Soundgarden were officially inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Saturday (Nov. 8), with actor-comedian Jim Carrey leading the tribute in a heartfelt, deeply personal speech that recalled his first experience seeing the grunge pioneers perform live.
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The comedian told the audience at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles that he met the band in 1996 while hosting Saturday Night Live, where he personally requested Soundgarden as the musical guest.
“By then, the lineup was Chris [Cornell], Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron on drums, and Ben Shepherd on base. They launched into the dark, epic beauty of ‘Pretty Noose,’” Carrey explained.
“I stood right in front of them, letting the waves of electricity wash over me, like an audio baptism. They pushed me under and when I came up I was free.”
Carrey revealed that after the show, the band gifted him one of his most prized possessions: a Fender Telecaster signed by all four members, including late frontman Chris Cornell.
Cornell’s eldest daughter Lily took the stage following a video tribute to her father, delivering a touching speech and acknowledging her mother and Cornell’s former wife, Susan Silver, who once managed Soundgarden.
The surviving members of Soundgarden — Matt Cameron, Kim Thayil, Ben Shepherd, and founding bassist Hiro Yamamoto — were present for the induction. Yamamoto, who reunited with the band for the occasion, referenced his family’s internment during World War II: “That affected my life greatly,” he said. “And it really echoes strongly today. Let’s not add another story like this to our history.”
Kim Thayil reflected on Cornell’s creative leadership, stating, “If one of us ever hesitated in sharing an idea, Chris would be the first to say, ‘Let’s just try it out and see.’ I miss him. I love him, and I love all my [Soundgarden] brothers.”
The performance portion of the night featured Taylor Momsen (of The Pretty Reckless) fronting Soundgarden for “Rusty Cage” and Brandi Carlile joining them for “Black Hole Sun.” The ceremony concluded with Chris Cornell’s younger daughter, Toni, performing “Fell on Black Days” alongside Nancy Wilson.
The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees also included OutKast, Bad Company, Cyndi Lauper, The White Stripes, Chubby Checker, and Joe Cocker. The event streamed live on Disney+ and will be available on-demand.
