Soundgarden back together again (Updated December 26, 2012)

In its heyday, the music of Soundgarden resisted classification. Compared to the blues-rock of Led Zeppelin and the slow riffs of Black Sabbath, the band also had a guitar-driven sound and became the first grunge band to sign with a major record label. But of all the bands on the so-called grunge scene in the early 1990s – including Alice in Chains, Nirvana and Pearl Jam – Soundgarden remained one of the hardest to label.

Originally formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer and rhythm guitarist Chris Cornell, Soundgarden mired in relative obscurity through a number of key personnel changes. Among them was the arrival of bassist Ben Shepherd, who replaced Jason Everman and was credited for bringing a fresh and creative approach to the band's recording sessions. Combined with his knowledge of music and writing skills, he helped to redefine the band in time for the release of its third album in 1991. The result, "Badmotorfinger," helped Soundgarden court a more mainstream metal audience.

Riding a new wave of success, Soundgarden finally achieved worldwide success in 1994 with the album "Superunknown." It was driven by the single "Spoonman," "The Day I Tried to Live," "Black Hole Sun," "MyWave" and "Fell on Black Days." The project won the band two Grammy Awards in 1995; "Black Hole Sun" for Best Hard Rock Performance and "Spoonman" for Best Metal Performance.

Following a world tour in support of "Superunknown," the band members began working on what would be their last studio album for over 15 years. They disbanded on April 9, 1997 and wouldn't reunite until January 2010, announcing the end of the 12-year break on Twitter. The following year they began recording a new album that would be called "King Animal." It bowed to positive reviews, strong first-week sales and secured a top 10 debut. It also spurred a brief North American tour, with more dates to come in 2013.