In August, 1993, Neil Young toured the northeast with Booker T and the MGs; Soundgarden and Blind Melon opened the shows making for a great triple bill. I vaguely remember seeing Blind Melon on stage from our Jones Beach Theatre orchestra seats to the right of the stage but I will never forget Soundgarden’s set that came next. The Jones Beach Theatre is an outdoor venue and when Soundgarden was on stage a summer lightening storm came through the area. A long haired barefoot Chris Cornell swirled around the stage as if possessed all the while the rain poured down and lightening lit up the sky. As puddles formed around Cornell’s bare feet, the band played on, spectators scampered back underneath the main structure for cover, and I wondered if lightening hit the water onstage would the band disintegrate before our eyes. As I recall, Soundgarden seemed empowered by the storm, and defiant, as the band powered through its set; when the band was finished, and just before Neil Young took the stage, the rain suddenly stopped and the sky cleared as if on cue.

Like a Hurricane

Rock on!

GQ