Courtesy Rock & Roll Hall of FameSoundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil and Chris Cornell‘s widow Vicky Cornell have shared their reactions to the grunge band’s first-time nomination for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Speaking to Billboard, Thayil says that the nomination is “important, especially for the legacy of Soundgarden, and for Chris’ legacy.”
He adds that the nomination is “very bittersweet” without Cornell around to see it.
“He would be pleased with [being nominated],” Thayil says, adding that Cornell, who died in May 2017, felt the impact of the Rock Hall after he inducted Heart into the institution in 2013.
“He saw the significance of it and saw how important it was to the fans and to the bands being inducted,” Thayil explains. “So he would be very excited.”
Vicky Cornell echoed Thayil’s sentiments regarding her late husband, tweeting that Chris “would be so honored” by the nomination.
“Thank you @rockhall this means so much & thank you to all the fans who’s love & support continues to cement Chris’ life and legacy,” she writes.
Speaking to ABC Audio, Rock Hall President and CEO Greg Harris said they’re “thrilled” that Soundgarden’s nominated, adding, “They are the first grunge band to be signed to a major label, and truly their impact is exceptional.”
Soundgarden is the third major band from the grunge scene to be nominated, following Nirvana and Pearl Jam, who were inducted in 2014 and 2017, respectively. Both of those groups were nominated and inducted in their first year of eligibility, while Soundgarden has been eligible since 2011.
“In the scheme of things, with all of these inductees across the decades, they’re actually going in right around the same time as some of their peers, like Nirvana and Pearl Jam,” Harris says.
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