Soundgarden is the third of the big four Seattle grunge bands to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Nirvana was inducted in 2014, and Pearl Jam earned the honor in 2017. Alice in Chains has yet to get in.
Unfortunately, Soundgarden is one of the three bands, along with Nirvana and Alice, to have lost its lead singer. Chris Cornell died by suicide in 2017.
The question many fans might have is who will perform vocals for Soundgarden during the 2025 induction ceremony? The answer is that several people will.
Who will be singing for Soundgarden during the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony?
The list includes Brandi Carlile, who is originally from the Seattle area, Nancy Wilson of Heart, Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, and Taylor Momsen of the Pretty Reckless. Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready is also expected to perform, but he won't be on lead vocals.
Besides a host of guest singers, Soundgarden will be composed of long-time members Kim Thayil on guitar, Ben Shepherd on bass, and Matt Cameron on drums.
Ultimately, fans of the Seattle scene from the 1990s should love Soundgarden's part of the show. There might even be a few surprise guests, but the ones already announced are from the Pacific Northwest. The band and Cornell were seminal figures during the rise of grunge.
Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder has often commented that he might never have found himself as a singer without Cornell's input. He lacked the confidence to become a frontman, something that seems incredible now as he has become one of the best in rock, just as Chris Cornell was.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will occur on Saturday, November 8, at 8 pm ET at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. The show can be streamed live on Disney+. On January 1 at 8 pm ET, ABC will re-air the ceremony, with Hulu showing the re-broadcast the next day.
The 2025 inductees in the performer category include:
- Bad Company
- Chubby Checker
- Joe Cocker
- Cyndi Lauper
- Outkast
- Soundgarden
- The White Stripes
2025 Musical Influence Award:
- Salt-N-Pepa
- Warren Zevon
2025 Musical Excellence Award:
- Thom Bell
- Nicky Hopkins
- Carol Kaye
Ahmet Ertegun Award (Non-Performer lifetime achievement award):
- Lenny Waronker