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Alice in Chains<\/a> vocalist\/guitarist Jerry Cantrell<\/a> has never been shy about his admiration<\/a> for Soundgarden<\/a>, and in a new interview with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame<\/a>\u2019s YouTube channel<\/a>, he names the tracks that are among his favorites and<\/em> that \u201cdefine\u201d the legendary grunge group.<\/p>\n In the clip \u2013 uploaded on Nov. 28 \u2013 Cantrell laughingly begins, \u201cI hate this because \u2013 I hate having to pair it down to three songs that define Soundgarden because I think Soundgarden is kinda undefinable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always hard for me to do favorites. I\u2019m really bad at this because I like it all,\u201d he continues, adding:<\/p>\n I really do. I mean, if it was a band that was, like, a one or two-hit wonder, it\u2019d be a lot easier. But Soundgarden wrote so many great fucking songs. You know, the records that they made \u2013 what, six records? \u2013 they\u2019re fucking brilliant, you know what I mean? So, to pick, like, one of those out and say one is better than the other or even that one means more to me than another is pretty touch. It\u2019s all really superb. It\u2019s all pretty stellar.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Nevertheless, Cantrell says that \u201cThe Day I Tried to Live\u201d (from 1994\u2019s Superunknown<\/a><\/em>) is \u201cpretty \u2013 the hair just went up on the back of my neck just mentioning that song. There\u2019s one that gets me in the short and curlies.\u201d<\/p>\n He also runs through several other Soundgarden staples \u2013 ranging from \u201cHunted Down\u201d and \u201cFlower\u201d to \u201cLimo Wreck,\u201d \u201cGun,\u201d \u201cBurden in My Hand,\u201d \u201cSuperunknown,\u201d \u201cRusty Cage\u201d and of course, \u201cBlack Hole Sun\u201d \u2013 as proof of the band\u2019s brilliance.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think they ever did anything bad,\u201d Cantrell concludes. \u201cI don\u2019t they ever put a bad record out, and I don\u2019t think they ever wrote a bad song. As far as the lyrical approach, it\u2019s all poetry, man. It\u2019s all super high-quality stuff.”<\/p>\n So, do you agree with Cantrell\u2019s picks for the greatest and\/or most important Soundgarden songs? Let us know!<\/p>\n READ MORE: The Most Psychedelic Songs by 9 Grunge Bands<\/a><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Near the end of the interview, Cantrell reflects on growing up in Tacoma, Washington, an area he says \u201cproduced some my favorite music. Soundgarden being one of them in the world. And some of my favorite people in the world that I still cherish deeply to this day.\u201d<\/p>\n He elaborates:<\/p>\n You know, when you see them, the smile just comes out and the warm embrace and if any one of us are playing nearing the others \u2013 if somebody\u2019s doing a show, like Pearl Jam<\/a>\u2019s playing \u2013 I\u2019m going! If we\u2019re playing, somebody\u2019s coming to see us. It\u2019s still a sense of community, and in the case of music, even if you\u2019re not here \u2013 unfortunately [likely referencing Chris Cornell<\/a>] \u2013 you do live on through your music. Your music lives on, and your music is you. It\u2019s you injected into that piece of art. It\u2019s an experience of life permanently recorded and shared, you know, for anybody may relate to it.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n You can see the full clip below:<\/p>\n Earlier in November, Loudwire<\/a> reported on This Angry Pen of Mine: Recovering the Journals of Layne Staley<\/a><\/em>, a new book about the late Alice in Chains frontman<\/a> (obviously) that also features touching tributes from many major rock and metal artists. For instance, Megadeth<\/a>\u2019s Dave Mustaine<\/a> and Slipknot<\/a>\u2019s Corey Taylor<\/a> contributed to it, and it also houses \u201cphotos of the late vocalist from all stages of his life, his poetry, journal entries, song lyrics, artwork and more.\u201d<\/p>\n This Angry Pen of Mine: Recovering the Journals of Layne Staley<\/em> was released on Nov. 11 via Simon & Shuster, and you can purchase on Amazon<\/a>, too.<\/p>\n As for Soundgarden, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame<\/a> earlier this month (alongside The White Stripes<\/a>, Bad Company<\/a> and several other acts). They were inducted by nonother than actor\/comedian Jim Carrey<\/a> \u2013 who said<\/a> that Soundgarden were among several bands that \u201cresurrected rock and roll\u201d for him \u2013 and surviving members Matt Cameron<\/a>, Hiro Yamamoto,\u00a0Kim Thayil<\/a> and Ben Shepherd<\/a>\u00a0accepted the honor and gave their own speeches.<\/p>\n For instance, Yamamoto said: \u201cChris Cornell, we are missing you tonight on this stage. We all love you and we would not be here without you. . . . To all the bands we\u2019ve played and shared stages with, their crews, and everyone involved, thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n Similarly, Thayil thanked Soundgarden\u2019s fans \u201cfor over 40 years of enduring loyalty and support,\u201d just as Cameron thanked his family and \u201cPearl Jam, Nirvana<\/a>, The Melvins<\/a>, The Wipers<\/a>, Alice In Chains and the countless bands and fellow musicians we had the pleasure of interacting with in the ’80s and ’90s.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s also worth mentioning that Chris Cornell\u2019s daughter, Lillian, gave a speech before Soundgarden\u2019s performance in which she thanked people for their support of her father\u2019s music.<\/p>\n Speaking of Soundgarden\u2019s performance at the RaRHOF, they played several hits with several guests. Specifically, The Pretty Reckless<\/a>\u2019 Taylor Momsen<\/a> joined them for \u201cRusty Cage\u201d before Brandi Carlile<\/a> belted out \u201cBlack Hole Sun.\u201d Also, Cantrell \u2013 alongside Peal Jam\u2019s Mike McCready<\/a> \u2013 took part throughout Soundgarden\u2019s set.<\/p>\n Plus, Chris Cornell\u2019s youngest daughter (Toni<\/a>) and Heart<\/a>\u2019s Nancy Wilson<\/a> did a powerful rendition of \u201cFell on Black Days.\u201d Of the evening, Toni Cornell later remarked<\/a> (via social media):<\/p>\n I was six years old when Soundgarden reunited. My brother and I were lucky to see small pieces of that moment unfold, not realizing we were witnessing something historic. I\u2019ll never forget walking into Soundgarden\u2019s reunion show with my brother, my American Girl doll in tow and seeing my dad step onstage again with Soundgarden after more than a decade. I might have been too young to understand the magnitude of this moment, but I still knew I was witnessing something extraordinary. I will forever be grateful for those years, eventually spending time in Seattle and experiencing the greatness of the Pacific Northwest that inspired my dad and his bandmates so immensely.<\/p>\n Those moments shaped me, being on the road for years and experiencing Soundgarden shaped me, not just as \u201cChris\u2019s daughter,\u201d but as an artist and a person. I would hear people tell my dad his music saved them and seeing that legacy honored, I understand just how true that was. Soundgarden belonged in the Rock Hall from the day they started making their revolutionary music. A huge congratulations to Matt, Kim, Ben and Hiro and especially to my dad, who should have been here to share this moment with his bandmates. I know how proud he is.<\/p>\n Thank you to the legendary [Nancy Wilson]\u00a0for honoring him beside me and to Brandi and Taylor for continuously sharing his music and keeping his spirit alive. And to the fans, who are the reason this music still breathes.<\/p>\n Performing \u201cFell on Black Days\u201d was one of the greatest honors of my life and one of the hardest things I\u2019ve ever done. My dad\u2019s absence is always felt, but singing his songs always makes me feel closer to him. I\u2019m so grateful I got to share this moment for him and with him, in some way.<\/p>\n Daddy, you are beloved and your music will forever change people\u2019s lives. Long live Soundgarden.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n You can see her post below.<\/p>\n Also, you can see photos from the 2025 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony itself here<\/a> and<\/em> see photos from the red carpet here<\/a>.<\/p>\n These albums were big in the ’90s and they got it right by grabbing your attention with the first notes of the first song.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Chad Childers, Loudwire<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nJerry Cantrell\u2019s Favorite Soundgarden Songs<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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What Else Did Cantrell Say About Grunge + Growing Up?<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Jerry Cantrell Reveals His Favorite Soundgarden Songs<\/h3>\n
Other Alice in Chains + Soundgarden News<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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10 Best Opening Songs From Big 1990s Rock Albums<\/h2>\n