Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil To Release Memoir ‘A Screaming Life’ In 2026

Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil will release his memoir A Screaming Life in May 2026 via HarperCollins, exploring the band’s grunge origins and his own journey from Chicago to Seattle.

One of grunge’s most enigmatic architects is finally telling his side of the story. Kim Thayil, founding guitarist of Soundgarden, has announced his first memoir, A Screaming Life, set to land in May 2026 through HarperCollins.

The book promises to dig deep into the world that birthed Superunknown, tracing Soundgarden’s rise from Seattle’s beer-soaked punk clubs to their immortal status among rock’s elite. Thayil says he’s spent “the past few years” piecing together the story, charting his path from his upbringing in Chicago to forming one of the bands that defined the 1990s alongside bassist Hiro Yamamoto.

According to HarperCollins, A Screaming Life captures “Soundgarden’s humble beginnings manifesting grunge in Seattle’s beer-soaked punk clubs to their revered status today as rock icons.” The publisher describes Thayil as going “backstage to introduce the band that fearlessly pushed the boundaries of rock, invented a new genre and amassed fervent fans from every corner of the world.”

The memoir also explores how Soundgarden’s creative DNA was shaped by the diversity of its founding members, Thayil’s Indian heritage and Yamamoto’s Japanese background, adding new context to the band’s place within a predominantly white rock scene.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

This announcement lands just as Soundgarden prepare for their long awaited induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on November 8th at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre, a recognition fans have been demanding for years.

While Thayil’s story is about to hit the shelves, Soundgarden’s music isn’t done yet either. Drummer Matt Cameron recently confirmed that the band’s final, unreleased album is still in progress: “We’re definitely over halfway done,” he said, noting that Thayil is “finishing his guitar parts; he wants to make sure they get exactly the way he wants them.”

If A Screaming Life is anything like Thayil’s riffs, sharp, layered, and unflinchingly human, t’s going to be one hell of a read.