Soundgarden Seattle Halftime Reunion
Surviving Soundgarden members reunite for Seattle Seahawks halftime performance featuring guest vocalists.
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Key Points
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“Spoonman” had not been performed live by Soundgarden since 2017, making its inclusion in the halftime set particularly notable.
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Taylor Momsen’s connection to Soundgarden predates the Seahawks performance: The Pretty Reckless opened Soundgarden’s final tour with Chris Cornell, and Momsen later performed with the surviving members at the 2019 Chris Cornell tribute concert.
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McCready described the pressure of performing the national anthem, saying, “It’s way scary in a way, because I want to do it right and I don’t want to mess it up.”
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The new Soundgarden album became possible after a multi-year legal dispute ended with Chris Cornell’s widow, Vicky Cornell, agreeing to provide the surviving members with vocal tracks Cornell recorded between 2015 and 2017.
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At Soundgarden’s 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, the tribute extended beyond the halftime collaborators: Brandi Carlile led “Black Hole Sun,” while Cornell’s daughter Toni Cornell performed “Fell on Black Days” with Heart’s Nancy Wilson.
Soundgarden's surviving members reunited at Seattle's Lumen Field on September 9 for the Seahawks' season opener, performing alongside The Pretty Reckless singer Taylor Momsen and Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready. Rolling Stone reported the rare appearance marked one of the grunge band's few performances since frontman Chris Cornell's death in 2017, featuring "Outshined" and "Spoonman"—a song the band hadn't played live in eight years.
McCready also performed a Jimi Hendrix-inspired rendition of the national anthem before kickoff. However, Revolver noted NBC did not broadcast the halftime set, frustrating fans who tuned in expecting to see the performance. The appearance follows Soundgarden's 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction and comes as the band works on completing an album built around Chris Cornell vocal recordings.
Rare Performance Reunites Soundgarden After Eight Years
The halftime show brought together Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron, and Ben Shepherd—Soundgarden's three surviving core members. JamBase reported they were joined by Momsen and McCready for a stripped-down, intimate set that emphasized the band's most iconic songs. "Spoonman" held particular significance: the song hadn't been performed live by Soundgarden since their final 2017 tour with Cornell.
Taylor Momsen's Deep History With Soundgarden
Momsen's connection to the band runs far deeper than a one-off halftime appearance. The Pretty Reckless opened Soundgarden's final tour with Chris Cornell in 2017. She later performed with the surviving members at the 2019 Chris Cornell tribute concert, cementing her role as a trusted collaborator in honoring the late frontman's legacy.
McCready Navigates Pressure of National Anthem Moment
McCready faced intense pressure performing the national anthem solo before thousands of fans. He described the challenge plainly: "It's way scary in a way, because I want to do it right and I don't want to mess it up." His Hendrix-inspired arrangement honored Seattle's musical legacy while delivering a technically demanding performance under live conditions.
New Soundgarden Album Built From Cornell's Final Recordings
The band is completing an album using vocal tracks Chris Cornell recorded between 2015 and 2017, before his death. This became possible after a years-long legal dispute ended with Cornell's widow, Vicky Cornell, agreeing to provide the surviving members with the unreleased material. Rolling Stone reported the release plan remains under discussion, but the project represents a meaningful way to bring Cornell's voice back into new music.
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