Smashing Pumpkins touring bassist Jack Bates complimented the crop of nominees for the class of 2020, including Soundgarden, Nine Inch Nails, Motorhead, Judas Priest, and Thin Lizzy, but said there are still some clear snubs. One big one would have to be The Smashing Pumpkins themselves, while many have pointed out Motley Crue after they won a fan vote. Billy Corgan recently revealed why we’re unlikely to see an original Smashing Pumpkins reunion if they ever get in the Hall of Fame. Stone Temple Pilots, Alice In Chains, and Oasis are other 90’s bands that have yet to even receive a nomination.
Bates said, “Surprisingly good nominees for the @rockhall this year but so many crucial bands still missing!! 😵”
Chris Cornell’s widow Vicky Cornell wrote about Soundgarden’s nomination, “Congratulations @soundgarden! I’m so proud! I know @chriscornell would be so honored! Thank you @rockhall this means so much & thank you to all the fans who’s love & support continues to cement Chris’s life and legacy #soundgarden #chriscornell forever.”
Dave Grohl’s role in helping Soundgarden get in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was revealed a couple of weeks ago. Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil also offered his comments, “When I was first told, I wasn’t sure which end is up because of the jet lag. Then I took some time and wrapped my head around it, and I felt good. I thought this is important, especially for the legacy of Soundgarden, and for Chris’s legacy. It’s really important now to understand this from the perspective of the fans and to understand Soundgarden as both a current enterprise as well as a posthumous exercise.”
Thayil mentioned that Matt Cameron had been inducted with Pearl Jam, while Chris Cornell had inducted Heart, and Ben Shepherd had attended a ceremony, though he himself has turned down the one chance he had to show up. “It is very bittersweet. [Chris] would be pleased with it. That’s certainly different from where we were maybe in the ’80s and early ’90s, but I know from Chris attending one or two [induction ceremonies] and inducting Heart that he saw the significance of it and saw how important it was to the Heart and to the bands being inducted, and he said, ‘Yes, this is very important and it’s cool,’ so he would be very excited.” Thayil made his remarks to Billboard. Go vote for Soundgarden NOW at RockHall.com/vote
