After a twelve year hiatus, legendary Seattle based Grunge band Soundgarden has announced that they have reunited. The linup of singer/guitarist Chris Cornell, bass player Ben Shephard, drummer matt Cameron and guitar player Kim Thayil will be performing a series of shows in the west coast of the United States later this year and are rumoured to be performing at the Coachella Music Festival.

Although no details have been announced yet, sources tell Billboard the group is weighing offers from several major U.S and international festivals. But a tour routing is still a work in progress, due to Cameron's prior commitments to play with Pearl Jam in the spring and summer of next year.
Cameron has been Pearl Jam's permanent drummer since 1998; that group recently announced its first North American date of 2010 as part of the second weekend of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (April 29-May 2), and will also play 10 European shows from June 22 in Dublin through July 10 in Oeiras, Portugal.
Also still amorphous are plans for some kind of Soundgarden best-of and/or reissues of its back catalogue. In addition, Thayil and Shepherd have long discussed compiling a Soundgarden boxed set, which would include a wealth of unreleased studio material.

A message from Chris Cornell's official website reads:

"The 12 year break is over and school is back in session. Sign up now. Knights of the Soundtable ride again!"

For more information, please visit: http://www.myspace.com/soundedenmusic
Or: http://soundgardenworld.com/