Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil has addressed the band’s future plans regarding their upcoming album. He spoke in an interview published on Ultimate Guitar.
Thayil was asked directly whether the band would consider touring behind the new record. The album features pre-recorded parts from the late Chris Cornell and is expected in 2027. The question also raised whether different singers might perform Cornell’s material live.
When asked, “When the album comes out, is there any chance of touring behind it, and maybe having different singers sing songs?”, Thayil offered a candid but measured response about the band’s priorities and their deep connection to the material.
“That would be discussed roughly, generally, like, ‘Well, what do we do? How do we promote it?'” Thayil said. “We love these songs. If we didn’t love these songs, we’d be wasting our time. We love the songs.”
He went on to emphasize the collaborative nature of the songs and the weight of the legacy they carry.
“These are ideas that were created by Matt, by Ben, by myself, and by Chris,” he continued. “These are songs we’ve worked with in a collaborative fashion amongst all four of us in different combinations over the years.”
“In order to maintain that work over a particular duration, show some kind of commitment and interest that is still there, and probably heightened, because we know the significance of this material, with our legacy, and with Chris’s legacy.”
Thayil also underscored the importance of getting the album right, given its finality.
“So, we want to make sure that it’s as great as it can be, and because it’ll be the last studio album,” he said. “So, it’s got to be as great as it can be.”
No concrete touring plans have been confirmed at this stage. The band remains focused on completing what is expected to be their final studio record.
Thayil’s comments paint a clear picture of a band navigating one of the most emotionally and creatively complex projects in rock history. They are honoring a fallen bandmate while delivering a definitive final chapter for one of the genre’s most celebrated acts.
The upcoming album is being constructed using Cornell’s unreleased and previously recorded vocal tracks, woven together with new instrumental contributions from the surviving members. The project is framed as a final studio statement — a deliberate and considered farewell to the band’s recorded legacy. It is not intended as a relaunch of Soundgarden as a live entity.
The band has not indicated any interest in performing live with a replacement vocalist. Thayil’s remarks suggest the album is designed to stand on its own terms, with the focus squarely on the music rather than on building a new touring identity around Cornell’s absence.
Cornell passed away in May 2017, leaving behind a vast body of work both with Soundgarden and as a solo artist. His death marked the end of Soundgarden as an active band. The surviving members have continued to honor his memory through various projects and collaborations in the years since.
The broader rock community has also kept Cornell’s legacy alive through independent tribute efforts. The King Ultramega project, spearheaded by Metal Allegiance’s Mark Menghi, has released a series of Cornell-inspired recordings. These include a cover of Soundgarden’s “Loud Love” featuring Halestorm vocalist Lzzy Hale. These efforts are separate from the official Soundgarden album, but reflect the enduring reverence the rock world holds for Cornell’s contributions.
With the 2027 release window now on the horizon, the pressure on the remaining members to deliver something worthy of the band’s legacy — and Cornell’s — has never been greater. Thayil’s words make clear that the band is acutely aware of that responsibility. Every decision being made is guided by a commitment to getting it right.
