Soundgarden attend launch of research boat named after them

Soundgarden attend boat launch — Cameron and Thayill with environmental staff (Image credit: King County Natural Resources and Parks)

Kim Thayill and Matt Cameron of Soundgarden last week attended the launch of an environmental research boat that’s been named in their honour.

The SoundGuardian will monitoring water quality in the Puget Sound, which lies by the band’s home city of Seattle in Washington state.

The name was chosen after a public vote, with 178 of 316 people choosing it over the other options of Cascadia and SeaKing. Chris Cornell’s band took their title from an open-air sculpture A Sound Garden, located on the shore of Lake Washington, which the boat will also monitor.

Drummer Cameron said: “We’ve won Grammys and a few awards through the years – but this is a real special one because it’s tied into our city.

“We’re very proud to be a part of it. We love the natural resources here and we’re in tune with keeping our environment safe. This vessel will certainly help out.”

Guitarist Thayill added: “These are issues that are obviously of concern, especially if you have kids. There’s a strong sense of civic price in Seattle and the north west.”

Frontman Cornell recently reported that the band will start work on their next album once his current solo tour is complete.

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Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.