TEMPLE OF THE DOG IN CONCERT:
Before they were known as a grunge supergroup that featured members of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog was just a one-off tribute to fallen singer Andrew Wood that brought together some seriously talented Seattle musicians for a self-titled album in 1991. As Soundgarden and Pearl Jam reached multi-platinum success later in the '90s, Temple of the Dog's scant live performances became the stuff of myth to all but a lucky few. Now, they're back to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their sole album and blow grunge fans away with favorites like "Hunger Strike," "Say Hello 2 Heaven," and "Pushin Forward Back." The heavy riffs from Pearl Jam guitarists Mike McCready and Stone Gossard will be on tap, and Eddie Vedder's meditative baritone is sure to take fans on a journey with each evocative trill. But things get even better when Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell ups the ante with his gritty multi-octave tenor, making for a dynamic vocal duo that tackles a range of material from elegiac ballads to hard-rocking anthems. Ticket buyers that want to experience this classic moment in Seattle's music history up close and personal can't miss Temple of the Dog on this once-in-a-lifetime reunion tour.
BACKGROUND SNAPSHOT:
Andrew Wood and Chris Cornell's friendship stretched back to the early '80s, when Wood's band Malfunkshun would frequently play with Cornell's Soundgarden. Wood later formed Mother Love Bone with Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament (later of Pearl Jam fame), but sadly died of an overdose a few months before their 1990 debut was released. Cornell - Wood's roommate at the time - decided to work through his grief by bringing together a who's-who of Seattle musicians: Gossard, Ament, and Cornell were joined by Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron, plus newcomers Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready. Temple of the Dog poured their emotions into a self-titled album that was released in 1991, though few outside Seattle took notice. The members of TOTD moved on a few months later: Cornell and Cameron returned to Soundgarden and released Badmotorfinger, while Vedder, Ament, McCready, and Gossard formed Pearl Jam and released their debut album Ten. When both of those albums became hugely successful staples of grunge music's rise, A&M Records re-released Temple of the Dog's sole LP in 1992 and promoted the single "Hunger Strike," which reached the top ten of the US Modern Rock Tracks chart. The side project achieved cult status while Soundgarden and Pearl Jam grew into two of the most influential bands of the '90s. In addition to playing in Soundgarden, drummer Matt Cameron joined Pearl Jam in 1998, making unofficial Temple of the Dog reunions possible when Cornell popped up at performances in 2003, 2009, 2011, and 2014. Fans eager for an official reunion got their wish when the band announced a full-scale tour for the 25th anniversary of their self-titled album. Lovers of the Seattle sound are sure to jump on this second chance to see these seasoned rockers across North America.
