Chris Cornell On Soundgarden Near-Reunion

Singer Chris Cornell has told MusicRadar that he never ruled out the possibility of reuniting with Soundgarden, the Seattle band he formed in the mid-'80s and with whom he helped change the rock landscape as part of the movement known as "grunge."

"There was never any bad blood between us," Cornell said. "I've always remained on great terms with everyone in the band. We've always been good friends. Seeing them reunite recently on YouTube? I thought that was terrific. It gave me a warm feeling. I wish I could have been there."

Putting a fine point on the likelihood of reuniting with his former bandmates, Cornel said matter-of-factly, "I'm never going to count anything out."

Listen to MusicRadar's interview with Cornell at this location.

Three quarters of Soundgarden — guitarist Kim Thayil, bassist Ben Shepherd and drummer Matt Cameron — reunited at a recent Seattle show to play three of the band's songs with local grunge icon Tad Doyle.

Cornell himself has been on the road in support of his latest solo album, "Scream", which has been blasted by critics and fans for ditching hard rock in favor of an electronic R&B style.

Asked whether he was "stung" by the reactions to the record, Cornell recently told the Washington Post, "I would be stupid to assume that (all my fans) would like it. I would be stupid to think that everybody would, like, get into something that's really sort of an electronic rock record. In terms of its instrumentation, it's entirely different than what they're used to or what they might even ever want to hear. It doesn't sting at all."

Cornell also remarked on the album being slammed on Twitter by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor, calling the idea of doing that "childish." He added, "To be honest, if I wanted to go out to blast records that I hate, I would be sitting on Twitter 24 hours a day blasting 96 percent of what comes out . . . There's a lot of music that I don't like."

Thanks for the report to Blabbermouth.net.

Comments

[SuicidalFreak]

Singer Chris Cornell has told MusicRadar that he never ruled out the possibility of reuniting with Soundgarden

Well, that's good to hear and I hope a reunion with him does happen.

[recliner33]

Just give it time. They'll be back by 2010 or 2011.

[SuicidalFreak]

recliner33 wrote:

Just give it time. They'll be back by 2010 or 2011.

How do you know they'll be back?

[tenacioust04]

I saw him in boston and he was incredible. I sure hope they re-unite.

[Jet_Black88]

Early 90s revival seems to be happening.

Not to say that it's not going the other way. Blind Melon's lead singer left the band, STP isn't recording new material...

Let's hope Alice in Chains stick together for a while.

[One Inch Man]

I read another interview where he definitely ruled out the possibility to reunite. Well...let's see what the future brings, it would be rather cool anyways!

[Teen Spirit]

Jet_Black88 wrote:

Early 90s revival seems to be happening.

Not to say that it's not going the other way. Blind Melon's lead singer left the band, STP isn't recording new material...

Let's hope Alice in Chains stick together for a while.

But we might have a new wave of reunions and new material I'd like to see that.
Firstly there's of course Pearl Jam still rocking, then Alice In Chains, without Layne of course, but there nonetheless, and then there's the Foo Fighters who've been around for a while now that Nirvana's gone forever, and now Soundgarden

[CaTeArS]

saw him a few years ago and he was amazing! And a soundgarden reunion would be sweet!

[CaTeArS]

Jet_Black88 wrote:

Early 90s revival seems to be happening.

Not to say that it's not going the other way. Blind Melon's lead singer left the band, STP isn't recording new material...

Blind Melon had a different singer for a little while as well, but it ended kind of fast

[!zAck]

recliner33 wrote:

Just give it time. They'll be back by 2010 or 2011.

Said the exact thing about RATM recording a new album..

[jjhand]

Not to say that it's not going the other way. Blind Melon's lead singer left the band, STP isn't recording new material...

Stone Temple Pilots have been recording:

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/upcoming_r eleases/stone_temple_pilots_new_album_due_in_2010.html

I am looking forward to their new material, and a Soundgarden reunion, since Chris is not doing so well with Scream and could do better with his old bandmates.

[Rokkec]

!zAck wrote:

recliner33 wrote:

Just give it time. They'll be back by 2010 or 2011.

Said the exact thing about RATM recording a new album..

Haha, my thoughts exactly

[jmetalf]

"To be honest, if I wanted to go out to blast records that I hate, I would be sitting on Twitter 24 hours a day blasting 96 percent of what comes out . . . There's a lot of music that I don't like."

make it 98 percent but still the man deserves at least a small amount of respect for that statement... hilarious.

[Whit_f-ing_ROX]

He added, "To be honest, if I wanted to go out to blast records that I hate, I would be sitting on Twitter 24 hours a day blasting 96 percent of what comes out . . . There's a lot of music that I don't like."

agreed... love trent but agree with chris.. kind of a lame move

[nave890]

hell yes every week a soundgarden reunion seems more likely

[Shayne777]

i don't get it though trent just blasted this piece of shit album, he doesn't make fun of all bad music he just had to for this album cause its just crap

[perilouspete]

recliner33 wrote:

Just give it time. They'll be back by 2010 or 2011.

you said the same thing in the Rage article...do you just like giving false hope or something? although a soundgarden reunion would probably be more likely than new rage music as of right now.

[element4433]

Checked.

[Revolution_87]

thank the gods

[WheredMyRockGo?]

Once he has a few more flop solo albums he'll need some money and will reunite with soundgarden. I'd rather see the guys from soundgarden get a new younger singer and regroup that way though. I see right though Chris cornell these days and think he is a complete douche.

[ghoztofcasper]

90s rock is back baby. Back in a big way and by popular demand. If you add Soundgarden to the list of freshly reunited groups (Alice, sort of Rage, STP, etc.)... Man, it's gonna be a pretty damn good music scene. You'll almost have the big four with Foo Fighters taking place of Nirvana (PJ, Alice and SG). Of course it's gonna be way different: no Layne, no Kurt, Scott's vocals aren't what they used to be. PJ still does their thing tho. Maybe Rage will be back full time and make a record; maybe RHCP will get back to recording and touring. I guess this is the 4% we should enjoy.

[Dinopaterno22]

Great! Thank God

[thedarkblues06]

ghoztofcasper wrote:

90s rock is back baby. Back in a big way and by popular demand. If you add Soundgarden to the list of freshly reunited groups (Alice, sort of Rage, STP, etc.)... Man, it's gonna be a pretty damn good music scene. You'll almost have the big four with Foo Fighters taking place of Nirvana (PJ, Alice and SG). Of course it's gonna be way different: no Layne, no Kurt, Scott's vocals aren't what they used to be. PJ still does their thing tho. Maybe Rage will be back full time and make a record; maybe RHCP will get back to recording and touring. I guess this is the 4% we should enjoy.

If there is no Layne, then it's not a TRUE Alice reunion. But I share in your hope that maybe music will go on the upswing again.

As far as Cornell going back to Soundgarden, I sure hope he does.

[shoebox_of_lies]

good stuff but old news

[PedophilePriest]

Who gives a flying flock what Trent Reznor thinks. He's been using the same shitty sounding synths and drum machine since the early '90's, and
he's calling Cornell childish because he dares to do something different?
Reznor is the child here.

[ndrummerc]

Come on, I heard Chris doing Slaves & Bulldozers lsat year. He doesn't have it anymore, he lost it a long time ago. Matt Cameron is still the man though!

[Astaldo]

holy shit, please god...

[Badmotorfever]

recliner33 wrote:

Just give it time. They'll be back by 2010 or 2011.

Ha, you said that in the RATM article too...

I have to hand it to you, you're quite the optimist.

I love Soundgarden. Badmotorfinger is literally the Holy Grail of my cd collection.

[jean_genie]

Shayne777 wrote:

i don't get it though trent just blasted this piece of shit album, he doesn't make fun of all bad music he just had to for this album cause its just crap

He's calling the 'critics' childish for wasting so much time blasting stuff they hate. He's saying that he didn't like it either, but people should move on.

I think the reunions are happening because these frontmen are starting to realize that as good as they are, they were only that good because they were a member of a kickass band. Mick Jagger and Bruce Dickenson eventually figured that out too. And Sammy Haegar would be back with Van Halen, if Eddie wasn't such a DB.

Chris' voice isn't what is used to be, but I'm still looking forward to new Soundgarden. Any high-energy band is more than the sum of its members. Hopefully all egos will stay in check and they'll make some new records.

Besides, Bowie, Cash, and Sting all got much better as they got older, even if they can't hit the high notes anymore. It'll just come down to whether or not they try to play what works now, instead of what worked then.

[Cobalt Blue]

this kind of seems like a compilation of a few recent stories... If they do reunite it'll probably be atleast a year or two away. he's going to want to do some extensive touring the Scream, unfortunately.

[David_Bowie=GOD]

good to know that chris and kim are still on good terms, i wouldnt mind seeing a reunion one day, as long as chris gives his voice time to rest so that he can do pre superunknown songs close to how he could in 92-93

[flame_mc]

!zAck wrote:

recliner33 wrote:

Just give it time. They'll be back by 2010 or 2011.

Said the exact thing about RATM recording a new album..

LOOOOOL yes xDDDDD

[element4433]

Checked again.

[desenze23]

WheredMyRockGo? wrote:

Once he has a few more flop solo albums he'll need some money and will reunite with soundgarden. I'd rather see the guys from soundgarden get a new younger singer and regroup that way though. I see right though Chris cornell these days and think he is a complete douche.

scream hit the top ten in the u.s dumbass anyway yeah i cant wait to see a soundgarden reunion

[BufordTJustice]

I will bust a nut if they get back together.

[GoToSleep]

As much as I'd love it, I say let it be, Chris doesn't have the voice he used to.

[IRISH_PUNK13]

**** yes that would be awesome i would love to see soundgarden and ill probbally get slammed for this but i actually like some of the songs off of scream

[bicko19]

"I thought that was terrific. It gave me a warm feeling. I wish I could have been there."

THEN REUNITE SOUNDGARDEN SO YOU CAN BE THERE!!!

[recliner33]

recliner33 wrote:

Just give it time. They'll be back by 2010 or 2011.

Just give it time. My quote will make sense by 2010 or 2011.

[Scotty Evil]

recliner33 u weird son of a bitch
what else will happen by 2010/2011

[str84ever]

Jet_Black88 wrote:

Early 90s revival seems to be happening.

Not to say that it's not going the other way. Blind Melon's lead singer left the band, STP isn't recording new material...

Let's hope Alice in Chains stick together for a while.

Was a replacement anyway. Hoon has been dead for years.