Soundgarden Roars Back: Halftime Heroes in Seattle

In a moment that sent chills down the spines of metalheads everywhere, Soundgarden's surviving trio—guitarist Kim Thayil, drummer Matt Cameron, and bassist Ben Shepherd—took center stage at Seattle's Lumen Field during halftime of the Seahawks' season opener against the New England Patriots. Joining them was none other than Taylor Momsen, frontwoman of The Pretty Reckless, stepping in to honor the late, legendary Chris Cornell. Together, they unleashed a blistering medley featuring "Outshined" and "Spoonman," proving that the spirit of Soundgarden is as fierce as ever.

But the night wasn't just about Soundgarden's thunderous return. Pearl Jam's Mike McCready electrified the crowd with a spine-tingling, Hendrix-inspired rendition of the U.S. national anthem just before kickoff. In an interview with the Seahawks' official site, McCready revealed the pressure that comes with such a revered performance: "It's way scary in a way, because I want to do it right and I don't want to mess it up...so there's pressure there." This is the kind of raw intensity that embodies the Seattle sound.

Momsen, a long-time admirer of Cornell, previously joined Cameron, Thayil, and Shepherd for a stirring rendition of "Rusty Cage" at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2025. The event was a veritable smorgasbord of talent, featuring Brandi Carlile leading a haunting version of "Black Hole Sun" with Momsen providing backing vocals, while Chris Cornell's daughter, Toni, delivered a heartfelt performance of "Fell On Black Days" alongside Nancy Wilson of Heart.

As if that wasn't enough, Thayil, Cameron, and Shepherd are currently hard at work on a new Soundgarden album, resurrecting previously unreleased tracks recorded with Cornell before his untimely passing in 2017. They're teaming up with producer Terry Date, who famously helmed the band's iconic albums like "Louder Than Love" and "Badmotorfinger." The mixing sessions are in the capable hands of Joe Barresi, known for his work with heavyweights like Avenged Sevenfold and Slipknot.

Soundgarden's journey has been a tumultuous one since their reunion in 2010 and the subsequent release of their 2012 album, "King Animal." But with this latest performance and the promise of new material, it seems the legacy of Soundgarden is far from over. Fans are eager to reclaim the magic that defined a generation of music.