It’s hard to believe 40 years have passed since Soundgarden made their debut as one of six featured artists on the legendary Deep Six compilation, which spotlighted some of the most promising artists in Seattle’s mid-80s rock scene. Part of grunge’s “big four”—alongside Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains—the group exploded in the early 90s with hits like “Rusty Cage” and “Black Hole Sun,” ultimately disbanding in 1997, and re-emerging in 2010 for reunion tours and the album King Animal. Vocalist Chris Cornell’s 2017 suicide brought a sad end to their legendary career, though the surviving members reformed with guest vocalists last year when they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Guitarist Kim Thayil’s unfiltered new memoir, A Screaming Life, co-written with Adam Tepedelen, is a grunge lover’s dream. As might be surmised from his lyrics and liner notes, Thayil is a thoughtful and thorough writer, chronicling his life from childhood to the present day with conversational prose and candid aplomb.
Diving into the book requires a cursory familiarity with Soundgarden and the grunge scene at large,. If you need a refresher, check out Greg Prato’s oral history, Grunge is Dead before reading Thayil’s book. He casually name-checks a handful of long-forgotten alternative rock favorites like the U-Men and Gruntruck. Though Soundgarden fans are probably familiar with the band’s genesis—Cornell was originally a drummer and founding members Thayil and Hiro Yamamoto were oblivious to the power in his voice—the firsthand perspective offered offers a vital peek into their early creative process and the tension that led to Yamamoto’s departure. A frequently bowdlerized story.
Indeed, a clear theme in the book is that, as much as strong a unit as Soundgarden was, the band ultimately consisted of four resolute individuals who didn’t always—perhaps even rarely—see eye to eye. Each embarked on outside projects, sometimes to the other members' chagrin. Thayil has decidedly mixed feelings on Cornell’s projects Temple of the Dog and Audioslave. The band was split on whether or not to tour with Guns N’ Roses in the early 90s as well (ultimately, they did). Thayil even doubted the band’s signature song “Black Hole Sun” was an appropriate fit for Soundgarden.
Though the chapters on Cornell’s death and its aftermath are compelling, I actually found the real-time narrative of Thayil learning about Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain’s 1994 suicide even more enlightening. That chapter is a fascinating, tragic time capsule. Another highlight is Thayil recounting meeting Johnny Cash, a rare moment in which the guitarist found himself starstruck.
As an alternative rock devotee, the only real criticism I can throw at the book is that passages are occasionally repetitive, with Thayil reiterating information covered several pages or paragraphs earlier. Otherwise, it’s an engaging, humorous, and heartfelt read that’s a must for Soundgarden fans as we anxiously await the release of the band’s final album.
A Screaming Life is available at bookstores and through the Harper Collins website.
