Soundgarden Reuniting In 2010

The singer broke the big news Dec. 31 through his Twitter account, writing: “The 12 year break is over & school is back in session. Sign up now. Knights of the Soundtable ride again!”

Soundgarden formed in Seattle in 1984 with a lineup featuring Cornell as lead singer and drummer, Kim Thayil on lead guitar and Hiro Yamamoto on bass. Two years later Matt Cameron joined the band as the group’s permanent drummer and Ben Shepherd then replaced Yahamoto in 1990.

The grunge rock band released its debut album Ultramega OK in 1988 followed by four more releases. After releasing 1996’s Down on the Upside and kicking off one last world tour, Soundgarden announced it was breaking up in April 1997. The band’s hits include the Grammy-award winning songs “Black Hole Sun” and “Spoonman.”

The band was last seen together last October when Cornell joined Cameron and the rest of Pearl Jam onstage – which Cameron joined as a permanent member in 1998 – to performed a rendition of Temple of the Dog’s “Hunger Strike.” Thayil and Shepherd were in the crowd that night, according to MTV.com. (Temple of the Dog once featured Cornell, Cameron, Eddie Vedder and Mother Love Bone’s Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament.)

Rumors of a reunion started rumbling several months before that when the members of Soundgarden – minus Cornell – jammed together in March, for the first time since 1997 for an performance at the Crocodile Café during Tom Morello’s solo tour stop in Seattle. Seattle grunge veteran Tad Doyle took over on vocals. Thayil, Cameron, Shepherd and Doyle performed “Nothing to Say,” “Hunted Down” and “Spoonman,” according to Rolling Stone. Morello joined his special guests on “Spoonman.”

Cornell later told the Washington Post, “If I was there, I probably would’ve gotten up onstage … The only thing I didn’t like is that I wasn’t there to see it.” 

Now’s your chance, Cornell!

Cornell’s New Year’s Eve Twitter update also included a link to the new Soundgarden Web site, SoundgardenWorld.com. Fans that enter their name and e-mail address for updates on the band’s reunion are treated to an archival video for the song “Get on the Snake,” which hails from the band’s 1989 album Louder Than Love.

Click here for Soundgarden’s new Web site.

Click here for Chris Cornell’s Twitter account.