Soundgarden

How do you begin writing about a group that had such an impact on you, that for weeks after Chris Cornell’s death, I still couldn’t believe it was real. Like most people I know (myself included), naming the other three members of Soundgarden is not an easy feat. My gut says that that’s the way they prefer it though. That being said, it wouldn’t have been an easy job keeping up with the beast of an artist like Cornell.

Looking back on my youth, I often compare it to my mother who was born in the 50’s and grew up with The Beatles in her teens. I was 16 in 1991 when ‘Badmotorfinger’ came out. I’m sure that hundreds…dare I say thousands have tried to describe what that time was like. So my words here may simply be thrown onto the flannelette pile along with the rest of them, but I think that was the whole point.

They say that if you remember the 70’s, you weren’t really there. I think that if you got through the the 90’s with your hair in tact, you probably missed the point. For those who are either too young, too old or never really got the point, let me try and put some useless words down to try and shape my experience of a time that redefined my generation…albeit filled with distaste for anyone who needs to hear them.

Like most people, I spent a decent amount of time during the 80’s wondering why music was beginning to feel less and less like…um…music. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I understand why music had transformed itself into the monster it had become. It was much like anything else in the 80’s, big, loud and full of disposability. I wasn’t as aware of it at the time, but in hindsight, Def Leppard, Fine Young Cannibals and Gloria Estefan really were not fulfilling me in any way. I mean, we didn’t know anything else so its hard to say we (as a generation) were waiting for something new. But like most anything that sweeps you off your feet, its because somewhere inside, you’re quietly dissatisfied with the status quo and yearn for something to make your heart pump again with the adrenaline of something raw…and awesome…and friggen mindblowing.

Enter, grunge.

OK, so I’m totally gonna be covering this genre over and over again because I think that the impact it had on me, let alone the people around me, was so significant that even today I place the songwriting of bands like Soundgarden, Faith No More and Pearl Jam amongst the most influential this planet has ever witnessed. I may be unpopular for saying this, but as much as I feel that The Beatles were the creators of some fundamental aspects of what we consider popular music, they were surrounded by such little competition compared to today’s number that anyone who stood up in that arena was bound to stand out. And The Beatles truly did stand out.

Transport yourself to the end of the 80’s and the volume of musical acts can easily be five fold (I have no basis for this number only that Wikipedia has a single page for 60’s artists that approximate a little over 1000 and when I look for a similar 80’s page, they are divided into seperate years with approximately 300 – 500 per year). Also understanding that most of these artists were simply following trends. The 90’s bought frustration and angst like never before. Believe me, I was there. I often resorted to old school bands like Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix because of the sheer lack of musicality that was being pumped through our radio stations.

For a young teen boy who in later life understands that I resonate most with music that charges me with introspection and has the freedom to express an emotion without reprimand, this genre of music was so up my alley I literally became the Sub Pop, Seattle minion cliche. Long hair and flannelette shirts mixed generously with a sprinkle of anti-establishment indignation made for a perfect storm in the early 90’s. I was angry and I didn’t even know it until I heard the growling riff of Badmotorfingers ‘Jesus Christ Pose’.

I’d been introduced to a few new bands around that time. RHCP. Pearl Jam. Even Faith No More’s ‘Epic’ was something completely different and I was all like “Drop everything, WTF is this?” It literally blew my mind continually over a couple of year period that I thought that this was the be all and end all of music. “This is it people…you can go home now…”

But over time, it became apparent that within this genre there were a few absolute stand outs. For mine, Soundgarden sits at the top of that tree. Its not hard to see why either. I suppose its hard to tell the difference between one hard rock riff and another if you’re not into the genre, but for those that can tell the difference, Soundgarden killed it. After many *hazy* late night discussions about this very topic, I think its a two fold reason.

1. Their musicality is hard but solid.

2. Chris Cornell.

I am pretty fucken sure that if Chris had not been in this band, it wouldn’t have been anywhere near as good and as my beautiful (and very well informed) wife tells me, it goes both ways. His solo stuff isn’t anywhere as good as the stuff he did with Soundgarden. I don’t particularly agree but I can see where she’s coming from.

So as time passes on, the early 90’s become the mid 90’s and we’re all beginning to get used to the idea that 80’s pop is dead. Actually, it wasn’t even though I wished it would be. With bands like the Spice Girls and The Backstreet Boys battling for dominance in the mainstream arena, the most encouraging aspect of a heavier sound was that in general, there was much more room for bands such as Smashing Pumpkins, Radiohead and Oasis to create a middle ground that felt more honest and genuine. Or as anyone with taste would put it…not shit.

Please don’t get me wrong here. There is so much awesome stuff that came out of the 80’s. Music being one of them. But I don’t think that we can argue for too long about the 80’s music industry paralleling the new found consumerism model being pushed into our homes via marketing, music video’s and merchandising.

Then came ‘Superunknown’.

I wish I was cool enough to say that Badmotorfinger was my favourite Soundgarden album. I’d be super cool because it would be like I had been the true fan from the beginning…or even ‘Ultra Mega OK’ would have been better. But no, I only decided not long ago that even though they are great albums, ‘Superunknown’ is something out of the box. Like Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ or RHCP’s ‘Blood Sugar Sex Magik’. From top to bottom, it is epic in every way.

I think that albums like this happen when the stars are aligned. You can’t force them. You can’t fake them. It’s the right people at the right time and Chris Cornell has a voice that makes me think that he was the type of guy who created the right time for himself. There is something about his voice that immediately sets me at ease. I think that is made up of two parts my history with them and two parts his ability to sing a feeling.

I remember drifting off to sleep to this album over many nights just wondering how someones voice can be more dynamic than any of the instruments accompanying it. I often felt the same way with Jeff Buckley.

There is a tone to Soundgardens music that is unlike anyone previous or since though. There is a softness to the edges of their music that makes you feel as though within the belting sound of guitars and drums there is a warmth that holds you…almost like it knows you’re a product of the 80’s who’s just been waiting for something raw and real. This is possibly the real talent of Cornell… and most of this genre. They sang to themselves. Like they didn’t care if you were listening or not…even better if you weren’t. Which is what made it intimate and attractive. Especially after years of music that simply didn’t ask enough of its listeners.

I was lucky enough to have been able to see Chris & Soundgarden on their last tour of Australia during the final Soundwave in Feb 2015. To be totally honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect from them and was kinda looking forward to both Incubus and Faith No More a little more.

What I witnessed on that January night was quite remarkable. Soundgarden put on a show that was mind blowing. So good in fact that it made every other act at that festival look like they were only along for the ride. It’s like they were showing all the other bands how the fuck it was done…and it was done perfectly.

I’d never actually gotten the chance to see them before then and don’t ask me why I wasn’t confident that they would have been awesome, but after the gig I literally just kept repeating that I’d never seen anything like it before. I feel a little blessed that I had the chance.

Ever since Chris’ death, I find myself mourning the idea that we’ll never get to hear anything from him ever again. Then I wipe the tear in the corner of my eye and play ‘The Day I Tried to Live’ to console myself. I’m fully aware that there are some musical artists that make me go all fanboy, but you know what? I decided some time ago that I would choose to be someone who was affected by music in any way that I could. Without apologies. Without excuses. To the fullest extent I could muster. And a funny thing happened. I found myself becoming so excited by the intricacies of music in all its forms, that my appreciation of anyone who can make it (regardless of the genre or type) grew in ways I never imagined.

So my own personal Soundgarden lesson is this: Find the music that pumps your (hypothetical) nads. Hold on to it and never let go. If everything else fails, you have your music and thats something that can never be taken away from you. Ever. It should be classed as a religion…except all the muso’s would tell you to fuck off and get a life.

M/

~ Article updated June 2018