10 Hidden Details You Never Noticed In Hard Rock Songs
5. Spoonman - Soundgarden
After over a decade on the Seattle scene, it seemed like Soundgarden had finally hit their stride in the mainstream with Superunknown.
Off the strength of songs like "Black Hole Sun" and "Fell on Black Days," the band had a classic that compete with any other rock band out there, whether in Seattle or beyond. That being said, songs like "Spoonman" showed that those years of slogging it out in the underground hadn't cost the band their sense of humor.
Given the Zeppelin like groove and Chris Cornell's amazing screams, it seems like this song is incredibly serious, but the real inspiration comes from...cooking utensils. When coming up with lyrics, Cornell wrote the song about a man they always came across in Seattle who made his living as a street performer who played the spoons.
It would be just a cheap in-joke for Seattle fans if that was it, but things take a different turn once Kim Thayil finishes his solo. Rather than just go into another riff, the band actually brought in the street performer to lay down his distinct groove behind Matt Cameron's drums.
Many people still might not be able to capture the weird vibe of "Spoonman," but the answer to your problem might be right in your kitchen.