On April 16, 1991, Temple of the Dog was released. 35 years later, it is still one of the most beloved album of the 90s.
In a 1991 KISW interview, Chris Cornell explained that the songs came right after Andrew Wood’s death. It was written while he was away on tour, as a way to process what has happened. Those songs didn’t fit Soundgarden. But Chris said, they felt like something Andy would have liked — and that’s what mattered.
So he reached out to Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament. What started as a small idea — maybe even just a single, turned into something else once they got in a room together. As they put it back then, it quickly became “let’s just make a record and have fun” .
And that’s exactly what it sounds like.
The album was recorded in late 1990 at London Bridge Studio in Seattle, produced by Rick Parashar. Without pressure, or expectations. They even partially financed it themselves at the start, with no label hovering over the process .
It came together fast, around twoweeks of actual recording time. At that moment, Pearl Jam hadn’t released Ten yet, Eddie Vedder had just arrived in Seattle. He ended up on Hunger Strike almost by accident — showing up to rehearsals, connecting with the song, and naturally finding his place in it. Even Cornell admitted the vocal style on that track was something different for him, and Vedder’s voice just fit. Nothing about it was planned.Which is probably why it worked.
A Temple of the Dog Seattle's tour
If you ever want to understand this record beyond just listening to it, Seattle gives you a way to do that.
Discovery Park — “Hunger Strike”
This is where the Hunger Strike video was filmed. The cliffs, the beach, the wind — it still looks like the video.
London Bridge Studio
Where the album was recorded in 1990. Also where Ten came together right after. This place is basically ground zero for that entire era.
Black Dog Forge — Rehearsals
Not the most obvious stop, but an important one. This is where the band worked through the songs before recording — when it still felt like an idea more than a project.
Cyclops Café — In Between
A regular hangout during that time. Meals, conversations, downtime — the kind of place where bands exist when they’re not in the studio.
Moore Theatre
All of them passed through this stage . One of those rare full-circle locations.
El Corazon (formerly Off Ramp)
One of the early venues where this whole scene lived before the world noticed.
MoPOP — Chris Cornell & Andy Wood
Chris Cornell’s statue outside and Andy Wood’s presence inside.
Ferry to Bremerton — Andy Wood
On the way, you get one of the best views of Seattle — both directions.
35 Years Later
Back in that 1991 interview, they kept saying the same thing:
there was no pressure, no expectations — just a group of friends playing music because they needed to. That’s still what you hear on the record.
Temple of the Dog wasn’t built to last 35 years. It just happened to be honest enough to do it anyway.
If you’re in Seattle, this tour lets you step into that moment.
If you’re not — press play. And share your favorite track today. 💜
