Chris Cornell
Members of Soundgarden are set to take to the stage next week as part of a benefit concert in their Seattle hometown.
The performance, which takes place at Seattle’s Showbox on December 14th, will see guitarist Kim Thayil, drummer Matt Cameron, and bassist Ben Shepherd adopting the name Nudedragons for the affair. That moniker – an anagram of the band’s more famous name – is the same used by Soundgarden in 2010 when they performed at the same venue for their first live date since 1997.
Shaina Shepherd will take on vocal duties with the band in what is being described as a “brief encore performance”.
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The upcoming live show takes place as part of SMooCH, an annual campaign to raise funds for the Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Uncompensated Care Fund. Previous SMooCH events have featured acts such as Modest Mouse, The Afghan Whigs, Jason, Isbell, Angel Olsen, and more.
Alongside Nudedragons, this year’s SMooCH lineup will also include Sebadoh, Doug Martsch of Built To Spill, and Duff McKagan of Guns N’ Roses.
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Originally forming in 1984, Soundgarden intially remained active until 1997, becoming icons of the Seattle grunge scene in the process thanks to albums such as Superunknown, which topped the Billboard 200 upon its release in 1994.
Following various side projects for its members during the interim, Soundgarden reconvened in 2010, and remained active until the passing of frontman Chris Cornell in 2017. The following year, Thayil noted an uncertainty of what Soundgarden’s future could look like, before announcing the retirement of the band name.
Since then, members of the group have reunited for a handful of performances, including a 2019 tribute performance for Cornell dubbed I Am The Highway, which featured guest vocalists such as The Pretty Reckless’ Taylor Momsen and the Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins.
Upon Hawkins’ passing in 2022, Thayil and Cameron were joined by Momsen and members of Nirvana the Foo Fighters for another tribute performance.
Chris Cornell’s 60th birthday came with a surprise for fans – a snippet of the late Soundgarden and Audioslave frontman covering Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.”
In a tribute clip to mark the occasion, Cornell’s widow Vicky shared a previously unheard snippet of Cornell’s cover of the Chapman classic on July 20.
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The rocker died in 2017 at the age of 52 in Detroit following a Soundgarden show.
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“Chris would have turned 60 today. Although everyone that loved him is sad that he’s no longer here, it’s all of you, the fans, who made him, whose love has continued to keep his legacy alive. I’m so grateful to you all for that,” Vicky wrote alongside the video.
“While I remember him best as the wonderful husband, father and human being he was, I’d like to celebrate his whole life and everything he gave us. On his 60th we can all celebrate his genius as an artist who redefined music, but also the incredible man who touched and changed lives.”
She added, “He’s an icon, and he gave us all so much — his unique voice, his poetry, his creativity. His life was a gift to so many. And as you can hear — there’s more to come!!! Sharing this to thank you all for your love and support and come together in celebrating.”
The timing couldn’t be more fitting. “Fast Car” has been enjoying a major comeback, with country star Luke Combs’ version hitting No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2023. Combs and Chapman even teamed up for a memorable duet at the 2024 Grammys, introducing the song to yet another generation.
Now, Cornell’s interpretation adds a new dimension to the song’s legacy. It’s a reminder of his ability to cross musical boundaries, much like his earlier cover of Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
The unreleased track seems to be part of a larger collection of unheard material.
In 2021, Cornell’s estate released “No One Sings Like You Anymore: Volume One,” a covers album he recorded in 2016. At the time, Vicky hinted there was more to come. Her recent Instagram post, declaring “there’s more to come!!!”, has fans speculating about what else might be in store.
From Soundgarden’s 1994 chart-topper “Superunknown” to his Bond song “You Know My Name,” Cornell’s career was marked by versatility, and this unearthed “Fast Car” cover, even in its brevity, is a reminder of his skill for reimagining familiar tunes with his unique style.
As we mark what would have been Cornell’s 60th year, this musical snippet leaves fans curious for more.
Will a full version be released? Are there other covers waiting to be heard? For now, we’re left with this small but impactful reminder of Cornell’s enduring influence.
Check out the snippet in the video below.
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