Hiro Yamamoto on Soundgarden, Forging New Paths, and the Circles of Power (Bonus)

The Cobain 50

In this special bonus episode, we break format away from Kurt Cobain and Nirvana and look at the legacy of Soundgarden from the lens of founding member and original bassist Hiro Yamamoto.

Subscribe:

Apple Podcasts.  Pocket Casts  Spotify  Amazon-Podcast-Logo.jpg

In this special bonus episode, we break format away from Kurt Cobain and Nirvana and look at the legacy of Soundgarden from the lens of founding member and original bassist Hiro Yamamoto. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Soundgarden’s formation — starting with Yamamoto and Chris Cornell in Yamamoto’s basement. While Yamamoto was there from the beginning, he left the band of his own accord just as they were about to have mainstream success. He went on to perform with bands like Truly and Stereo Donkey and was inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame in 2022. In conversation with Dusty Henry, Yamamoto looks back on those early days with the band, representation in Seattle’s 80s punk scene, and the lessons he’s taken from a life in (and out of) music.

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Dusty Henry, Emily Fox, and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr.Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

More From The Cobain 50

Martin Douglas dives into Paganicons by Saccharine Trust, written in Kurt’s list as “1st EP.”

Roddy Nikpour dives into The Record by Fear. Fear sings from a grotesque vantage point to call out injustice through “punk irony.” 

Dusty Henry dives into Tales of Terror by Tales of Terror. Their run was short, but their influence has kept their music alive for generations.