Guitarist Kim Thayil Says Soundgarden’s "King Animal" Features Tracks Written for Pearl Jam

Guitarist Kim Thayil says that Soundgarden’s first album in over 15 years, King Animal, includes songs that drummer Matt Cameron had originally written for Pearl Jam.

“[Matt] had some songs which he had demoed that he wanted us to learn,” Thayil tells The Phoenix. “He thought these songs were Soundgarden-like and that they might have been more appropriate for us than Pearl Jam and he wanted to hear us play them.”

Thayil adds that rehearsing Cameron’s tracks in the studio sparked the band’s desire to create King Animal. “We had a blast [in the studio] and we love the songs and other ideas were coming out,” he explains. “[Frontman] Chris [Cornell] had some, I had some, [bassist] Ben [Shepherd] had some and we just started jamming.”

Soundgarden is currently on a North American tour supporting King Animal. Visit SoundgardenWorld.com to view the full itinerary.