Soundgarden Rocks the Hall of Fame with Epic Induction!
This weekend, Soundgarden totally nailed their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, and it was an electrifying night filled with music, memories, and amazing tributes! Jim Carrey stepped up to kick things off, bringing all the laughter and real feels with a speech about the first time he was hit with Soundgarden's grunge power back in the day.
Carrey reminisced about hosting Saturday Night Live in 1996 and how he specifically asked for Soundgarden as the musical guest. “By then, the lineup was Chris [Cornell], Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron on drums, and Ben Shepherd on bass,” Carrey told the audience at the Peacock Theater in LA. He described their performance of “Pretty Noose” as mind-blowing: “I stood right in front of them, letting the waves of electricity wash over me, like an audio baptism. They pushed me under and when I came up I was free.”
The night wasn't just about rocking out—it was also about memories. Carrey shared how the band gifted him a Fender Telecaster, signed by all the members, which he treasures to this day.
The emotion only intensified when Chris Cornell’s eldest daughter, Lily, took the stage after a moving video tribute to her dad. She gave a heartfelt speech, also shouting out to her mom, Susan Silver, who once managed the band.
Coming full circle, the surviving members of Soundgarden—Matt Cameron, Kim Thayil, Ben Shepherd, and the OG bassist Hiro Yamamoto—were there too. Hiro’s story of his family’s WWII internment resonated with everyone, as he urged the crowd to learn from the past.
Kim Thayil paid homage to Chris Cornell’s creative courage, saying, “If one of us ever hesitated in sharing an idea, Chris would be the first to say, ‘Let’s just try it out and see.’” That’s true band love right there!
To cap off the night, there were killer performances lined up! Taylor Momsen of The Pretty Reckless rocked “Rusty Cage” with the band, while Brandi Carlile joined them for “Black Hole Sun.” Then, Chris’s younger daughter Toni and Nancy Wilson performed “Fell on Black Days” that touched everyone’s hearts.
Not to be outdone, the 2025 Hall of Fame also welcomed a powerhouse lineup including OutKast, Bad Company, Cyndi Lauper, The White Stripes, Chubby Checker, and Joe Cocker. All of this streamed live on Disney+ for the world to see.
So whether you’re a Soundgarden super-fan or just love epic music moments, this Hall of Fame induction delivered it all!