Total F*cking Godhead by Corbin Reiff

Author:Corbin Reiff [Reif, Corbin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781642932164
Publisher: Post Hill Press
Published: 2020-07-01T09:25:23+00:00

Chapter X

Blow Up the Outside World

By the time the Thirty-Seventh Annual Grammy Awards rolled around in 1995, Soundgarden had done the dance at the glitzy ceremony three times and come away with nothing. In 1990, Ultramega OK lost out on Best Metal Performance to Metallica. Two years later, Badmotorfinger lost to Metallica again in the same category. In 1994, they had been up for Best Metal Performance for their rendition of Black Sabbath’s “Into the Void.” That time they lost out to Nine Inch Nails, who claimed the prize for their explosive industrial anthem “Wish.” There was hope that this year would be different.

During the ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on March 1, 1995, Soundgarden was up for awards in four categories: Best Metal Performance (“Spoonman”), Best Hard Rock Performance and Best Rock Song (“Black Hole Sun”), and Best Rock Album (Superunknown). The commercial success and critical plaudits pegged them as a favorite to win at least one. Chris brought along his mom, Karen, who shared a story with MTV about how he used to beat on the drums in their garage when he was a teenager. “I’m really proud of him!” she enthused. Chris cracked a joke about trying to set her up with Tony Bennett, who was lurking nearby.

Whoever was charged with picking the presenters for that year’s ceremony had a unique sense of humor, because when it came time to announce the winner for Best Metal Performance, previous award winners like Lemmy or James Hetfield were nowhere to be found. Instead, the task fell to blues icon B.B. King and soul music legend Al Green, both of whom looked immaculate in their expertly tailored suits. The prevailing feeling in the room was that Soundgarden wouldn’t win this particular prize. Most were expecting Rollins Band, who had just performed their song “Liar,” to take home the trophy. But then King opened up the envelope and read the words within: “Spoonman! Soundgarden!”

The band ambled up from the crowd and appeared onstage dressed uncharacteristically dapper. Chris went with a black suit and black shirt, which he dressed up with a variety of silver necklaces and a large red ribbon to support AIDS awareness. Ben Shepherd appeared in a black suit jacket and white shirt and didn’t say a word. Matt Cameron chose a blue jacket and black shirt and took a brief moment to thank his mom. Kim Thayil spoke last, thanked his loved ones, and then chided the Grammys for making Rollins Band perform and then passing them over for the award.

As the frontman, and song’s writer, Chris spoke first and spoke the longest. It was more difficult than he had expected, especially given the added shock of receiving the prize from one of his musical heroes. “All of a sudden it’s Al Green giving out the award and I go up and I shake his hand and I didn’t know what to say,” he remembered. “That was one of the few fan moments I’ve had.

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