Pearl Jam’s guitar ace is set to be one of the big names at the 2025 ceremony, finally giving Soundgarden their official spot in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Mike McCready will hit the stage at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, November 8, streaming live on Disney+.
A founding member of Pearl Jam, inducted back in 2017, McCready is a Seattle legend: a guitarist who blends technical chops with raw feel, blues with fury, melody with punch.
This year’s class also brings in Soundgarden, alongside The White Stripes, Joe Cocker, Cindy Lauper, Outkast, Warren Zevon, and plenty more. Given Mike’s deep bond with Chris Cornell’s crew, it’s easy to picture him jumping right in.
The idea of him introducing them—or even ripping a few riffs with them—doesn’t seem far-fetched. His history with Chris Cornell, forged in Temple of the Dog, and with Matt Cameron (also in TOTD and Pearl Jam’s drummer from ’98 to ’25) is one of Seattle’s most real connections.
Over the years, Mike has shared the stage with Soundgarden more than a few times, tearing through anthems like Superunknown and the killer Tighter & Tighter — moments packed with respect and that true Seattle vibe. Seeing him now on stage with the surviving members would be a straight-up salute to the city, the music, and an era of rock that can’t be repeated.
UPDATE (10/28/2025)
Judging by the pics Matt Cameron dropped on his Instagram, it pretty much looks confirmed that Mike McCready’s gonna be jamming with Soundgarden. And that’s not all — spotted in the same Seattle rehearsal room were Jerry Cantrell from Alice In Chains, Hiro Yamamoto, Soundgarden’s original bassist, and Taylor Momsen from The Pretty Reckless — the band that rolled with Soundgarden on their 2017 tour before it got cut short by Chris Cornell’s tragic passing.
Off the big arena circuit, McCready’s still all over the place. Last weekend, he showed up for the opening of Window Into Solitary, a photo exhibit diving into life behind bars in long-term isolation. The show, put together with Mutual Arts Collective and the Social Documentary Network, runs through December 31 at 94 Pike Street in Seattle.And in Seattle, the music never stops: on October 23, McCready took center stage at the Icons of Pop Culture Gala organized by MoPOP, where he joined a collective tribute to Jimi Hendrix – a performance especially meaningful since Hendrix is one of the most iconic sons of the city they both call home. For the occasion, Mike played the traditional Star-Spangled Banner on a guitar that actually belonged to Hendrix.
The next night, October 24, he was back at Fremont Studios for Epicure, an evening blending food, art, and music for local causes—intimate jams, spontaneous moments, and that direct connection with the crowd that’s always been his signature.
Born in Reggio Emilia in 1980. He created pearljamonline.it in 2001 and wrote the first edition of “Pearl Jam Evolution” in 2009 along with his wife Daria. Since 2022, he is behind 2 podcasts: “Pearl Jam dalla A alla Z” and “Fuori Orario Not Another Podcast”. He has collaborated with Barracuda Style, HvsR, Rolling Stone, Rockol and Il Fatto Quotidiano. He continues relentlessly to try to find “beautiful melodies that say terrible things”.
Favorite song: Present Tense
Favorite album: No Code
Favorite bands/artists other than PJ: Tom Waits, Soundgarden, Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, IDLES, Fontaines D.C., Mark Lanegan, R.E.M., Radiohead, Cat Power, Dead Kennedys