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Friday, August 8, 2008

Sound Garden Live on Planet Earth: The History


The seeds of Big were originally planted far away from the Emerald City in the fertile plains of the Midwest. Park Forest, Ill. natives and longtime friends Kim Thayil (guitar), Hiro Yamamoto (bass) and Bruce Pavitt, decided to move to Olympia, Wash. in 1981 to attend college and check out the budding underground culture. Thayil and Yamamoto soon became involved in a band called the Shemps, which featured vocalist/drummer Chris Cornell, while Pavitt founded the fanzine that would evolve into Sub Pop Records. The Shemps folded in 1984, but Yamamoto and new roommate Cornell decided to form a new project, soon bringing Thayil onboard and taking their name, Big, from a popular Seattle sculpture.

With drummer Scott Sundquist, Big toured heavily in the Pacific Northwest, gradually building up a large underground following with their unique mix of rock, metal and punk. In 1986 Sundquist left the band and was replaced by Skin Yard drummer Matt Cameron. The following year, the band signed to Pavitt's fledgling Sup Pop label and released their debut single, "Hunted Down," and the subsequent EP, Screaming Life. Another EP, FOPP, followed in 1988 earning the band big time buzz and major label interest. Preferring indie labels, they signed to SST and released their debut full-length, Ultramega OK later that year.

The band soon moved to the majors, signing with A&M Records, and began to record their sophomore album in December 1998. Louder Than Love was released in 1989 earning glowing reviews and eventually a Grammy nomination. Unfortunately, the band's success didn't stop Yamamoto from leaving the group to return to school. With a full tour schedule planned, the remaining members of Big frantically searched for a new bassist. Former Nirvana guitarist Jason Everman eventually won the job, but not before the band auditioned old friend Ben Shepard, who impressed the group with his style, but didn't know any of the songs. At the end of the tour, Everman left Big and was replaced by Shepard.

As the release of Big's third album, Badmotorfinger, approached in 1991, the anticipation mounted as the critics predicted Big to be the breakout stars of the insurgent Seattle scene. Unfortunately, the album was overshadowed by the surprise success of Nirvana's Nevermind, but it still managed to go platinum and peak at No. 39 on the charts, spawning the classic singles "Outshined" and "Rusty Cage." Categorized as a metal band, Big toured with acts like Guns N' Roses Monster Magnet and Skid Row before joining the lineup of 1992's Lollapalooza with Pearl Jam, Ministry and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, among others. The band gained even more exposure through Cornell and Cameron's involvement with Temple of the Dog, a band assembled in tribute to Andrew Wood, the late singer of Seattle's Mother Love Bone, which also featured Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard and Eddie Vedder.

After a brief rest, Big released Superunknown in 1994. The breakthrough, featuring the hits "Spoonman," "Fell on Black Days" and the crossover smash and MTV staple "Black Hole Sun, would eventually go triple platinum and earn two Grammys. After a multi-leg tour, the band released Down on the Upside in 1996. Another strong album showered with critical raves, Down on the Upside was somewhat of a disappointment in sales even with the singles "Pretty Noose," "Burden in My Hand" and "Blow Up the Outside World."

Returning to Lollapalooza that summer, Big toured with acts like Metallica and the Ramones before launching their own tour in late 1996.With rumors of internal turmoil circulating in the press, they continued touring until, on April 7, 1997, they laid the rumors to rest by breaking up. Since then, Thayil and Shepard have appeared in various side projects, Cameron has taken up residency behind the drum kit with fellow Seattlites Pearl Jam, and Cornell has embarked on a solo career.
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Top 200 90s Alternative Rock Songs

No. Song Artist Album Year Last Rank
1 Karma Police Radiohead OK Computer 1997 1
2 No Excuses Alice in Chains Jar of Flies 1994 2
3 Smells Like Teen Spirit Nirvana Nevermind 1991 N/A
4 Bittersweet Symphony The Verve Urban Hymns 1997 9
5 Heaven Beside You Alice in Chains Alice in Chains 1995 3
6 One Headlight The Wallflowers Bringing Down the Horse 1996 4
7 Jesus Christ Pose Soundgarden Badmotorfinger 1991 N/A
8 Bullet With Butterfly Wings Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness 1995 N/A
9 Lithium Nirvana Nevermind 1991 N/A
10 1979 Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness 1995 5
11 Paranoid Android Radiohead OK Computer 1997 12
12 Down in a Hole Alice in Chains Dirt 1992 8
13 Nutshell Alice in Chains Jar of Flies 1994 7
14 Otherside Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication 1999 6
15 Losing My Religion REM Out of Time 1991 10
16 Everlong Foo Fighters The Colour and the Shape 1997 N/A
17 Cherub Rock Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream 1993 N/A
18 Come As You Are Nirvana Nevermind 1991 N/A
19 Wonderwall Oasis (What's the Story) Morning Glory? 1995 13
20 The Way Fastball All the Pain Money Can Buy 1998 14
21 I Stay Away Alice in Chains Jar of Flies 1994 N/A
22 Brain Stew Green Day Insomniac 1995 N/A
23 Creep Stone Temple Pilots Core 1992 15
24 In Bloom Nirvana Nevermind 1991 N/A
25 Rotten Apple Alice in Chains Jar of Flies 1994 16
26 Heart Shaped Box Nirvana In Utero 1993 N/A
27 Plush Stone Temple Pilots Core 1992 N/A
28 The Man Who Sold The World (Cover) Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York 1994 17
29 Californication Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication 1999 24
30 Ænima Tool Ænima 1996 N/A
31 Grind Alice in Chains Alice in Chains 1995 N/A
32 Mr. Jones Counting Crows August and Everything After 1993 19
33 Personal Jesus Depeche Mode Violator 1990 N/A
34 Under The Bridge Red Hot Chili Peppers Blood Sugar Sex Magik 1991 18
35 Bound for the Floor Local H As Good As Dead 1996 N/A
36 Touch, Peel and Stand Days of the New Days of the New 1997 N/A
37 Man In The Box Alice in Chains Facelift 1990 N/A
38 Your Woman White Town Women In Technology 1997 N/A
39 No Shelter Rage Against the Machine The Battle of Los Angeles 1999 N/A
40 All The Small Things Blink-182 Enema of the State 1999 N/A
41 Would? Alice in Chains Dirt 1992 N/A
42 In The Meantime Spacehog Resident Alien 1995 20
43 Dumb Nirvana In Utero 1993 25
44 You Ought to Know Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill 1995 N/A
45 All I Want Toad the Wet Sprocket Fear 1991 21
46 December Collective Soul Collective Soul 1995 23
47 Dirt Alice in Chains Dirt 1992 N/A
48 Mayonaise Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream 1993 N/A
49 Song 2 Blur Blur 1997 N/A
50 A Long December Counting Crows Recovering the Satellites 1996 27
51 Santa Monica Everclear Sparkle & Fade 1995 30
52 Rooster Alice in Chains Dirt 1992 N/A
53 Counting Blue Cars Dishwalla Pet Your Friends 1995 29
54 Buddy Holly Weezer Blue Album 1994 N/A
55 Burden In My Hand Soundgarden Down on the Upside 1996 34
56 Soma Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream 1993 40
57 Junkhead Alice in Chains Dirt 1992 N/A
58 Flagpole Sitta Harvey Danger Where Have All The Merrymakers Gone? 1998 N/A
59 Enter Sandman Metallica Metallica 1991 N/A
60 I Alone Live Throwing Copper 1994 26
61 Run Collective Soul Dosage 1999 32
62 Find The River REM Automatic for the People 1992 47
63 A Tout Le Monde Megadeth Youthanasia 1994 N/A
64 Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm Crash Test Dummies God Shuffled his Feet 1993 31
65 Unglued Stone Temple Pilots Purple 1994 N/A
66 Low Cracker Kerosene Hat 1993 33
67 Streets of Philadelphia Bruce Springsteen Soundtrack: Philadelphia 1993 35
68 Interstate Love Song Stone Temple Pilots Purple 1994 41
69 Self Esteem The Offspring Smash 1994 N/A
70 Sex and Candy Marcy Playground Marcy Playground 1997 36
71 Lucky Man The Verve Urban Hymns 1997 37
72 Semi Charmed Life Third Eye Blind Third Eye Blind 1997 39
73 Thief Our Lady Peace Happiness... Is Not A Fish That You Can Catch 1999 28
74 Possum Kingdom Toadies Rubberneck 1994 N/A
75 Rape Me Nirvana In Utero 1993 N/A
76 Zero Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness 1995 N/A
77 Tyler Toadies Rubberneck 1994 N/A
78 Lucky Radiohead OK Computer 1997 46
79 Blow up the Outside World Soundgarden Down on the Upside 1996 N/A
80 Drive REM Automatic for the People 1992 49
81 Iris Goo Goo Dolls Dizzy Up the Girl 1998 38
82 Today Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream 1993 N/A
83 Big Empty Stone Temple Pilots Purple 1994 54
84 Hate To Feel Alice in Chains Dirt 1992 N/A
85 Mary Jane's Last Dance Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Greatest Hits 1993 43
86 Why I'm Here Oleander February Son 1999 N/A
87 Sour Girl Stone Temple Pilots No. 4 1999 45
88 Closing Time Semisonic Feeling Strangely Fine 1998 62
89 Nearly Lost You Screaming Trees Sweet Oblivion 1992 N/A
90 Say It Ain't So Weezer Blue Album 1994 N/A
91 What's The Frequency, Kenneth? REM Monster 1994 51
92 Carnival Natalie Merchant Tigerlily 1995 87
93 Crazy Life Toad the Wet Sprocket Coil 1997 71
94 Never Let You Go Third Eye Blind Blue 1999 63
95 Linger The Cranberries Everybody Else is Doing It 1993 91
96 Losing A Whole Year Third Eye Blind Third Eye Blind 1997 N/A
97 You Learn Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill 1995 76
98 Runaway Train Soul Asylum Grave Dancer's Union 1992 68
99 All My Friends Counting Crows This Desert Life 1999 67
100 Don't Look Back In Anger Oasis (What's the Story) Morning Glory? 1995 44
101 Rhinoceros Smashing Pumpkins Gish 1991 52
102 Hand In My Pocket Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill 1995 55
103 Ava Adore Smashing Pumpkins Adore 1998 N/A
104 Rain When I Die Alice in Chains Dirt 1992 N/A
105 Tighter & Tighter Soundgarden Down on the Upside 1996 58
106 Only in Dreams Weezer Blue Album 1994 N/A
107 Killing in the Name of Rage Against the Machine Rage Against the Machine 1992 N/A
108 Outshined Soundgarden Badmotorfinger 1991 N/A
109 One of Us Joan Osborne Relish 1995 90
110 Tonight, Tonight Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie & The Infinite Sadness 1995 69
111 Zombie The Cranberries No Need To Argue 1994 85
112 Saint Joe on the School Bus Marcy Playground Marcy Playground 1997 N/A
113 Bittersweet Me REM New Adventures in Hi-Fi 1996 74
114 Good Morning Baby Bic Runga and Dan Wilson Soundtrack: American Pie 1999 N/A
115 Good Better than Ezra Deluxe 1995 78
116 Take a Picture Filter Title of Record 1999 95
117 The Chemicals Between Us Bush The Science of Things 1999 N/A
118 The Good Life Weezer Pinkerton 1996 N/A
119 We Are Vertical Horizon Everything You Want 1999 70
120 Whats My Age Again? Blink-182 Enema of the State 1999 N/A
121 Don't Follow Alice in Chains Jar of Flies 1994 81
122 Selling The Drama Live Throwing Copper 1994 80
123 On a Plain Nirvana Nevermind 1991 N/A
124 Bulls on Parade Rage Against the Machine Evil Empire 1996 N/A
125 Ironic Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill 1995 N/A
126 Drive Incubus Make Yourself 1999 N/A
127 Stranger By the Day Shades Apart Eyewitness 1999 N/A
128 Love Spreads Stone Roses Second Coming 1994 83
129 Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth Primitive Radio Gods Rocket 1996 77
130 Cuts You Up Peter Murphy Deep 1990 N/A
131 Enjoy The Silence Depeche Mode Violator 1990 N/A
132 Fake Plastic Trees Radiohead The Bends 1995 N/A
133 Weapon and the Wound Days of the New Days of the New 1997 N/A
134 Over Now Alice in Chains Alice in Chains 1995 N/A
135 Prophecy Remy Zero Villa Elaine 1998 59
136 Fell On Black Days Soundgarden Superunknown 1994 84
137 Headache Frank Black Teenager of the Year 1994 N/A
138 High Feeder Polythene 1998 N/A
139 Compliment Collective Soul Dosage 1999 N/A
140 Woodburning Toad the Wet Sprocket Dulcinea 1994 96
141 About A Girl (Live) Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York 1994 N/A
142 Creep Radiohead Pablo Honey 1993 72
143 In the Garage Weezer Blue Album 1994 N/A
144 Gotta Get Away The Offspring Smash 1994 N/A
145 Nothing Else Matters Metallica Metallica 1991 N/A
146 Shine Collective Soul Hints, Allegations, and Things Left Unsaid 1993 N/A
147 Breed Nirvana Nevermind 1991 N/A
148 Casual Affair Tonic Lemon Parade 1996 N/A
149 Fade Into You Mazzy Star So Tonight That I Might See 1993 93
150 My Friends Red Hot Chili Peppers One Hot Minute 1995 54
151 Black Hole Sun Soundgarden Superunknown 1994 48
152 My Name is Jonas Weezer Blue Album 1994 N/A
153 Out of My Head Fastball All the Pain Money Can Buy 1998 N/A
154 Beautiful Disaster 311 Transistor 1997 N/A
155 Champagne Supernova Oasis (What's the Story) Morning Glory? 1995 94
156 All I Know Screaming Trees Dust 1996 N/A
157 Gone Away The Offspring Ixnay on the Hombre 1997 N/A
158 Santeria Sublime Sublime 1996 N/A
159 Columbia Oasis Definitely Maybe 1994 N/A
160 The Freshman Verve Pipe Villains 1996 42
161 All Over You Live Throwing Copper 1994 65
162 The Unforgiven Metallica Metallica 1991 N/A
163 Jeremy Pearl Jam Ten 1991 N/A
164 Hold Her Down Toad the Wet Sprocket Fear 1991 N/A
165 Piece Of Pie Stone Temple Pilots Core 1992 N/A
166 Silvergun Superman Stone Temple Pilots Purple 1994 N/A
167 Black Pearl Jam Ten 1991 50
168 Warm Machine Bush The Science of Things 1999 N/A
169 Rocket Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream 1993 N/A
170 Whiskey In The Jar (Cover) Metallica Garage Inc. 1998 N/A
171 Closer Nine Inch Nails Downward Spiral 1994 N/A
172 Just Radiohead The Bends 1995 89
173 Hows It Gonna Be Third Eye Blind Third Eye Blind 1997 N/A
174 Jumper Third Eye Blind Third Eye Blind 1997 N/A
175 Mysterious Ways U2 Achtung Baby 1991 N/A
176 Army Ants Stone Temple Pilots Purple 1994 N/A
177 Uno Muse Showbiz 1999 N/A
178 Everything You Want Vertical Horizon Everything You Want 1999 N/A
179 My Iron Lung Radiohead The Bends 1995 64
180 Desperately Wanting Better than Ezra Friction, Baby 1996 N/A
181 What The Hell Have I? Alice in Chains Nothing Safe 1999 N/A
182 Hello Kitty Kat Smashing Pumpkins Pisces Iscariot 1994 N/A
183 Walk On The Ocean Toad the Wet Sprocket Fear 1991 N/A
184 Break It Down Again Tears for Fears Elemental 1993 N/A
185 Laid James Laid 1993 N/A
186 Morning Glory Oasis (What's the Story) Morning Glory? 1995 86
187 Head Over Feet Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill 1995 N/A
188 Quiet Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream 1993 N/A
189 The Day I Tried to Live Soundgarden Superunknown 1994 N/A
190 Far Behind Candlebox Candlebox 1993 100
191 King Nothing Metallica Load 1996 N/A
192 Lake Of Fire (Cover) Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York 1994 N/A
193 Scar Tissue Red Hot Chili Peppers Californication 1999 N/A
194 The Difference The Wallflowers Bringing Down the Horse 1996 92
195 Muscle Museum (Live) Muse Showbiz 1999 N/A
196 The Bends Radiohead The Bends 1995 66
197 Sweet 69 Babes In Toyland Nemesisters 1995 N/A
198 Pepper Butthole Surfers Electriclarryland 1996 73
199 Underneath the Sky Oasis The Masterplan 1998 N/A
200 Disarm Smashing Pumpkins Siamese Dream 1993 N/A