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Ben Shepherd


Member

1991- Soundgarden - bass  

Studio musician

2000 Iommi - bass  

Personal information

Born on: 20.09.1968

Hunter Benedict Shepherd was born on September 20, 1968, in Okinawa, Japan (the son of a U.S. serviceman), but grew up on Bainbridge Island across Puget Sound in Seattle. Attracted to punk rock as a teenager, Shepherd took up guitar and formed several garage bands throughout the '80s.
By spring of 1990 he joined to Soundgarden. Shepherd's songwriting presence was immediately felt on Soundgarden's breakthrough album Badmotorfinger which saw light in 1991, as he lent a hand in penning (or co-penning) three tracks. Shepherd proved to be an unpredictable performer on stage as he tried to come to terms with the band's sudden success, sometimes smashing his bass, yelling and spitting at the audience, and even walking offstage midsong. in 1994 Soundgarden issued their masterpiece, Superunknown, which placed the band at the top of the hard rock heap, and featured two striking Shepherd compositions - "Half" and "Head Down".
But after only one more release, 1996's Down on the Upside, Soundgarden would call it quits. Shepherd continued to record with others, appearing on Josh Homme's Desert Sessions series, the Ramones' live album We're Outta Here!, Peter Krebs & Gossamer Wings' Sweet on a Rose, and Mark Lanegan's 2001 solo album, Field Songs. Shepherd has also done further work with Cameron (Soundgarden's drummer), as part of another retro garage rock outfit, Wellwater Conspiracy, and guesting with the former Soundgarden drummer on Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi's first-ever solo album, 2000's Iommi. In 2010 rejoined Soundgarden as part of their reunion.