A Screaming Life

Name: A Screaming Life
Price: 68.38 AUD
Availability: PreOrder
ISBN: 9780063416291

Into the Superunknown with Soundgarden and Beyond

Kim Thayil, Adem Tepedelen

$68.38

Hardback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

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English

Collins
09 June 2026

Music; Rock & Pop music; Biography: arts & entertainment

The memoir by co-founding member of Soundgarden and lead guitarist Kim Thayil about one of the 1990s' signature rock bands

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.

By: Kim Thayil, Adem Tepedelen
Imprint: Collins
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 226mm, Width: 150mm, Spine: 31mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9780063416291
ISBN 10: 0063416298
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 09 June 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Reviews for A Screaming Life: Into the Superunknown with Soundgarden and Beyond

""Such dissonance--between public triumph and private unraveling--animates this candid memoir... Charting Soundgarden's rise, breakup, and return, A Screaming Life offers a clear-eyed account of a defining band that resists easy nostalgia, emphasizing the fragile, fleeting nature of artistic connection."" - Booklist ""In this entertaining memoir . . . Thayil balances his enthusiasm about the band's rise with frank discussions about creative conflicts over the group's hard-rock and psychedelic influences, which contributed to its breakup in 1997. Thayil's grief over Cornell's death in 2017 is particularly moving. Readers will find it an amiable and intriguing history of an influential rock group."" - Publishers Weekly