Chris Cornell Fans Just Got a Much-Needed Update About Unreleased Music Featuring the Late Frontman
The remaining members of Soundgarden are still working to finish what could become the band's final album, featuring unreleased recordings from late frontman Chris Cornell.
In a new interview with "Joann Butler In Studio With...," guitarist Kim Thayil shared an emotional update on the long-awaited project, explaining that the material has actually existed for years-but bringing it to life has been a much more tedious and personal process than a traditional studio album.
"This material has been in existence for over 10 years in some cases, 14, 15 years," Thayil, 65, explained. "So what we need to do is finish that process."
According to Thayil, much of the songwriting had already been completed before Cornell's death in 2017, with the remaining work centered around refining demos and finishing recordings alongside drummer Matt Cameron and bassist Ben Shepherd.
"We had these various demos," Thayil said. "And then we start doing it, and it's, like, ‘This sounds different.' It's almost like you can pinpoint before and after. It's, like, ‘Now it's Soundgarden."
And finishing the album has become about far more than simply releasing new music."It's very, very important to all of us," Thayil said. "It's important for the legacy of Soundgarden. It's important for the legacy of Chris Cornell. It is doing right by our collective work. It is doing right by our partner and friend."
Cameron also admitted the experience has been emotional at times, especially while revisiting Cornell's vocals and hearing songs that hinted at a new era for the band. "There's very familiar elements in some of this new music," he explained, "but, yeah, there was a couple songs that felt like it was kind of a new chapter…It's bittersweet, of course."
The update comes just months after Soundgarden was officially inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's 2025 class. During the ceremony, the band reunited onstage for performances honoring Cornell, with guest vocalists including Taylor Momsen and Brandi Carlile stepping in to celebrate the late singer's legacy.
Cornell died on May 18, 2017, at age 52, after Soundgarden performed a concert in Detroit during the band's reunion tour. The singer was found dead in his hotel room following the show, and his death was later ruled a suicide.
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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 3:55 PM.