KIM THAYIL On Finishing SOUNDGARDEN's Final Album With CHRIS CORNELL: 'It's Emotionally Difficult And Challenging'

Key Points:

• SOUNDGARDEN's surviving members—guitarist Kim Thayil, drummer Matt Cameron, and bassist Ben Shepherd—are working on an album featuring unreleased recordings with late frontman Chris Cornell, collaborating with producer Terry Date to complete and refine the material.
• The album consists of demos and sketches dating back over a decade, with the band carefully fleshing out and recording parts amid complex scheduling and emotional challenges following Cornell's 2017 death.
• The group emphasizes the importance of honoring Chris Cornell's legacy and their collective work, describing the project as a labor of love that blends familiar SOUNDGARDEN elements with some new creative directions.
• SOUNDGARDEN faced a prolonged legal dispute with Cornell's widow, Vicky Cornell, over the rights and control of the unreleased recordings and social media accounts, which was amicably resolved in April 2023, allowing the band to move forward.
• The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2025, with the surviving members performing alongside guest vocalists, highlighting their ongoing commitment to preserving and celebrating their musical heritage.