Soundgarden

Formed in Seattle in 1984 and fronted by Chris Cornell, Soundgarden bridged the city's punk underground and the heavy-metal tradition with odd time signatures and a soaring, powerful voice. They were among the first Sub Pop acts and, in 1989, one of the first Seattle bands to sign to a major label. Their 1991 album "Badmotorfinger" arrived alongside the scene's national breakthrough.