by Kim Thayil with Adem Tepedelen
First published 2026
Kim Thayil, co-founding member and lead guitarist of Soundgarden, chronicles his band's rise from Seattle's punk club scene to rock icon status. Thayil takes readers behind the scenes of the group that helped create grunge and pushed rock music into new territory. He details the experiences he shared with bandmates Hiro Yamamoto, Ben Shepherd, Matt Cameron, and Chris Cornell as they navigated both victories and obstacles during their climb to influence. The guitarist explores how the diverse backgrounds of band members shaped their identity, particularly his own Indian heritage and bassist Yamamoto's Japanese background, which affected both their music and their industry experiences. Thayil's account captures the raw creativity and bold lyrics that defined Soundgarden's sound while revealing how the band transformed rock culture. The memoir provides Soundgarden fans and alternative rock listeners with inside access to one of the most respected bands of the 1990s.
Genres: 20th-century, biography-memoir, music, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: behind-the-scenes, found-family
Setting: Seattle
Period: 1990s
304 pages · Hardcover · William Morrow