Shaina Shepherd’s recent performance with Soundgarden sparked some questions: is it becoming permanent?
Shepherd joined surviving Soundgarden members Matt Cameron, Kim Thayil, and Ben Shepherd in December for a special encore performance at the 13th Annual SMooCH benefit, supporting Seattle’s Children’s Hospital. The band performed under the alias Nudedragons and delivered a six-song set. The show also featured a guest appearance by Guns N’ Roses’ Duff McKagan.
After the performance, fans started questioning whether this could be the permanent return of Soundgarden. In addition, Hot Metal Magazine recently asked on their Facebook page whether Shaina Shepherd’s involvement with Soundgarden could become a regular thing. “Haters gonna hate while I live my dream,” Shepherd herself joined the conversation in the comments section to reply to a negative comment.
When another commenter defended their right to share their opinion without being labeled as ‘hateful,’ Shepherd replied, “Soundgarden is a revolutionary band that changed my life, your life, the world. I could never front Soundgarden. But I love making music with those guys. I did it for me, for them like any other music endeavor.”
The singer added, “I don’t care what any of you think – never did. I care what they think – always will. This whole article is meaningless. Just like your timeline.”
Since Chris Cornell’s passing in 2017, Soundgarden has performed only a few times. Their first performance took place on January 16, 2019, at the ‘I Am the Highway’ tribute concert. They were joined by many other musicians to honor Cornell. In 2022, Thayil and Cameron performed again at a tribute concert for Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, with Dave Grohl and Taylor Momsen.
Shepherd’s appearance at the SMooCH benefit was the third time Thayil, Cameron, and she had performed together since Cornell’s passing.
