🎸 “After the show, they handed me one of the most treasured possessions of my life”: Jim Carrey reflects on Chris Cornell

The 40th Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony took place over the weekend of November 8, once again reaffirming its status as one of music’s most important annual celebrations. As expected, the evening was packed with unforgettable collaborations and landmark performances.

The Rock Hall Class of 2025 included The White Stripes, Bad Company, Soundgarden, Carol Kaye, Cyndi Lauper, Joe Cocker, Outkast, and Chubby Checker, alongside Warren Zevon, Thom Bell, Nicky Hopkins, Lenny Waronker, and Salt N Pepa.

Soundgarden were inducted by actor and lifelong music fan Jim Carrey, who delivered a deeply personal tribute to the band’s late frontman, Chris Cornell. In his speech, Carrey recalled the first time their paths crossed — and a guitar gift that remains priceless to him to this day.

According to Jim Carrey, he met the band in 1996 when he hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time. He insisted that Soundgarden be the musical guest that night.

“At that time, the lineup was Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron on drums, and Ben Shepherd on bass,” Carrey recalled. “They launched straight into the dark, epic beauty of Pretty Noose.”

Standing directly in front of the band, Carrey described the experience as being overwhelmed by waves of sound — almost like an audio baptism.
“They pushed me under,” he said, “and when I came back up, I was free.”

What followed after the show left a lasting impression.

“After the performance, they handed me what is still one of my most cherished possessions,” Carrey said. “It was the Fender Telecaster that Chris Cornell played on the show — signed by every member of the band.”

He concluded his induction speech with a powerful message:
“Tonight, we make sure Chris Cornell, Kim Thayil, Hiro Yamamoto, Matt Cameron, and Ben Shepherd go down in history as one of the most majestic, powerful, and influential bands ever inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Long live Chris Cornell. Long live Soundgarden.”

The tribute continued on stage with surviving members of Soundgarden, joined by Taylor Momsen and Brandi Carlile, who fronted the band for renditions of Rusty Cage and Black Hole Sun.

It was a triumphant night for grunge music.
During Rusty Cage, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam joined the band, doubling Kim Thayil’s riffs while wielding a classic Gibson Les Paul.
On Black Hole Sun, Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains layered soaring lead lines using his G&L Rampage.

Another emotional highlight came when Toni Cornell, daughter of Chris Cornell, teamed up with Nancy Wilson for an acoustic performance of Fell on Black Days, played beneath an in memoriam image of the late singer.

Elsewhere during the ceremony, The White Stripes were honored by twenty one pilots, who performed Seven Nation Army.
Olivia Rodrigo, fresh from her headline-grabbing Glastonbury appearance, joined Feist on acoustic guitar for We’re Going to Be Friends.

Flea took to the stage with Stevie Wonder for a cover of Dance to the Music by Sly & The Family Stone, while The Killers paid tribute to Warren Zevon with Lawyers, Guns and Money.
Zevon was inducted by David Letterman, who also recalled receiving a guitar from the songwriter years earlier.

The night concluded with Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, who closed the ceremony with a moving rendition of With a Little Help From My Friends by The Beatles.
Guest vocalists included Bryan Adams, Cyndi Lauper, and Chris Robinson.

On guitar duty was Derek Trucks, armed with his trusted Gibson SG. Even with the spotlight focused on the singers, he still found space for his unmistakable fingerstyle phrasing — slide-free, but unmistakably his own.

 A Tribute to Chris Cornell" benefit concert - Los Angeles, CA on January 16, 2019.
 

 A Tribute to Chris Cornell" benefit concert - Los Angeles, CA on January 16, 2019.

 A Tribute to Chris Cornell" benefit concert - Los Angeles, CA on January 16, 2019.