Soundgarden’s Spoonman was released as the lead single from Superunknown, marking a turning point in the band’s sound with its bold, unconventional rhythm and percussive elements played on spoons. The song stood in contrast to the fast-paced aggression of Rusty Cage from Badmotorfinger, highlighting the band's evolving musical range while maintaining their signature intensity.
In 1995, Spoonman earned Soundgarden a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance, one of two wins for the band that year, alongside Black Hole Sun.
Among the "Big Four" of grunge, Soundgarden holds the fewest Grammy wins, with four in total. However, Alice in Chains holds the record for the most nominations without a win, with 50 nominations across various awards.
The origins of Spoonman date back to the making of the Singles soundtrack. During the film’s production, Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament jokingly created a fictional cassette tracklist with made-up song titles. Inspired by this, Chris Cornell wrote and recorded multiple songs, including an early acoustic version of Spoonman, as well as Seasons and Flutter Girl. A later version of Flutter Girl appeared on Cornell’s first solo album, Euphoria Morning (1999). The original recordings of these tracks were later included in the Singles Deluxe Edition soundtrack, released in 2017 to mark the film’s 25th anniversary.
The Spoonman referenced in the song is a real person—street performer Artis the Spoonman, who appears in the music video and is credited as one of the musicians on Superunknown. Known for his unique talent in playing spoons, Artis continues to perform. A video from March 1994 captures him playing alongside Soundgarden during their London concert.
The music video for Spoonman, directed by Jeffrey Plansker, is a minimalist production primarily featuring Artis, while the band appears only through black-and-white still photographs. The video opens with a sequence showing Artis preparing for his performance, offering a glimpse into his technique and remarkable skill.
Spoonman remains one of Soundgarden’s most recognized songs, frequently included in rankings of the band’s greatest works. In January 2022, the Melvins released a cover of the track on their Lord of the Flies EP, featuring guest drummer Matt Cameron. They had previously performed the song at the I Am the Highway tribute concert for Chris Cornell.
To explore Spoonman's impact further, a vintage MTV special report is available on our YouTube channel: Watch here. This rare footage features interviews with the band discussing the song’s origins and significance. The comment section is filled with fans sharing their memories of Spoonman's release and reflecting on its lasting influence. Don’t miss this opportunity to revisit a key moment in Soundgarden’s history.
