JUNE 2012 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM BEHIND THE CLASSICS WRITTEN BY: CHRIS CORNELL RECORDED: NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 1990, LONDON BRIDGE STUDIOS, SEATTLE, WASH. PRODUCED BY: RICK PARASHAR AND TEMPLE OF THE DOG VOCALS: CHRIS CORNELL, EDDIE VEDDER GUITARS: STONE GOSSARD, MIKE MCCREADY BASS: JEFF AMENT DRUMS: MATT CAMERON FROM THE ALBUM: TEMPLE OF THE DOG (1991)
Eddie Vedder, Chris Cornell
“Hunger Strike” TEMPLE OF THE DOG
After the March 1990 death of his friend, wrote the lyrics pretty quickly. I couldn’t write After two more rehearsals, Temple of the 24-year-old Mother Love Bone singer any more lyrics to that concept.” Dog played its only-ever full show on Nov. 13 Andrew Wood, Soundgarden frontman The verse was a condemnation of those at the local club the Off Ramp—minus Vedder, Chris Cornell consoled himself by writing in society who take more than their share who had returned to San Diego to finish out his songs. Mother Love Bone guitarist Stone at the expense of the poor, leading up to day job as a gas station attendant and prepare Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament, as well a simple chorus: “I’m going hungry,” a line to move to Seattle permanently. After his return, as Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron, Cornell intended to render contrapuntally by the group entered Seattle’s London Bridge pitched in to help him record them. Gossard overdubbing his own voice singing a low and Studios with producer Rick Parashar and laid and Ament recommended Mike McCready, high part. But that was for later, in the studio. down its self-titled debut within about two with whom they had been jamming, to play At rehearsal, Cornell was having trouble weeks. In the coming months Soundgarden lead guitar—and Temple of the Dog, named juggling the two parts. “All of a sudden I feel recorded its third album, Badmotorfinger. for a line in the Mother Love Bone song “Man this shadowy presence over my shoulder,” he Meanwhile, Ament, Gossard, McCready, of Golden Words,” was born. remembered. Vedder, who Cornell had just Vedder and drummer Dave Krusen made their The ad hoc group was set to rehearse met and barely knew, stepped up and silently first album as Pearl Jam—again working with on Oct. 9, 1990, at the Galleria Potatohead joined Cornell at the microphone. When the Parashar at London Bridge. They finished up in their shared hometown of Seattle. Eddie low part came around again, he chimed in. work on Ten in late April 1991, just days after Vedder, a singer who was auditioning for “It wasn’t in a way that was intrusive or Temple of the Dog hit stores. Gossard, Ament and McCready’s new act, egotistical,” Cornell said. “It was like he had pity The album stirred little public interest until had arrived in town from San Diego the day on me and was just trying to help me through a year later, after both Soundgarden and Pearl before and was listening in. Cornell was very this moment, because I was having a hard Jam had made mainstream breakthroughs. confident about the songs he’d brought in— time.” All involved were instantly aware of the “Hunger Strike” belatedly became a radio except for one. “Hunger Strike” was little chemistry between the contrasting voices. “I hit in the summer of 1992. “It was the most more than a fragment he had cobbled remember being a little nervous about doing fluid, musical and just instantaneously good- together in order to give the projected it,” Vedder said, “but he was happy about how sounding thing that any of us had ever been album a 10th track, owing to his admitted it sounded, which was great.” Suddenly a song involved with,” Gossard said of the song. “Still compulsive dislike for odd numbers. “I was its writer had envisioned as “a deep album to this day it’s one of those moments. We revolving around on the arpeggio and just track” was a standout, and Vedder was invited were just in heaven.” came up with the melody,” he recalled. “I to sing on several more tunes. –Chris Neal
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