Fun Fact
The song features two of the most iconic voices of the 90s grunge scene, Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, sharing lead vocal duties. It was actually Cornell who wrote the song and originally intended to sing it himself, but he felt that the song needed a different kind of voice to truly capture its message. So, he invited Vedder to Seattle to sing on the track, and the two ended up recording an unforgettable duet. Cornell and Vedder had a great deal of mutual respect for each other, and the song’s success helped to solidify their status as two of the most important voices in the grunge movement.
About the Artists
Temple of the Dog was an American rock supergroup formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. It was conceived by vocalist Chris Cornell of Soundgarden as a tribute to his friend, the late Andrew Wood, lead singer of the bands Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone.
The lineup included Stone Gossard on rhythm guitar, Jeff Ament on bass guitar (both ex-members of Mother Love Bone and later Pearl Jam), Mike McCready (later Pearl Jam) on lead guitar, and Matt Cameron (Soundgarden and later Pearl Jam) on drums. Eddie Vedder appeared as a guest to provide some lead and backing vocals and later became lead vocalist of Pearl Jam.
About the Song
Temple of the Dog was a short-lived project that emerged in the early 1990s. The band was formed as a tribute to the late Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood, who died of a heroin overdose in 1990. The members of Mother Love Bone joined forces with Chris Cornell of Soundgarden to create a tribute album, which included the song “Hunger Strike”. Released in 1991, “Hunger Strike” quickly became one of the most iconic songs of the grunge era.
Musically, “Hunger Strike” is a masterclass in the power of dynamics. The song begins with a simple acoustic guitar riff and gradually builds to a massive crescendo, with the addition of electric guitars, bass, drums, and multiple vocal harmonies. Chris Cornell’s soaring vocals and Eddie Vedder’s gritty delivery complement each other perfectly, creating a sense of tension and release that is both exhilarating and cathartic.
Lyrically, “Hunger Strike” is a song about the struggle for personal identity in a world that can feel overwhelming and oppressive. The chorus, with its repeated plea of “I’m going hungry”, captures the feeling of being trapped and unable to escape the demands of society. Yet, the song also contains a message of hope, with lines like “I don’t mind stealing bread from the mouths of decadence” suggesting that there is a way to resist and fight back against the forces that would try to hold us down.
Despite the fact that “Hunger Strike” was not originally intended to be a commercial success, the song has stood the test of time and continues to be a beloved classic of the grunge era. Its message of resistance and personal empowerment is as relevant today as it was in 1991, making “Hunger Strike” a timeless anthem for anyone who has ever felt lost or alone.
