992 film "Singles." Chris Cornell later turned "Spoonman" into an actual song.

• An early acoustic version of the song can be heard briefly in "Singles." Soundgarden later reworked it into the heavier electric version released on "Superunknown."

• The song's middle breakdown incorporates Artis' spoon playing, alongside Matt Cameron's use of pots and pans as percussion.

• "Spoonman" became Soundgarden's first single from "Superunknown" and won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1995.