Kim Thayil's memoir "A Screaming Life: Into the Superunknown with Soundgarden and Beyond" promises to delve into the guitarist's formative years, his journey with Soundgarden, and the pivotal role his immigrant upbringing played in shaping both his life and music.
Born in Chicago to Indian parents, Thayil recounts how his childhood experience as an outsider informed his creative pursuits. This early exposure to the struggles of assimilation would later influence his songwriting and contribute to the band's eclectic sound.
Thayil's path to Soundgarden began with a chance encounter at high school, where he met bassist Hiro Yamamoto, another immigrant-turned-American son. Together, they forged an unbreakable bond that transcended cultural boundaries and fueled their shared dream of making music. This unlikely partnership added a unique dimension to the band's identity, as described by Thayil himself.
In "A Screaming Life," Thayil chronicles his experiences with Soundgarden, from the band's humble beginnings in Seattle to the meteoric rise of the grunge movement. He shares stories of creative triumphs and tribulations, shedding light on the inner workings of one of the most iconic bands of the past few decades.
The book promises to reveal how Thayil's Indian heritage and Yamamoto's Japanese background intersected with the diverse influences of Seattle's underground music scene. This synergy not only shaped Soundgarden's distinctive sound but also informed their experiences as outsiders in the music industry.
Thayil co-wrote "A Screaming Life" with Adem Tepedelen, providing an intimate and introspective look at his life and career. The book will be published on May 19, 2026, coinciding with Soundgarden's highly anticipated induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
When Thayil penned his post about the upcoming memoir on Soundgarden's Instagram, he aptly captured the essence of the project: "It follows my experiences, journeys, and growth with the band and the building of the Seattle music scene," he wrote.
Born in Chicago to Indian parents, Thayil recounts how his childhood experience as an outsider informed his creative pursuits. This early exposure to the struggles of assimilation would later influence his songwriting and contribute to the band's eclectic sound.
Thayil's path to Soundgarden began with a chance encounter at high school, where he met bassist Hiro Yamamoto, another immigrant-turned-American son. Together, they forged an unbreakable bond that transcended cultural boundaries and fueled their shared dream of making music. This unlikely partnership added a unique dimension to the band's identity, as described by Thayil himself.
In "A Screaming Life," Thayil chronicles his experiences with Soundgarden, from the band's humble beginnings in Seattle to the meteoric rise of the grunge movement. He shares stories of creative triumphs and tribulations, shedding light on the inner workings of one of the most iconic bands of the past few decades.
The book promises to reveal how Thayil's Indian heritage and Yamamoto's Japanese background intersected with the diverse influences of Seattle's underground music scene. This synergy not only shaped Soundgarden's distinctive sound but also informed their experiences as outsiders in the music industry.
Thayil co-wrote "A Screaming Life" with Adem Tepedelen, providing an intimate and introspective look at his life and career. The book will be published on May 19, 2026, coinciding with Soundgarden's highly anticipated induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
When Thayil penned his post about the upcoming memoir on Soundgarden's Instagram, he aptly captured the essence of the project: "It follows my experiences, journeys, and growth with the band and the building of the Seattle music scene," he wrote.