The “Rusty Cage” legacy lives on in 2011 as a staple of Soundgarden’s recent reunion shows, which barrel along with a massive arena tour this summer. “Rusty Cage” didn’t walk home with a trophy that year, but would be vindicated in 1998, after Johnny Cash sealed the song’s place in the American songbook with his mournful cover on the Grammy-dominating Unchained. Immediately following its release, “Rusty Cage” became a bridge between Headbanger’s Ball thrashers and 120 Minutes alternageeks not to mention wooing the Grammy voting board, who nominated Badmotorfinger for Best Metal Performance. Soundgarden’s sound was a raw, threatening ferocity that made radio metal seem immediately gauche, but played with arena-ready chops that could beat them at their own game - and you can hear both in frontman Chris Cornell’s fire engine wail. “Suffice it to say,” SPIN wrote about its accompanying album, Badmotorfinger, in 1991, “whatever awesome heavy rock experience you might have grown up with, you can probably find traces.” Inhabiting the same magnetically arty X-factor that pulsed within contemporaries like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains, “Rusty Cage” helped changed the musical and cultural landscape of the ’90s (you can even spot guitarist Kim Thayil rocking a flannel in the video). It was punk spirit tempered with rock-star bravado, metal riffs forged with pop smarts. "Guitar Center Sessions" is but one example of the music retailer's efforts to support artists by creating new avenues to expose their music to large audiences in an ever-changing music industry.Perhaps more than any other song from the early ’90s, Soundgarden’s “Rusty Cage” is emblematic of grunge’s rock-mutt DNA. In addition to show-stopping performances, each episode features intimate interviews conducted by renowned journalist Nic Harcourt, offering rare insights into the celebrated careers of these icons and the inspirations behind their music. "Guitar Center Sessions" captures exclusive live performances and interviews from noteworthy and influential artists in stunning hi-definition and 5.1 Surround Sound in Guitar Center's iconic location on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. "It's like a private concert and discussion that happens in your living room." " Guitar Center and DirecTV have created a unique venue for these artists whereby the taping of these shows takes place directly on the premises at Guitar Center in Hollywood as they create a personal and intimate experience for our customers," said Christopher Long, senior vice president of original content and production, DirecTV. " 'Guitar Center Sessions' aims to fill that void while providing musicians with a world-class television platform that exposes their music to the masses, and inspires music enthusiasts and fans across the globe." "With millions of viewers tuning in each month, it is clear that there is an audience seeking the type of quality music programming that has otherwise virtually disappeared from television in the past decade," says Dustin Hinz, director of music and entertainment marketing for Guitar Center. and FITZ AND THE TANTRUMS, this wide variety of musical acts creates a broad and unique musical journey simply unmatched anywhere on television," says Harcourt. From legends like Peter Gabriel and Joe Walsh to buzzworthy up-and-comers like Gary Clark Jr. "With 'Guitar Center Sessions', it all begins with the curation process. Video footage of the "Rusty Cage" performance from SOUNDGARDEN's Guitar Center Sessions episode - which was filmed in Austin, Texas - can be seen below. Guitar Center Sessions features exclusive performances and intimate, enlightening conversations conducted by revered musical tastemaker Nic Harcourt.
Guitar Center, the world's largest retailer of musical instruments and equipment, and DirecTV, one of the world's leading providers of digital television entertainment services, will spotlight SOUNDGARDEN in the award-winning music series Guitar Center Sessions on Sunday, May 4 on DirecTV's Audience Network (Channel 239).