It has been noted that since 2021, three exceptionally renowned names of the ’90s Seattle rock scene have been performing together as part of the group 3rd Secret. They are Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil, and Soundgarden and Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron.
As of now, the band, which also includes singers Jennifer Johnson and Jillian Raye, as well as guitarist Jon “Bubba” Dupree, has issued a pair of albums, 2022’s self-titled debut and 2023’s “The 2nd.”
Nirvana member Krist Novoselic recalls meeting Soundgarden
Krist Novoselic recently described his encounter with Soundgarden for the first time, back when Chris Cornell played drums in the band. – “The drummer is a good singer.” During a recent interview with Matt Pinfield on 955KLOS, Krist Novoselic decided to take a trip down memory lane. And specifically, recalled the first time he saw Soundgarden live.
“I saw Soundgarden play in like 1985 or 1984 in Seattle with Chris Cornell on drums. And he’s got like this Flock of Seagulls haircut. Remember those kind of bang things? And then there’s Kim who’s clean-shaven and has, I think, short hair.
He added:
“And he’s playing this guitar, and he’s got the chorus pedal on ten. I thought they were great. I thought, ‘The drummer is a good singer.’ But then Kim was mad at the soundman and was having a breakdown.”
It wasn’t until a few years later, however, that he met the band. Here is what he recalled:
“I met Kim — it was at a Psychic TV show in Seattle at the Showbox. It was 1989. There was the Jason Everman connection with Soundgarden and Nirvana. And then we didn’t get into the show. Kurt Cobain and I were standing out in front of the Showbox. We didn’t have the money or we came late or something like that. We were hanging out in front and here comes, like, ‘I know that guy. He’s the guitar player in Soundgarden.’
“You know when you get into a show and they give you a hand stamp, so they know you paid and you can come and go? Well, it said ‘666.’ So, somehow, Kim wound up with that 666 stamped on his forehead! So he’s walking around, and we were like, ‘Hey! I’m Krist, I’m Kurt.’”