THIS SOUNDGARDEN REUNION THING IS ALREADY GETTING SILLY

Anyone remember that scene in Spaceballs where Rick Moranis tells Bill Pullman “I am your father’s brother’s nephew’s cousin’s former roommate?”

You may recall that earlier this week, Shinedown vocalist Brent Smith gave an interview where he claimed that someone “specifically in [Soundgarden’s] organization” told him a reunion of the grunge legends was imminent. At the time, I took Smith to task for starting rumors about a band he’s not in so he could stir up publicity for himself.

But at least Smith is, y’know, in the industry.

‘Cause now some reader of The Daily Swarm is claiming that Shepherd has said some pretty harsh words about Smith – words that, admittedly, echo my own. Except that we have no idea who this reader is, or if that’s really Ben Shepherd. Faking that text exchange would be the easiest thing in the world. This “news” basically came from your father’s brother’s nephew’s cousin’s former roommate.

I’m saying this is about as unsubstantiated as rumors get now.

But if, just for fun, we pretend that comment did, in fact, come from Shepherd, I’d like to point out that he doesn’t actually deny the reunion – he just expresses anger over Smith “saying things he doesn’t know.” The members of Faith No More were giving a similar spiel not all that long ago.

Assuming this really was Shepherd. Which I don’t think we can do.

-AR