What artist or band should I highlight next?
Article is titled: BRAVE NOISE written by Jeff Gilbert and read by PJ Pat.
Opening music by Witch of November.
You know Kim Thayil, the "Grunge Architect" from Soundgarden, right? Well, he's here to set the record straight: Stop calling them a metal band!
In this killer, classic 1995 interview with Guitar World, Thayil lays down the law about why he and the guys (R.I.P. Chris Cornell) were always on a different, more intellectual wavelength than the headbangers.
Thayil doesn't hold back, straight-up calling '80s metal "goonie" and "dopey," and making it crystal clear that he was "smarter than the guys who were into metal". Ouch! He drops hints about his surprising guitar hero, explains his anti-technique philosophy, and delivers the ultimate truth bomb: "Come on man buy a f*cking Ramones record get an education!". Seriously, go get that education!
This deep dive unpacks Thayil’s totally unique musical brain. He argues that the guitar is just a "tool... to make it easier to express your ideas", prioritizing style over simple proficiency. Plus, he reveals his weird learning hack (memorizing the fretboard by key) and gives the ultimate flex: Soundgarden's massive success means the world "conformed to fit us" instead of the other way around.
🕰️ Quick Jumps to the Good Stuff:
- 01:43 – Why Soundgarden Would Rather Be Called Anything But Metal
- 02:49 – Kim Thayil’s Brutal Take on Judas Priest & Your Typical Heavy Metal Fan
- 03:21 – The Guitarist Who Shockingly Influenced Him (Hint: He Wears Face Paint)
- 06:01 – The Grunge Philosophy: Why Not Having "Technique" Actually Makes You Cooler
- 07:28 – Thayil Admits His Fast Shredding is a "Dumb and Annoying Nervous Habit"
- 09:18 – Why The Metal vs. Alternative Fight is "Stupid and Naive"
- 09:32 – The Ultimate Punchline: "Buy a F*cking Ramones Record"
#KimThayil #Soundgarden #Grunge #ChrisCornell #HeavyMetal #GuitarInterview #AceFrehley #Ramones #90sMusic
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Crank it up 1 louder!