Soundgarden guitarist on finding Chris Cornell’s replacement for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction: “It’s a high bar, not just technically, but emotionally”

Soundgarden‘s Kim Thayil has shared an update on finding a vocalist to replace Chris Cornell at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony this November.

• READ MORE: Chris Cornell songs: the best by the Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman

Chris Cornell helped found the iconic grunge band back in 1984, and was the frontman up until his death by suicide on May 18, 2017. He was aged 52. Yesterday (April 28), the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced the 2025 inductees, which include Soundgarden.

Soundgarden’s induction comes after two previous nominations in 2020 and 2023 – and Cornell’s replacement for the induction performance has long been at the back of Thayil’s mind.

Speaking to Billboard about their induction, Soundgarden guitarist Thayil said of securing a singer to fill in for the late Cornell: “It’s a high bar, not just technically, but emotionally. There has to be a reverence for the missing brother and founder, and there also has to be reverence for the legacy — both for Chris’ work and Chris’ creativity, as well as the regard and reverence we have for ourselves collectively and for each other.”

Thayil also shared that several names have come up for a potential replacement, but he’s keeping tight-lipped for now: “Some suggestions have come out; I’m not prepared to share that, but I’ll just say it’s a higher bar than the usual composite of guitarists and drummers or singers.”

As for what he thinks Cornell’s reaction to the honour would be, Thayil reflected, saying Cornell would “definitely be stoked”: “He’s the one who convinced me how appreciative the fans and our peers and the Soundgarden community — that includes the people that we work with and work for us — would be about it.”

“He realized how important that was, and he understood that would be important to us because it’s important to people who cared about us and helped us and supported us all along. That’s how I believe Chris would respond to this. I think he’d be very appreciative and thankful to all the people who have believed in him and believed in the work he did and the work that we all did, collectively.”

Elsewhere, Cornell’s widow Vicky wrote on social media in reaction to the band’s induction: “Thank you @rockhall… And huge thanks to all the fans who voted who’s constant love and support keep his legacy alive. It’s always bittersweet but Chris would be so honored and it is well past due and beyond well deserved! On behalf of Chris and our family -thank you!! Loud love”

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A post shared by Chris Cornell (@chriscornellofficial)

Also being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this November are The White Stripes, Cyndi Lauper, OutKast, Bad Company, Thom Bell, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Nicky Hopkins, Carol Kaye, Salt-N-Pepa, Lenny Waronker and Warren Zevon.

Among the artists who were part of the longlist but ultimately did not make the cut for induction in 2025 are Oasis, Mariah Carey, Phish, Billy Idol, The Black Crowes and Joy Division/New Order. It marks the second time that Oasis and Joy Division/New Order have been snubbed from induction.

Soundgarden have only performed three times since Chris Cornell’s death – once last December for a benefit event where they were fronted temporarily by Shaina Shepherd, once during a tribute show for the singer in 2019 and again in 2021 when they performed with Brandi Carlile.

In 2021, the Chris Cornell estate released ‘No One Sings Like You Anymore: Volume One’. This was a collection of cover songs handpicked by the late Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman and sequenced to celebrate artists and songs that inspired him.

At the time, his widow revealed that there was still a lot of music remaining in the vault and that there were plans to release a second volume.

The post Soundgarden guitarist on finding Chris Cornell’s replacement for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction: “It’s a high bar, not just technically, but emotionally” appeared first on NME.