A Screaming Life by Kim Thayil

A Screaming Life: Into the Superunknown

with Soundgarden and Beyond by Kim Thayil

I love a good celebrity memoir, especially from rock stars because I’m fascinated by the art of making music. Thayil’s book is probably going to be one of my favorites. He’s so intelligent that it’s a smooth read (thanks to Tepedelen too, of course, but Thayil’s personality comes through strongly) and he’s really thoughtful about fame while being honest about what he wanted and experienced.

Most of the book focuses on Soundgarden’s rise to fame, which is understandable - that’s the most interesting part of many musician’s lives. But what makes this rank so highly for me is how Thayil addresses the band breaking up and how that came to be - based on fame, disconnect, and more. I think he really honestly dives into how bands are like marriages, complicated in different ways, and therefore those relationships aren’t meant to last over the years without any interruption, separation, growth, etc.

Soundgarden's reunion is cut short (I mean, of course it was, but it also feels a bit crammed in at the end of the book) but that said, I feel like Cornell's death is still recent enough to be painful, especially considering that Thayil found out by seeing it online despite his closeness with Cornell. I can't imagine how hard that must be to experience, and then have to relive for the book, so it's understandable.

I like that the ending is as hopeful as it can be with Soundgarden getting their music back and potentially putting one more album out. I do wish there was some insight into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction considering it brought them back with Jim Carrey (and the SNL experience is touched on previously) and seemed like an incredibly emotional night just watching it, so I would have loved to hear how it impacted Thayil personally, especially considering the book ends with several other honors he's received.

Overall, this is an incredibly honest memoir that really focuses on Soundgarden rather than getting bogged down in drama or even too much of Thayil's personal life. I think he strikes a perfect balance of sharing what most fans want to know without putting so much of himself out there that he loses privacy. Highly recommended for any music fan!