Seattle’s Soundgarden brought power, presence and poignant heart to their 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction performance, delivering a set that honored a towering legacy while looking ahead with quiet resolve. The band—consisting of Kim Thayil (guitar), Ben Shepherd (bass) and Matt Cameron (drums)—stepped into the spotlight knowing they represent not only their own work, but the voice of a scene that shifted rock on its axis.
Leading up to the event, Thayil reflected on the significance:
“The spirit of this is the love we have for each other and the community… It means everything.”
And of Cornell’s absence:
“I think he’d be very appreciative and thankful to all the people who believed in him and believed in the work we all did collectively.”
At the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, the band opened with a deep-cut sign that this was more than a crowning moment—it was an enduring promise. Though full details of the performance remain under wraps, insiders noted the set drew on the band’s hallmark mix of sludgy grooves, soaring melodies and visceral intensity. The emotion in the room was palpable—fans, peers and the artists themselves were witness to a moment of shared reckoning.
While Cornell’s indelible vocals were absent, his presence was felt in every thunderous chord and drawn-out note. The decision to perform here, now, embodied more than recognition—it was affirmation: that the music mattered, that the community mattered, and that the story of Soundgarden isn’t just in the past—it lives on.
