Hunger Strike

About this song

Chris Cornell wrote the song as a question about whether his music would become commercialized, but it was reworked once he presented it to the other members of the project. When rehearsals began, Eddie Vedder stepped up to sing the low parts, and Cornell decided that Vedder's voice suited them, which turned the song into the single. After its release following the breakthroughs of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, it reached the Top 10 on the Alternative and Mainstream Rock charts. Pearl Jam has performed it live on occasions when Cornell was nearby, with guest singers including Ben Bridwell, Corin Tucker and Andrew Stockdale.

What it's about

The song is built around Chris Cornell's questioning of whether his music would get commercialized. Its duet structure gives the low vocal parts to a second singer.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 1 other song, like “Play Your Part (Pt. 1) by Girl Talk”.
• Covered 8 times, including “Hunger Strike by Daughtry (Ft. Lajon Witherspoon)”.
• Written by Chris Cornell.
• Produced by Rick Parashar and Temple of the Dog.
• Recorded at London Bridge Studios.