Soundgarden founding member and guitarist Kim Thayil has released his memoir, “A Screaming Life: Into the Superunknown with Soundgarden and Beyond,” on June 9.

The book offers an intimate look into the band's journey, providing a unique perspective from a key figure in the Seattle music scene.

This memoir is significant as it provides a firsthand account of Soundgarden's history and the personal experiences of its members, directly from one of its founders.

Thayil's memoir navigates challenging topics, including the band's disintegration and breakup in 1997, as well as the death by suicide of his friend and Soundgarden lead singer, Chris Cornell, in 2017.

The narrative structure allows readers to experience these events alongside Thayil, from the initial rumors to the confirmed news of Cornell's passing.

Thayil describes his feelings of regret, stating, “I feel like I let Chris down by not seeing the look in his eyes, or not hearing a tone in his voice—not being able to read it.”

“A Screaming Life” also revisits other significant losses within the Seattle music community, such as the deaths of Kurt Cobain and Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood.

Thayil recounts learning of Cobain's death while on tour and discusses Wood's passing, which inspired Cornell to take more creative risks in his songwriting.

One of the more surprising revelations in the book is Thayil's synesthesia, a condition where one sense triggers another.

He explains that words, letters, and phrases evoke specific colors and shapes for him, influencing his musical arrangements and decision-making within songs.

For example, he describes the word “Jesus” as orangish with brownish and reddish tones, while “Pose” is very blue with some purples in Soundgarden's “Jesus Christ Pose.” This condition, which Thayil says he has had since childhood, offers a new lens through which to understand Soundgarden's creative output.

Co-authored with Adem Tepedelen, the memoir employs a roughly chronological structure with short chapters, designed to keep the reader engaged and informed without needing to backtrack for context.

Thayil's intelligence, humor, and dry wit are evident throughout the book, making it feel as though he is speaking directly to the reader.

He also uses the memoir to correct inaccuracies about the band's history, such as the misconception about an early version of Soundgarden called the Shemps.

Thayil's memoir also sheds light on the character of Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron, whom Thayil describes as a “literal saint.” He attributes Cameron's decision to join Soundgarden to the band's challenging songwriting and principled nature, stating, “He genuinely liked the material, and he liked the way we were ascending, building our audience and growing creatively and commercially.”

Ultimately, “A Screaming Life” aims to encourage readers to revisit Soundgarden's music with a deeper understanding, or to discover it for the first time, making it a valuable contribution to rock and roll literature.