Kim Thayil, Soundgarden’s guitarist has ruled out the likelihood of the band reforming without late great singer Chris Cornell. That’s despite the fact he agreed with his colleagues’ comments regarding the possibility of working together on some other venture.
Talking at the unveiling of Cornell’s memorial statue in Seattle last week, drummer Matt Cameron as well as bassist Ben Shepherd both commented that some kind of reunion could happen.
Cameron said, “We would certainly love to try to continue to do something, figure out something to do together,” Shepherd added, “We’re going through natural healing, then thinking about the natural next step.”
Speaking to the Seattle Times, Thayil refuted the idea of the Soundgarden name returning. “I don’t think that’s anything we’d give reasonable consideration to at this point. When I say ‘at this point,’ I mean perhaps ever.”
He commented that he did not “know really what kind of thing is possible or what we would consider in the future. It’s likely nothing. The four of us were that. There were four of us and now there’s three of us, so it’s just not likely that there’s much to be pursued other than the catalog work at this point.”
Thayil confirmed he was continuing to go over Soundgarden catalogue material, which could include the release of the band’s music in the form of compilations, live records and other unreleased songs. Meanwhile, he said was enjoying being part of punk legends MC50, the band that was put together by MC5’s Wayne Kramer to honou MC5’s 50th anniversary.
Thayil said, “I think if anyone else had called, I would have declined. But because it was the MC5, which is my favorite band ever, and that opportunity was there, I had to say yes.”
