Hunger Strike is a song by the rock band Temple of the Dog. It was released in 1991 as the first single from the band’s sole studio album, Temple of the Dog (1991). It was the band’s most successful song, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Hunger Strike was written by vocalist Chris Cornell. It features a duet between Cornell and vocalist Eddie Vedder. Cornell was having trouble with the vocals at practice, when Vedder stepped in. Cornell later said:
“He sang half of that song not even knowing that I’d wanted the part to be there and he sang it exactly the way I was thinking about doing it, just instinctively.”
Hunger Strike became Temple of the Dog‘s breakout single; it was also Vedder‘s first featured vocal on a record.
Chris Cornellon the song:
When we started rehearsing the songs, I had pulled out Hunger Strike and I had this feeling it was just kind of gonna be filler, it didn’t feel like a real song. Eddie was sitting there kind of waiting for a (Mookie Blaylock) rehearsal and I was singing parts, and he kind of humbly but with some balls walked up to the mic and started singing the low parts for me because he saw it was kind of hard. We got through a couple choruses of him doing that and suddenly the light bulb came on in my head, this guy’s voice is amazing for these low parts. History wrote itself after that, that became the single.
Mike McCready on the song:
I remember thinking that this was a really beautiful song when I heard it. Chris Cornell showed me the riff. I had a ’62 reissue Strat and I wanted to use the fourth position tone setting between the bridge and middle pickups for the beginning of the song because I like that softer sound. Then I kicked it to the front pickup for the heavier part of the song. This is one of many amazing songs written by Chris.
Eddie Vedder on the song:
It was during that same week that I was up there (In Seattle rehearsing with Pearl Jam). Day four maybe, or day five, they did a Temple of the Dog rehearsal after our afternoon rehearsal. I got to watch these songs, and watch how Chris Cornell was working, and watch Matt Cameron play drums. It got to Hunger Strike. I was sitting in the corner, putting duct tape on a little African drum. About two thirds of the way through, he was having to cut off the one line, and start the other. I’m not now, and certainly wasn’t then, self assured or cocky, but I could hear what he was trying to do, so I walked up to the mic, which I’m really surprised I did, and sang the other part, (Going hungry, going hungry). The next time I was up, he asked if I’d record it, so it was just me and Chris in the same studio that we made 1991’s Ten record. I really like hearing that song. I feel like I could be real proud of it, because one, I didn’t write it, and two, it was such a nice way to be ushered onto vinyl for the first time. I’m indebted to Chris time eternal for being invited onto that track.
Tracklist:
- Hunger Strike
- Your Saviour
- All Night Thing
The original music video for Hunger Strike was directed by Paul Rachman who also directed the 2006 punk documentary American Hardcore. A&M decided to reissue the album and promote Hunger Strike as a single, with an accompanying music video. The video features the band performing the song on a beach and in a forest. The video was filmed at Discovery Park in Seattle, Washington. The West Point Lighthouse is featured in the video. There are two different versions of the video for the track. The music video is playable in the video game Guitar Hero Live. The music video for the 2016 mix, also directed by Rachman, was filmed at an abandoned elementary school on March 7, 1991. Only Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder appeared in the video. It premiered on Vevo on September 2, 2016.
Temple of the Dog
Chris Cornell: lead vocals, rhythm guitar, banjo, harmonica
Mike McCready: lead guitar, backing vocals
Stone Gossard: rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Jeff Ament: bass, backing vocals
Matt Cameron: drums, backing vocals
Eddie Vedder: backing vocals, co-lead vocals
Chris Cornell (July 20, 1964 – May 18, 2017)
Andrew Wood (January 8, 1966 – March 19, 1990)
