Why did Hiro Yamamoto leave the band Soundgarden?

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Soundgarden paved the way for the grunge music scene that flourished in the 1990s. Though they were the last among the “Big 4” grunge bands to achieve commercial success, they had been active in the music scene years before bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam came onto the scene. During these years, Hiro Yamamoto made significant musical contributions to Soundgarden.

Yamamoto was one of the original members who established Soundgarden back in 1984. Alongside Chris Cornell, a singer and former drummer, and Kim Thayil, a guitarist, he was a key contributor to the songwriting within the band. For their first six albums, including their debut “Ultramega OK” (1988), he provided the basslines. However, in 1989, Yamamoto chose to leave the band.

Hiro Yamamoto quit Soundgarden in 1989

Yamamoto openly discussed his motivations for departing from the band prior to their pinnacle of both critical and financial acclaim. He found Soundgarden’s continuous touring routine tiresome, and he was reluctant to adhere to the aggressive promotion and marketing strategies desired by major record labels.

In 2022, Yamamoto explained to King 5 News that the term “music industry” is used because it’s a business and the music you create is its product. Essentially, if you play genres like grunge or any other, it’s similar to having different types of fuel – gasoline versus jet fuel. The industry markets these genres more than individual artists, Yamamoto pointed out. However, he soon came to understand that he wasn’t interested in the promotional aspects of the music business.

The bassist expressed that this situation wasn’t just about music, it was about a business dealing with goods, and at the moment, he felt uneasy about it. Yamamoto’s departure wasn’t viewed as a minor obstacle; Thayil shared with Spin Magazine that he regarded the bassist as an essential member, fearing the band might not continue without his involvement. Furthermore, Thayil shared with Rolling Stone that Yamamoto’s decision to leave was heartbreaking for him.

Yamamoto co-founded the bands Truly and Stereo Donkey

Luckily, Soundgarden managed to survive through the turbulent times. Initially, Yamamoto was substituted by Jason Everman temporarily, followed by Ben Shepherd in a permanent role. A few years post his departure from Soundgarden, the bassist established the band Truly along with Robert Roth (from Storybook Kinks) and Mark Pickerel (from Screaming Trees). To date, Truly has put out four studio albums and continues to be active.

In 2016, Yamamoto was also part of establishing Stereo Donkey, a group that released an EP in 2018. Since departing from the band that brought him into the spotlight, the bassist has kept the rhythm going and maintained the freedom to do things as he pleases ever since.

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2025-04-23 22:00