Soundgarden formed in Seattle in 1984 and is one of the bands that helped define what became known as the grunge movement — the sound that emerged from the Pacific Northwest in the early 1990s and redirected the course of rock worldwide. With Chris Cornell on vocals, Kim Thayil on guitar, Hiro Yamamoto and later Ben Shepherd on bass, and Matt Cameron on drums, the band recorded albums like Louder Than Love, Badmotorfinger, and Superunknown that remain touchstones of the genre decades later.
Seattle preserves the physical traces of that history with remarkable generosity. The studio where the band’s earliest recordings were made is still standing. The theater where the Fopp EP was captured live is still operating. The park where the Temple of the Dog video — Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder’s project honoring Andrew Wood, also featuring Matt Cameron, Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, and Mike McCready — was filmed is open every day. And outside the city’s largest pop culture museum, a bronze statue permanently marks Cornell’s place in Seattle’s story.
If you want to understand this history a little more deeply, follow along with our guide to Soundgarden’s key locations in Seattle.
+ SEATTLE GUIDES
– PEARL JAM landmarks
– MOTHER LOVE BONE landmarks
– ALICE IN CHAINS landmarks
– NIRVANA landmarks
– JIMI HENDRIX landmarks
Moore Theatre: where Soundgarden recorded the Fopp EP in Seattle
1932 2nd Ave, Seattle
The Moore Theatre on 2nd Avenue is a classic venue that witnessed the birth of grunge.
It was on this stage that Soundgarden recorded the Fopp EP in 1988, one of their earliest live documents.
The interior retains an old-world elegance — comfortable seating and acoustics that welcomed Chris Cornell many times over, both with the band and during his solo career.
The theater offers free guided tours on the second Saturday of every month, from 10 a.m. to noon, with advance booking through the official website.
Discovery Park: “Hunger Strike” filming location and Chris Cornell connection
Discovery Park, Seattle
Discovery Park enters the Soundgarden trail through an indirect but meaningful connection.
This is where Chris Cornell and Matt Cameron filmed the “Hunger Strike” video for Temple of the Dog — the project that also brought together Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder in tribute to Andrew Wood.
Director Paul Rachman chose Seattle’s largest park precisely for its iconic landscape: forest, coastline, and diffused natural light.
A visit, with the trail out to the West Point Lighthouse and Miracle Beach, takes at least two hours of relaxed walking — one hour out, one hour back. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water.
London Bridge Studio: where Soundgarden recorded Louder Than Love
20021 Ballinger Way NE, Suite A, Shoreline
London Bridge Studio, in Shoreline just north of Seattle, entered Soundgarden’s story in 1989 whenthe band recorded Louder Than Love there. Two years later, the studio welcomed Chris Cornell and Matt Cameron again for the Temple of the Dog sessions — an album recorded in just 15 days as a tribute to Mother Love Bone.
The studio accepts visitors by appointment through its official website, generally on Saturdays.
Black Dog Forge: Soundgarden’s hidden rehearsal space in Seattle
2310 2nd Ave, Seattle
Like Mother Love Bone and Pearl Jam before them, Soundgarden also rehearsed at the Galleria Potatohead — the space now identified by the “Black Dog Forge” mural on the facade of an alley at 2310 2nd Ave in Belltown.
It was in the windowless basement of this former ironworks that some of the early encounters between the bands that would shape the Seattle scene took place.
The space isn’t open to visitors, but the exterior is accessible, and The Rendezvous bar right next door serves as a useful landmark for those arriving on foot or by bus via the 3rd Ave & Bell St stop.
Sub Pop Store Seattle: where to buy authentic memorabilia
908 Alaskan Way, Seattle
Soundgarden was one of the bands launched by the independent label Sub Pop in the 1980s.
The Sub Pop official store — relocated in April 2026 to 908 Alaskan Way at the Maritime Building — is an excellent option for fans who want to take home an authentic piece of Seattle while helping keep the label alive.
The Sub Pop Store carries records, t-shirts, and other official label merchandise. Easy to reach via the G Line, with a stop at 1st Ave & Spring St.
Terminal Sales Building: Sub Pop’s first headquarters and grunge roots
1932 1st Ave, Seattle
On 1st Avenue, just beside Pike Place Market, stands the Terminal Sales Building. It was on the 11th floor of this building that Sub Pop opened its first office, on April 1, 1988.
In those early years, Soundgarden passed through that same space alongside Nirvana, Mudhoney, and the other bands that defined the Seattle scene.
The building is not open to the public, but the facade can be seen from the street. If you stop to take photos, be discreet and respectful of those working inside.
Coryell Court Apartments: Singles filming location and grunge history
1820 E. Thomas Ave, Seattle
The Coryell Court Apartments, a 1920s residential complex on E. Thomas Ave, is one of the main settings in Cameron Crowe’s 1992 film Singles.
For Soundgarden fans, the scene of Chris Cornell walking down the stairs and nodding along while Cliff blasts his car stereo for Janet is hard to forget.
The filming coincided with the period when Soundgarden was recording Badmotorfinger, which gives some sense of just how much was happening for the band at that particular moment.
The building remains occupied today and looks much the same as it did then; the front staircase is the main point of reference. Be discreet and respect the privacy of the residents.
Chris Cornell Statue in Seattle: a powerful tribute for fans
5th Ave N &, Broad St, Seattle (outside MoPOP)
The bronze statue of Chris Cornell — vocalist and founding member of Soundgarden — stands on the sidewalk outside Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture, MoPOP.
The life-size work was sculpted by Nick Marra and donated by Cornell’s widow, Vicky Cornell, in October 2018. The eyes carry a subtle blue pigmentation, a quiet physical reference to him.
The plaque at the base acknowledges his central role in shaping Seattle’s musical scene in the 1990s — the movement that came to be known as grunge — and highlights Soundgarden’s impact on alternative rock worldwide.
Reciprocal Recording: Soundgarden’s earliest recordings in Seattle
4230 NW Leary Way, Seattle
On NW Leary Way stands a triangular building that housed Reciprocal Recording between 1986 and 1991.
This is where Soundgarden recorded the Screaming Life EP in 1987 — one of the band’s earliest releases on Sub Pop.
Managed at the time by Chris Hanzsek and Jack Endino, the studio was where much of the Seattle scene’s foundational demo work took shape.
The building is not open to the public but can be seen from the street. Photograph discreetly and respect those working in the space. The studio currently operates under the name Hall of Justice.
Paramount Theatre: the Motorvision live performance venue
911 Pine St, Seattle
With a capacity of 2,800 and an imposing 1928 facade, the Paramount Theatre on Pine Street hosted some of Soundgarden’s most storied shows.
The standout nights were March 5 and 6, 1992, which were filmed and released as the celebrated concert video Motorvision.
Chris Cornell also returned to the same stage many times throughout his solo career and with Audioslave, between 1999 and 2007.
The theater maintains an active concert schedule.
Easy Street Records: Chris Cornell tribute mural in Seattle
4559 California Ave SW, Seattle
On the facade of Easy Street Records in West Seattle stands the best-known mural honoring Chris Cornell in Seattle, created by artist Son Duong.
What gives the visit an added layer of meaning: before relocating permanently out of Seattle, Chris Cornell lived in this neighborhood. Walking the streets around the store means moving through the same territory that was once part of his everyday life in the city.
Easy Street is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
KEXP: a gathering place for grief after Chris Cornell’s death
472 1st Ave N, Seattle Center
KEXP, the independent radio station located at Seattle Center, became part of the story of mourning for Chris Cornell.
On May 18, 2017 — the day the Soundgarden frontman died while on tour — hundreds of fans gathered outside the station for an impromptu memorial of flowers, photographs, and handwritten messages.
KEXP has been building a consistent relationship with Seattle’s independent music community since 1972, and that day it became a gathering point for everyone who needed somewhere to pay their respects.
The reception is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Guided tours take place on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Pike Place Market: the inspiration behind “Spoonman”
Pike Place & 1st Ave, Seattle
Pike Place Market, at the corner of 1st Ave and Pike Street, is one of Seattle’s most visited landmarks. For Soundgarden fans, though, there’s a specific reason to linger.
The market has a long tradition of street performers, and among those who frequented its sidewalks was Artis the Spoonman — Artis Leon Ivey Jr., born in 1948 — who uses spoons of different shapes and materials as his instrument. He was the inspiration behind “Spoonman,” the opening track of Soundgarden’s 1994 album Superunknown, and he also appears in the music video.
Artis still performs on the streets of Seattle to this day. If you’re lucky, you just might catch him there.
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