Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil has opened up about a new record from the band, noting that it’s “entirely possible” the group could release a new album in the future.
When the music world lost Chris Cornell back in 2017, so ended the story of Soundgarden, one of the most beloved and respected grunge outfits on the scene. Having been around in various forms since 1984, Cornell’s passing marked the end of the band as a whole, though members had reunited to pay tribute to their lost bandmate occasionally.
Earlier this year, guitarist Kim Thayil revealed that prior to Cornell’s passing, the band had been working on a new album. However, issues with obtaining his pre-recorded vocals have meant that this record remains unfinished to this day.
In a new interview with Eddie Trunk for SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation LA Invasion (via Blabbermouth), Thayil was asked about the future of the band, noting that they’ve still got plenty of unheard recordings on the way.
“I do not see, given the commitments that other band members have, given our sentiments and love for Chris,” Thayil began, “I do not see us reconfiguring a tour or anything as other bands have done in the past, without him.”
Check out Kim Thayil’s interview with Eddie Trunk:
However, when attention was given to the album the band had been working on at the time of Chris Cornell’s death, Kim Thayil explained that it’s very likely this record will one day be released into the world.
“It is entirely possible, because that’s what we were doing,” he explained. “We definitely have another record in us. Stuff that’s written, stuff that’s demoed and recorded — certainly.
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“All it would need is to take the audio files that are available. I’d tighten up the guitar stuff that’s on there, add other stuff. Ben [Shepherd] does the bass. Matt [Cameron] is able to get the drums he wants.
“We can get the producers we want to make it sound like a Soundgarden record. And yes, we can totally do that.”
Referring to the fact that the audio files of Cornell’s vocals are currently unavailable due to reasons outside of his control, Thayil noted that he believes things will change at some point in the future.
“There shouldn’t be [any obstacles] — there really isn’t — other than the fact that we don’t have those file,” he noted. “I think that will happen. It would be ridiculous if it didn’t.”
At this stage, it remains to be seen when or if we will finally receive the album that Soundgarden had been working on, but it goes without saying that grunge fans the world over will rejoice at hearing the late, great Chris Cornell in front of his iconic group one last time.
Check out ‘Fell On Black Days’ by Soundgarden:
