Soundgarden

Soundgarden was an influential Seattle rock band who helped to define the sound that came to be called grunge. They are considered one of the 'big four' Seattle bands of the era, a

Soundgarden was an influential Seattle rock band who helped to define the sound that came to be called grunge. They are considered one of the 'big four' Seattle bands of the era, along with Nirvana, Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam. In 1997, the band broke up due to internal strife over their creative direction.

Soundgarden was formed in 1984 by Chris Cornell (drums & vocals) and Hiro Yamamoto (bass), and was later joined by Kim Thayil (guitar). Thayil had moved to Seattle from Park Forest, Illinois with Yamamoto and Bruce Pavitt, who would later start Sub Pop Records. The band named themselves after an outdoor phonic art installation called "The Sound Garden" located on NOAA property near Seattle's Magnuson Park, which makes eerie sounds when the wind blows.