Jerry Cantrell Lists His Defining Soundgarden Songs

In a new Rock & Roll Hall of Fame video, Alice in Chains’ Jerry Cantrell shared his personal favorite Soundgarden songs.

Soundgarden was inducted into the Hall last month, and fans are still buzzing—including Cantrell himself. The ceremony was a rare treat, with Soundgarden enlisting both Cantrell and Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready to help with their performance. Krist Novoselic was also in attendance, meaning grunge’s “Big 4” were all represented—though honorary grunge giants Stone Temple Pilots were notably absent.

These bands have long been intertwined. Pearl Jam and Soundgarden famously collaborated on Temple of the Dog in the early ’90s, while Mad Season brought together McCready and Alice in Chains vocalist Layne Staley later that decade. Reflecting on Soundgarden’s legacy, Cantrell emphasized that the band’s six albums are all remarkable, making it difficult to narrow down favorites. Still, he singled out “The Day I Tried to Live” as a standout that continues to thrill him.

Cantrell’s list of Soundgarden songs that he feels define the band includes:

• Hunt You Down

• Flower

• Limo Wreck

• Gun

• Burden in My Hand

• Superunknown

• Rusty Cage

• Black Hole Sun

• The Day I Tried to Live

Now that Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden have all been enshrined in the Hall, Alice in Chains remains the only member of Seattle’s “Big 4” awaiting induction. With their massive influence across grunge, post-grunge, and heavy metal, their impressive sales, and a catalog of hits still embraced by fans and classic rock radio alike, it seems only a matter of time before they join their peers. As for Stone Temple Pilots—who sold more records than both Soundgarden and Alice in Chains—their chances remain uncertain. But with shifting tides and renewed appreciation for the era, perhaps their moment will come too.