History Music / Soundgarden

* ''King Animal'' (2012), the first since the band's reformation.

* AnimatedMusicVideo: "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K913KVe3kH8 Black Rain,]]" animated by Creator/{{Titmouse}} Inc.

* BigRockEnding: "Jesus Christ Pose". "My Way" has one [[StopAndGo right after the song seems to end.]]

* MercyKill: "Like Suicide". Chris Cornell wrote the lyrics based on an incident where a bird flew into his house's window and was severely injured, and he killed it with a brick to end its suffering.

-->"Save me... '''with your HA-A-A-A-ANDS!'''"

-->"Late for the biiiirth... ritual! [[BigWordShout Rituaaaal! RITUAAAAAL!]] '''[[PunctuatedForEmphasis RI-TU-AAAAAAAL!]]'''").
** Beyond The Wheel from Ultra-Mega OK - 'nuff said.

In January 2010, Cornell announced through his website that "The Knights of the Sound Table ride again". The band officially reunited in 2012. A new song, "Live to Rise," played during the end credits of ''Film/TheAvengers2012''. In addition, their first new album since their breakup, ''King Animal'', was released in November 2012.

Sadly, the reunion came to a sudden and tragic end five years later. Chris Cornell [[AuthorExistenceFailure committed suicide after a concert in Detroit, Michigan]] on May 17, 2017, allegedly fueled by his years of drug and alcohol abuse, leaving the future of the band - and the in-progress session for their seventh album - in doubt.

* BadassBiker[=/=]AllBikersAreHellsAngels: Parodied in the video for "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTaVHM6HGuQ By Crooked Steps,]]" directed by Music/DaveGrohl, where it's a gang that rides ''Segways.''

** The demo for "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMak5Bwcw0I Beyond The Wheel]]" has to be heard to be believed. It's so slow, plodding, and heavy that it almost doesn't even sound like the same band.

* ImpaledPalm: The crucified woman in the video of "Jesus Christ Pose."

* IReadThatAs: ''Superunknown'''s title came from Cornell misreading a VHS cover titled "Superclown".

The group broke up in 1997 due to [[CreativeDifferences internal conflict]], leaving Cornell to form the SuperGroup Music/{{Audioslave}} with the former members of Music/RageAgainstTheMachine, and later a solo career [[LoveItOrHateIt with polarizing results]]. Cornell also co-wrote "You Know My Name" with Music/DavidArnold for the ''Film/JamesBond'' film ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006''. His music at that time veered into a more pop / hip-hop-oriented direction, causing much backlash among the fanbase. Cameron currently drums for Pearl Jam, and has since the Yield tour (he wasn't involved with the Temple of the Dog reunion mentioned below). Thayil played with Music/JelloBiafra and [[Music/{{Nirvana}} Krist Novoselic]] as the "No WTO Combo" after the Seattle riots of November 1999, and contributed to Music/DaveGrohl's side-project Probot. Shepherd recorded a solo album, ''In Deep Owl'' (which Cameron also played on), but it didn't see the light of day until 2013.

** They've flirted with this numerous times (which can be owed to their Music/BlackSabbath influence); "4th of July" and "Gun" are some of the most prominent examples.

* MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness: Generally a 5 ("Head Down") to 6 ("Let Me Drown", "My Wave"). "Black Hole Sun" and the gentler tracks of ''King Animal'' are arguably a (high) 3. A few other tracks like "Jesus Christ Pose" and "4th of July" arguably reach an 8.

* "Blow Up the Outside World" makes mention of this with the line "Nothing seems to kill me, no matter how hard I try".

* BadassBeard: Kim Thayil's WizardBeard.
* BigRockEnding: "Jesus Christ Pose"

* StepUpToTheMicrophone: Ben Shepherd sings "Half".

Sadly, the reunion came to a sudden and tragic end five years later. Chris Cornell [[AuthorExistenceFailure committed suicide after a concert in Detroit, Michigan]] on May 17, 2017, allegedly fueled by his years of drug and alcohol abuse, leaving the future of the band in doubt.

Chris Cornell [[AuthorExistenceFailure committed suicide after a concert in Detroit, Michigan]] on May 17, 2017, leaving the future of the band in doubt.

Soundgarden is a UsefulNotes/{{Seattle}} {{Grunge}} / AlternativeMetal band formed in TheEighties and popular in TheNineties. Their name comes from a sculpture in Seattle, "A Sound Garden". The band was recognized as one of The Big Four of Grunge (along with Music/{{Nirvana}}, Music/PearlJam and Music/AliceInChains), though they didn't become successful until the genre fully took off with the release of Nirvana's ''Music/{{Nevermind}}'' and Pearl Jam's ''Music/{{Ten}}''. Their 1994 album ''Superunknown'' is considered a masterpiece of the movement. Their music is largely characterized by {{Epic Riff}}s, Music/ChrisCornell's distinctive voice, and common use of UncommonTime, producing a sound many reviewers have described as being Music/LedZeppelin [[JustForFun/XMeetsY meets]] Music/BlackSabbath.

->''Black hole sun,\\

Won't you come?''
-->-- "Black Hole Sun"

The group broke up in 1997 due to [[CreativeDifferences internal conflict]], leaving Cornell to form the SuperGroup Music/{{Audioslave}} with the former members of Music/RageAgainstTheMachine, and later a solo career [[LoveItOrHateIt with polarizing results]]. Cornell also co-wrote "You Know My Name" with Music/DavidArnold for the ''Film/JamesBond'' film ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006''. His music at that time veered into a more pop / hip-hop-oriented direction, causing much backlash among the fanbase. Cameron currently drums for Pearl Jam, and has since the Yield tour (he wasn't involved with the Music/TempleOfTheDog reunion mentioned below). Thayil played with Music/JelloBiafra and [[Music/{{Nirvana}} Krist Novoselic]] as the "No WTO Combo" after the Seattle riots of November 1999, and contributed to Music/DaveGrohl's side-project Probot. Shepherd recorded a solo album, ''In Deep Owl'' (which Cameron also played on), but it didn't see the light of day until 2013.

Chris Cornell [[AuthorExistenceFailure died after a concert in Detroit, Michigan]] on May 17, 2017, leaving the future of the band in doubt.

Chris Cornell [[AuthorExistenceFailure died]] in 2017.

The group broke up in 1997 due to [[CreativeDifferences internal conflict]], leaving Cornell to form the SuperGroup Music/{{Audioslave}} with the former members of Music/RageAgainstTheMachine, and later a solo career [[LoveItOrHateIt with polarizing results]]. Cornell also co-wrote "You Know My Name" with Music/DavidArnold for the ''Film/JamesBond'' film ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006''. His music at that time veered into a more pop / hip-hop-oriented direction, causing much backlash among the fanbase. Cameron currently drums for Pearl Jam, and has since the Yield tour (he wasn't involved with the Music/TempleOfTheDog reunion mentioned below). Thayil played with [[Music/DeadKennedys Jello Biafra]] and [[Music/{{Nirvana}} Krist Novoselic]] as the "No WTO Combo" after the Seattle riots of November 1999, and contributed to Music/DaveGrohl's side-project Probot. Shepherd recorded a solo album, ''In Deep Owl'' (which Cameron also played on), but it didn't see the light of day until 2013.

In January 2010, Cornell announced through his website that "The Knights of the Sound Table ride again". The band officially reunited in 2012. A new song, "Live to Rise," played during the end credits of ''Film/TheAvengers2012''. In addition, their first new album since their breakup, ''King Animal'' was released in November 2012.

** These two were later compiled into ''Screaming Life / Fopp'' in 1990.

* AllThatGlitters: "Pretty Noose"

* AnimatedMusicVideo: "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K913KVe3kH8 Black Rain,]]" animated by [[WesternAnimation/{{Metalocalypse}} Titmouse Inc]].
* BadassBiker \ AllBikersAreHellsAngels: Parodied in the video for "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTaVHM6HGuQ By Crooked Steps,]]" directed by Music/DaveGrohl, where it's a gang that rides ''Segways.''

* {{Bowdlerize}}: One of the songs done for BBC's Friday Rock Show was Music/{{Fear}}'s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLV-ne2bvjM "I Don't Care About You", changing the chorus from]] "I don't care about you! [[PrecisionFStrike Fuck you!]]" to "I don't care about you! No way!".
* CarefulWithThatAxe: Chris Cornell is ''made'' of this.

* CoverVersion: "[[Music/JohnLennon Two Minutes of Silence]]" (as "One Minute of Silence"), with tongue firmly in cheek. (Cornell joked that the band "appreciated the Lennon arrangement so much".) Taken a bit more seriously, "[[Music/TheBeatles Come Together]]", "[[Music/{{Devo}} Girl U Want]]", "[[Music/TheRollingStones Stray Cat Blues]]", "Smokestack Lightnin'" by Music/HowlinWolf, a version of "[[Music/BlackSabbath Into The Void]]" with lyrics from Chief Sealth, and "[[Music/BodyCount Cop Killer]]".

-->"Black Hole Sun"

The group broke up in 1997 due to [[CreativeDifferences internal conflict]], leaving Cornell to form the SuperGroup Music/{{Audioslave}} with the former members of Music/RageAgainstTheMachine, and later a solo career [[LoveItOrHateIt with polarizing results]]. Cornell also co-wrote "You Know My Name" with Music/DavidArnold for the ''Film/JamesBond'' film ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006''. He's also headed in a more pop / hip-hop-oriented direction recently, causing much backlash among the fanbase. Cameron currently drums for Pearl Jam, and has since the Yield tour (he wasn't involved with the Temple of the Dog reunion mentioned below). Thayil played with [[Music/DeadKennedys Jello Biafra]] and [[Music/{{Nirvana}} Krist Novoselic]] as the "No WTO Combo" after the Seattle riots of November 1999, and has contributed to Music/DaveGrohl's side-project Probot. Shepherd recorded a solo album, ''In Deep Owl'' (which Cameron also played on), but it didn't see the light of day until 2013.

-->'''Cornell''': With Ultramega OK we really liked the songs on that record but we were disappointed in the production.

* CoverVersion: "[[Music/JohnLennon Two Minutes of Silence]]" (as "One Minute of Silence"), with tongue firmly in cheek. (Cornell joked that the band "appreciated the Lennon arrangement so much".) Taken a bit more seriously, "[[Music/TheBeatles Come Together]]", "[[Music/{{Devo}} Girl U Want]]", "[[Music/TheRollingStones Stray Cat Blues]]", "Smokestack Lightnin'" by Music/HowlinWolf, and a version of "[[Music/BlackSabbath Into The Void]]" with lyrics from Chief Sealth.
** They have also covered "[[Music/BodyCount Cop Killer]]"
** CoverAlbum: The "Covers" CD of ''Echo of Miles'' has most songs by other artists Soundgarden recorded along the way.
* CrucifiedHeroShot: "Jesus Christ Pose"
* DoomMetal: Have flirted with this numerous times (which can be owed to their Black Sabbath influence); "4th of July" and "Gun" are some of the most prominent examples.

The group broke up in 1997 due to [[CreativeDifferences internal conflict]], leaving Cornell to form the SuperGroup Music/{{Audioslave}} with the former members of Music/RageAgainstTheMachine, and later a solo career [[LoveItOrHateIt with polarizing results]]. Cornell also co-wrote "You Know My Name" with Music/DavidArnold for the ''Film/JamesBond'' film ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006''. He's also headed in a more pop / hip-hop-oriented direction recently, causing much backlash among the fanbase. Cameron currently drums for Pearl Jam, and has since the Yield tour (he wasn't involved with the Temple of the Dog reunion mentioned below). Thayil played with [[Music/DeadKennedys Jello Biafra]] and [[Music/{{Nirvana}} Krist Novoselic]] as the "No WTO Combo" after the Seattle riots of November 1999, and has contributed to Music/DaveGrohl's side-project Probot.

Soundgarden is a UsefulNotes/{{Seattle}} {{Grunge}} / AlternativeMetal band formed in TheEighties and popular in TheNineties. Their name comes from a sculpture in Seattle, "A Sound Garden". The band was recognized as one of The Big Four of Grunge (along with Music/{{Nirvana}}, Music/PearlJam and Music/AliceInChains), though they didn't become successful until the genre fully took off with the release of Nirvana's ''Music/{{Nevermind}}'' and Pearl Jam's ''Music/{{Ten}}''. Their 1994 album ''Superunknown'' is considered a masterpiece of the movement. Their music is largely characterised by {{Epic Riff}}s, Music/ChrisCornell's distinctive voice, and common use of UncommonTime, producing a sound many reviewers have described as being Music/LedZeppelin [[JustForFun/XMeetsY meets]] Music/BlackSabbath.

* ''Down on the Upside'' (1996), their last pre-breakup album. This time Soundgarden opted to self-produce to avoid the tediously slow frustration of ''Superunknown''. It didn't have anywhere near the same impact as their predecessor but was reasonably well-received.

** ''Badmotorfinger'' is a reference to Montrose's song "Bad Motor Scooter."

** The songs mentioned under ClusterFBomb above double as a PrecisionFStrike in contrast to the rest of the band's catalog - the two along with "Gun" are the only three by them which use the F-Bomb. (and even if their released version of [[Music/{{Fear}} "I Don't Care About You"]] is {{Bowdlerize}}d, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrK0L0ed8y8 when performed live]] the Precision "Fuck You!"s are intact)
** Also found on "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEaT447uW8M Kyle Petty (Son Of Richard)]]", doubled up with "shit" for good measure

* SurrealMusicVideo: The [[NotableMusicVideos highly notable]] video to "Black Hole Sun" featuring a StepfordSuburbia filled with {{stepford smiler}}s whose faces twist and contort (using VisualCompression) to form [[SlasherSmile massive grins]] and gigantic eyes. As you can imagine, this quickly crosses far into the {{uncanny valley}}. Eventually, as the lyric goes ("till you all just disappear"), the world of the video gets sucked up into a literal Black Hole during a storm.

The group broke up in 1997 due to [[CreativeDifferences internal conflict]], leaving Cornell to form the {{super group}} Music/{{Audioslave}} with the former members of Music/RageAgainstTheMachine, and later a solo career [[LoveItOrHateIt with polarizing results]]. Cornell also co-wrote "You Know My Name" with Music/DavidArnold for the ''Film/JamesBond'' film ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006''. He's also headed in a more pop / hip-hop-oriented direction recently, causing much backlash among the fanbase. Cameron currently drums for Pearl Jam, and has since the Yield tour (he wasn't involved with the Temple of the Dog reunion mentioned below). Thayil played with [[Music/DeadKennedys Jello Biafra]] and [[Music/{{Nirvana}} Krist Novoselic]] as the "No WTO Combo" after the Seattle riots of November 1999, and has contributed to Music/DaveGrohl's side-project Probot.

* BadassBiker \ AllBikersAreHellsAngels: Parodied in the video for "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTaVHM6HGuQ By Crooked Steps,]]" directed by Creator/DaveGrohl, where it's a gang that rides ''Segways.''

Soundgarden is a UsefulNotes/{{Seattle}} {{Grunge}} / AlternativeMetal band formed in TheEighties and popular in TheNineties. Their name comes from a sculpture in Seattle, "A Sound Garden". The band was recognized as one of The Big Four of Grunge (along with Music/{{Nirvana}}, Music/PearlJam and Music/AliceInChains), though they didn't become successful until the genre fully took off with the release of Nirvana's ''Music/{{Nevermind}}'' and Pearl Jam's ''Music/{{Ten}}''. Their 1994 album ''Superunknown'' is considered a masterpiece of the movement. Their music is largely characterised by {{Epic Riff}}s, Music/ChrisCornell's distinctive voice, and common use of UncommonTime, producing a sound many reviewers have described as being Music/LedZeppelin [[SugarWiki/XMeetsY meets]] Music/BlackSabbath.

Soundgarden is a UsefulNotes/{{Seattle}} {{Grunge}}[=/=]AlternativeMetal band formed in TheEighties and popular in TheNineties. Their name comes from a sculpture in Seattle, "A Sound Garden". The band was recognized as one of The Big Four of Grunge (along with Music/{{Nirvana}}, Music/PearlJam and Music/AliceInChains), though they didn't become successful until the genre fully took off with the release of Nirvana's ''Music/{{Nevermind}}'' and Pearl Jam's ''{{Music/Ten}}''. Their 1994 album ''Superunknown'' is considered a masterpiece of the movement. Their music is largely characterised by {{Epic Riff}}s, Music/ChrisCornell's distinctive voice, and common use of UncommonTime, producing a sound many reviewers have described as being Music/LedZeppelin [[XMeetsY meets]] Music/BlackSabbath.

The group broke up in 1997 due to [[CreativeDifferences internal conflict]], leaving Cornell to form the {{super group}} Music/{{Audioslave}} with the former members of Music/RageAgainstTheMachine, and later a solo career [[LoveItOrHateIt with polarizing results]]. Cornell also co-wrote "You Know My Name" with Music/DavidArnold for the ''Film/JamesBond'' film ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006''. He's also headed in a more pop/hip-hop-oriented direction recently, causing much backlash among the fanbase. Cameron currently drums for Pearl Jam, and has since the Yield tour (he wasn't involved with the Temple of the Dog reunion mentioned below). Thayil played with [[Music/DeadKennedys Jello Biafra]] and [[Music/{{Nirvana}} Krist Novoselic]] as the "No WTO Combo" after the Seattle riots of November 1999, and has contributed to Music/DaveGrohl's side-project Probot.

[[AC:Core line-up:]]

[[AC:Discography:]]
* ''Screaming Life'' [=EP=] (1987)
* ''Fopp'' [=EP=] (1987)
** These two were later compiled into ''Screaming Life[=/=]Fopp'' in 1990.

* ''Loudest Love'' [=EP=] (1990)

* ''Songs From the Superunknown'' [=EP=] (1995)

** Also found on "Kyle Petty (Son Of Richard)", doubled up with "shit" for good measure

* DoomMetal: Have flirted with this numerous times (which can be owed to their Black Sabbath influence); "Outshined" and "Slaves & Bulldozers" are some of the most prominent examples.

* AlbumTitleDrop: ''Down on the Upside'' has one in "Dusty."

* HearingVoices: "The Day I Tried To Live"

** The songs mentioned under ClusterFBomb above double as a PrecisionFStrike in contrast to the rest of the band's catalog - the two along with "Gun" are the only three by them which use the F-Bomb.

** ''Badmotorfinger'' is a reference to ''Montrose'''s song "Bad Motor Scooter."