Soundgarden weren’t just one of Seattle’s top rock bands, they were at the forefront of grunge, spearheading the alternative rock scene that set to explode out of the city. They were the first grunge band to sign to the Sub Pop label – followed by Nirvana, Mudhoney, Tad & more – and were the first grunge band to take the leap to a major label when they signed to A&M Records in 1989. Commercial success may not have been instant, but, along with their Seattle contemporaries Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana, Soundgarden pioneered a movement of global proportions when grunge took hold of pop culture in the early 90s.

Despite the impact Soundgarden and Chris Cornell have had on the entire rock genre, the band's history hasn’t been collectively documented in a biography – until now. Dark Black & Blue: The Soundgarden Story goes right back to the start to tell the full story, detailing the members' lives before they joined forces to become a dominating rock outfit, up to calling it quits in the 90s, their 2012 return and the tragic loss of frontman, Chris Cornell in 2017. 

Written by author/journalist (and longtime Soundgarden fan) Greg Prato, the novel tracks the band’s history through contributions and all-new interviews from artists including Matt Pinfield, Dave Wyndorf (Monster Magnet) and Phil Anselmo (Pantera) and Marky Ramone (among others), and includes rarely seen photos from throughout the band's history. 

Soundgarden | "Black Hole Sun"

Author Greg Prato wrote of the book in a statement: "For some odd reason, there have been few books written about Soundgarden’s career…despite quite a few fans such as myself strongly feeling that not only was Soundgarden the greatest grunge band of them all, but also, one of the greatest rock bands ever.”

"Realizing that this flub needed to be corrected, I have constructed ‘Dark Black and Blue: The Soundgarden Story’ – the first-ever book that recounts Soundgarden’s complete history, all the way from its members’ early years and formation, through to Chris Cornell’s tragic death."

In addition to dissecting and analysing all of their albums – including 1991's Badmotorfinger, 1994's Superunknown, 1996's Down On The Upside – readers will learn about the stories behind many of the band’s classic songs – "Black Hole Sun", "Jesus Christ Pose", "Outshined", "Hands All Over", "Flower" – and hear recollections of massive tours – Lollapalooza, Guns n’ Roses, Neil Young, Faith No More, Nine Inch Nails – and all the behind the scenes goings-on that come with the territory.

Soundgarden | "Jesus Christ Pose" [Live at Lollapalooza 1992]

Greg Prato could be considered a certified expert on grunge with his other celebrated works that include Grunge Is Dead: The Oral History of Seattle Rock Music, and Too High to Die: Meet The Meat Puppets, each giving in-depth insight to the sounds in and around Seattle in the late ’80s and ’90s. For lovers of the grunge era and music biographies alike, the Soundgarden story is an integral chapter in the history of the genre and how it evolved out of the hard-rock of the late 80s. 

Dark Black & Blue: The Soundgarden Story is out now, purchase your copy here.

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