The highlights from the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony will air in a special on ABC this New Year’s Day at 8 p.m. ET. Soundgarden was one of the inductees, and the band’s surviving members—guitarist Kim Thayil, bassist Ben Shepherd, and drummer Matt Cameron—performed at the event. They were joined by guest vocalists Taylor Momsen and Brandi Carlile, filling in for the late Chris Cornell.
Thayil praised Momsen, saying, “We trust her, she’s an amazing performer.” He also highlighted Carlile’s talent, calling her “incredible.” Momsen took the lead on “Rusty Cage,” and Carlile joined for “Black Hole Sun.” The performance featured Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready and Jerry Cantrell from Alice in Chains, who celebrated their shared Seattle roots with Soundgarden.
Thayil referred to Carlile as a “local sister that made good,” emphasizing the strong sense of community among Seattle musicians. Original bassist Hiro Yamamoto also joined the band on stage for “Black Hole Sun.” Yamamoto expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s amazing… to make it feel like Soundgarden.”
With Yamamoto back on stage, this performance marked the first time Soundgarden had a double-bass lineup. Shepherd enjoyed playing with him, noting, “I play the high end on the bass, he gets to do the low end.”
Other inductees for 2025 included The White Stripes, Bad Company, Outkast, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, and Chubby Checker.
