1984 – Chris forms Soundgarden with Hiro Yamamoto and Kim Thayil, naming the band after an art installation in Seattle’s Sand Point. Chris initially plays drums while singing, but in 1985 the band enlists drummer Scott Sundquist to allow him to concentrate on vocals. They play their first show at a club called Top of the Court in Seattle. The band’s first recordings are three songs for a C/Z Records compilation called Deep Six.

1987/1988 – Kim Thayil introduces the two eventual founders of the Sub Pop label and encourages them to start a label. Scott Sundquist is replaced by Matt Cameron and the band signs to Sub Pop, releasing the Screaming Life EP in 1987, and the Fopp EP in 1988. A combination of the two is later issued as Screaming Life/Fopp in 1990.

1988 – Though the band is the first of the Seattle grunge acts to generate major label interest, in 1988 they sign to the lesser known SST Records to release debut album Ultramega OK.

1989 – The band release their first album for a major label, Louder than Love on A&M Records. Bassist Yamamoto leaves the band to return to college. Jason Everman, formerly of Nirvana, joins the band briefly. He plays bass on the band’s cover of The Beatles’ Come Together and appears in the Loud Love video. Shortly afterwards, he is replaced by Ben Shepherd. The band’s first music video, Flower, is directed by Mark Miremont.

1990 – Soundgarden receives a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance for Ultramega OK.

1991 – The new line up records Badmotorfinger in 1991. The band tours with Guns N’ Roses to support the album, and later releases the video compilation Motorvision, filmed on that tour.

1992 – Soundgarden appears in the Cameron Crowe movie Singles performing Birth Ritual and Chris Cornell solo song Seasons is also included on the soundtrack. From July, the band joins the Lollapalooza tour alongside the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, and Ministry.

1993 – Under the name M.A.C.C, Chris Cornell covers Jimi Hendrix’s “Hey Baby (House Of The New Rising Sun)” along with Mike McCready, Jeff Ament and Matt Cameron. The track is released in October on Hendrix tribute album Stone Free, alongside tracks by Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Paul Rodgers and others.

1994 – Soundgarden plays in Australia and Japan for the first time. In March, the album Superunknown is released and becomes the band’s breakout album as they continue to tour worldwide. The music video for Black Hole Sun is a hit on MTV and wins Best Metal/Hard Rock Video at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards. Soundgarden receive two Grammy Awards in 1995; Black Hole Sun for Best Hard Rock Performance and Spoonman for Best Metal Performance.

1996- The band’s final album is 1996’s self-produced Down on the Upside. Singles include Pretty Noose, Blow Up the Outside World, and Burden in My Hand.

1997 – February 9 sees Soundgarden’s last 90s show at Honolulu’s Blaisdell Arena. Exactly two months later, they disband. A greatest-hits compilation titled A-Sides, is released in November.

2010 – In August, Soundgarden make a historic return to the live stage as headliners for Chicago’s Lollapalooza festival, and release their retrospective album ‘Telephantasm’ in September.

2011 – Soundgarden announce the March release of live album ‘Live on I5’, taken from their 1996 US tour, and enter the studio to begin recording new material. In Summer, following Chris Cornell’s ‘Songbook’ solo acoustic tour, Soundgarden embark on a tour of the US and Canada.

2012 – Soundgarden tour in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America. Their album ‘King Animal’ is released on November 13.

2013 – Soundgarden tour North America.

2014 – Soundgarden tour in North America and Europe. Superunknown received a 20th Anniversary reissue. In November, rarities collection “Echo of Miles: Scattered Tracks Across The Path” is released.

2015 – Soundgarden tour in Australia and New Zealand.

2016 – The album Badmotorfinger receives a 25th Anniversary reissue.

2017 – The band tour the USA.