You might not think to associate Seattle music (especially Seattle grunge or rock groups) with Johnny Cash. However, the late sing-songwriter was an influence for musicians in nearly every genre, and that includes artists from both Pearl Jam and Nirvana.
September 12th, 2014 marks the 11th anniversary of the death of Johnny Cash, and these Cash covers by Dave Grohl, Eddie Vedder and Mark Lanegan highlight the power of a good song.
Also awesome? A video of Johnny Cash covering another famous Seattle band…
The Foo Fighters & Kris Krisofferson
The Foo Fighters (along with Kris Kristofferson) covered “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.” Though this is really more tribute than cover; Kristofferson originally wrote the song in the 1960’s, and Johnny Cash’s version helped it rise to the number one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
Mark Lanegan
Former Screaming Trees frontman Mark Lanegan‘s covered “The Beast In Me.” (This song was actually used for the The Hangover, Part II soundtrack. It went on to be the only good thing about The Hangover, Part II.)
Eddie Vedder
Pearl Jam performed a stunning live cover of “25 Minutes To Go” at Benaroya Hall back in October of 2003 — just over a month after Cash’s death.
Johnny Cash Covers Soundgarden
Cash himself covered Soundgarden‘s “Rusty Cage.”
In an interview with The Courant, Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell talked about his admiration for Cash and what the cover of “Rusty Cage” meant to him. What Cornell had to say is applicable to a lot of covers and tributes.
“I think there’s a magic to the idea that, when you write a song and record it and release it, it goes on to have its own life,” said Cornell, “and there’s very little you can do to affect that life.”
