Name: Kim Thayil w/ Krist Novoselic, A SCREAMING LIFE
Start: 2026-06-11T19:00:00-07:00
End: 2026-06-11T20:00:00-07:00
Location: The Elliott Bay Book Company

$Kim Thayil w\/ Krist Novoselic, A SCREAMING LIFE$

Founding member of Soundgarden and guitar god Kim Thayil goes backstage to introduce the band that fearlessly pushed the boundaries of rock
About this Event

Kim Thayil, co-founding member and lead guitarist of Soundgarden, launches his new memoir, A Screaming Life: Into the Superunknown with Soundgarden and Beyond, on sale June 9. He will be in conversation with Krist Novoselic, co-founding member and bassist of Nirvana.

What you need to know:

Tickets are required and include a copy of A Screaming Life.
All copies of A Screaming Life will be pre-signed by Thayil. There will not be a signing line.

From Soundgarden’s humble beginnings manifesting grunge in Seattle's beer-soaked punk clubs to their revered status today as rock icons, the band’s journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. In A Screaming Life, founding member and guitar god Kim Thayil goes backstage to introduce the band that fearlessly pushed the boundaries of rock, invented a new genre, and amassed fervent fans from every corner of the world.

Thayil shares the story of how he and his Soundgarden bandmates—Hiro Yamamoto, Ben Shepherd, Matt Cameron, and Chris Cornell—faced the triumphs and challenges on the road to their historic and influential rise. His storytelling channels the essence of Soundgarden’s era-defining sound—one that’s supercharged with raw creativity and unapologetic lyrics—and explores the ways that Soundgarden was shaped by the diverse backgrounds of its creators: Thayil's Indian heritage and founding bassist Hiro Yamamoto's Japanese background added unique dimensions to the band's identity, influencing not only their music but also their experiences in the industry.

For Soundgarden fans and ‘90s alternative rock enthusiasts, A Screaming Life not only gives behind-the-scenes access to one of the most revered bands, but it also demonstrates the power music and its creators have to transform culture.

Kim Thayil is a Grammy Award–winning musician and Soundgarden’s lead guitarist. Born in Seattle to immigrant parents, he grew up in Chicago before meeting Hiro Yamamoto and returning to the West Coast. Together with Chris Cornell, the trio founded Soundgarden and went on to create critically acclaimed albums, including Superunknown. Rolling Stone has ranked Thayil among the greatest guitarists of all time, and Soundgarden was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2025.