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.
just heard that Kim Thayil is releasing a memoir about his time in Soundgarden! sounds like it's gonna be deep - can't wait to get into it 
... love how he talks about his Indian heritage influencing his music, super cool perspective on the grunge scene 
. and it's dope that Adem Tepedelen is co-writing it with Kim, must give you a real insight into Soundgarden's story 
. also, being inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame is crazy - can't believe it's finally happening! 
, I'm so stoked to hear that Kim Thayil's memoir is coming out! His story is literally a dream come true - like, can you even imagine growing up as an immigrant in Chicago and then becoming one of the most iconic guitarists of all time? 
, can you even imagine what it's gonna be like when they get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?!
. I'm intrigued by how Thayil's Indian heritage intersected with the Seattle underground music scene - it'll be fascinating to read about all that. Can't wait to dive into "A Screaming Life" and learn more about Soundgarden's history! 
I got some tea that Kim Thayil's memoir is gonna be EVERYTHING! 
Can't wait for May 19th... and when they get inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame! 
Plus, I love that he co-wrote the book with someone else - gotta get the inside scoop! 
Can't wait for May 19th, 2026... it's gonna be a wild ride! 
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can't wait to dive into his story 
. I'm also loving the idea of Thayil co-writing with Adem Tepedelen - it's gonna be so cool to get an inside look at Soundgarden's history and creative process 
. May 19th, can't wait!
I've been listening to them since I was like 15 and I can honestly say they changed my life 
This memoir is going to be EVERYTHING I need more stories about Thayil's journey with the band, especially the part where he met Hiro Yamamoto 
but I'm already counting down the days until May 19th can't wait to get my hands on this book and dive into Thayil's world 
That's like, a 1 year difference... anyway, what I'm saying is that Thayil's Indian heritage had a huge impact on his music and creative process. Have you heard that according to a study by the Music Genome Project, Soundgarden's music has been classified as 93% alternative metal and 7% heavy metal? 
It looks like he had a vocal range of around 2 octaves and 5 notes...
. I'm sure it'll give us even more insight into the band's creative process and the struggles they faced along the way. Can't wait for May 19, 2026 - it's going to be a wild ride! 
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that sounds like such a beautiful story, i can imagine how kim thayil's immigration experience must have shaped his life & music so much. it's amazing how his struggles as an outsider could lead to something so powerful & unique. i'm sure it'll be such an inspiring read when it comes out in 2026