A raft of proficient musicians come collectively to kind the brand new King Ultramega supergroup and pay tribute to late Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell within the course of.
The nascent group made their debut on Friday (July 18), sharing a rendition of Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage” – the opening monitor to 1991’s Grammy-nominated Badmotorfinger.
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Main the cost in King Ultramega is vocalist William DuVall of Alice in Chains, who’s joined by Mastodon‘s Invoice Kelliher on guitars, Anthrax and Pantera‘s Charlie Benante on drums, whereas Metallic Allegiance’s Mark Menghi serves as bassist and mastermind for the undertaking.
“I simply leaned into my love for the track and my immense respect for Chris,” DuVall of the quilt. “Because the instrumental monitor Invoice, Charlie, and Mark despatched hewed so carefully to the unique, I believed it finest for me to remain in that ballpark as effectively.”
In response to Menghi, the undertaking began again in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic when he recorded a rendition of the monitor with buddies. After being initially apprehensive of the undertaking given the lofty requirements set by Cornell, Menghi’s place modified as soon as Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil turned concerned and re-recorded one among his personal tracks for the undertaking.
“There may be not a singular second in time that led to this undertaking,” defined Menghi. “It was a path of occasions that led to the formation of King Ultramega and the evolving creation to pay tribute to the voice of a technology.”
Future releases within the sequence will characteristic songs from throughout Cornell’s profession, with alternatives taken from his work with Soundgarden, Audioslave, and his personal solo profession. Every monitor may also be elevating funds and consciousness for MusiCares, with the likes of Joe Satriani, Alissa White-Gluz and Kenny Aronoff all set to seem sooner or later.
“My purpose for collaborating was merely taking up an attention-grabbing problem when a lot of the world was shut down,” added DuVall. “I had no ideas or ambitions for this past our posting it on social media 5 years in the past. But when this launch will help additional the nice work carried out by MusiCares, then I’m all for it.”
“I’m tremendous honored to report alongside all of the wonderful musicians showing on the King Ultramega undertaking,” Thayil added in an announcement. “I’m equally proud that it celebrates Soundgarden on this tribute to the songwriting of Chris. Extremely-admirably, everybody’s participation is supporting the work of the MusiCares Basis.”
Soundgarden formally disbanded in 2017 following Cornell’s passing on the age of 52. Lately, a handful of reunion performances have taken place, together with a December benefit gig underneath the moniker Nudedragons with vocalist Shaina Shepherd in December.
Members of Soundgarden had additionally beforehand been introduced as performers for the current Again To The Starting farewell concert for Ozzy Osbourne at Villa Park in Birmingham, England on July 5, although in the end didn’t attend.
“We’re very grateful to Tony, Ozzy, Geezer and Invoice, in addition to Sharon Osbourne and music director, Tom Morello for the dignity and invitation to Soundgarden to carry out on the Again to the Starting competition!” a statement on Soundgarden’s official Instagram account learn.
“We’re tremendous bummed and remorse that we have been unable to coordinate the schedules of our particular person and collective initiatives to attend and contribute to the competition.”
Hear King Ultramega’s “Rusty Cage” cowl beneath.