Guide Note

Soundgarden is a rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984. Along with fellow Seattle bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains, they became one of the most commercially successful groups of the grunge movement in the early '90s. Though they were one of the first bands of this class to secure a major label deal, it was the overnight success of Nirvana's Nevermind that opened the door for Soundgarden to hit the mainstream, allowing their album Badmotorfinger to gain momentum. This was followed by their greatest commercial and critical success, 1994's Superunknown, which included such hit songs as "Black Hole Sun" and "Spoonman." This led to multi platinum sales and two Grammy awards (not to mention two additional nominations, including Best Rock Album). Their 1996 follow up, Down on the Upside, found the band at odds creatively and failed to recapture the success of its predecessor. It would be their last, and Soundgarden broke up in 1997 due to creative differences.

Fast Facts

1. Lead singer: Chris Cornell (also of Audioslave)
2. Originally on Sub Pop, the label that signed Nirvana
3. First grunge band signed to a label
4. Awards: 2 Grammys
5. 1 Billboard chart topper Superunknown
6. Known for unconventional tunings and often using odd time signatures in songs