Soundgarden Named Among 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees
via Wilander Mascrenhas / YouTube
Recognizing a Seattle Icon
Soundgarden, a Seattle-based rock band and one of the key players in the city’s grunge movement from the 1980s, has been announced as a 2025 inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. They join a select group of artists being honored, including Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, and The White Stripes.
The announcement of the seven inductees was made during the live “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Night” episode of American Idol on April 27. In total, 14 nominees were up for consideration this year, but only half made it into the 2025 class.
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The Story of Soundgarden
Soundgarden formed in the mid-’80s, led by vocalist and drummer Chris Cornell and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. They were joined by guitarist Kim Thayil, with Matt Cameron later stepping in as the drummer. Before the band’s third studio album, bassist Ben Shepherd replaced Yamamoto, helping to round out the group’s lineup.
The band first came together in 1984, shaping the grunge movement that would later dominate the music scene. Soundgarden experienced a 14-year split after disbanding in 1998 but reunited in 2010 to continue creating music. However, their comeback was cut short in 2017 following the death of Cornell, who died by suicide at age 52 after a performance during the band’s “North American Tour.”
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Musical Achievements
Soundgarden’s career has earned them recognition both for their influence and success. Across their years together, they released six studio albums, two live albums, six compilations, eight EPs, 24 singles, and 23 music videos. Their work earned them two Grammy Awards as well as eight nominations.
The 2025 Nominees
The complete list of 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees included:
– Bad Company (Inducted)
– Chubby Checker (Inducted)
– Joe Cocker (Inducted)
– Cyndi Lauper (Inducted)
– Outkast (Inducted)
– Soundgarden (Inducted)
– The White Stripes (Inducted)
– The Black Crowes
– Billy Idol
– Maná
– Phish
– Mariah Carey
– Oasis
– Joy Division/New Order
The Induction Ceremony Details
To be eligible for induction, an artist or band must have released their first commercial record at least 25 years before the nomination year. For the 2025 class, the induction ceremony will be held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on November 8.
Fans will have multiple ways to watch. Disney+ will stream the ceremony live, and it will be available on Hulu the next day. ABC will air a condensed version at a later time.
