perform at the Rainbow Tavern near the University of Washington and was especially impressed by the band's singer, Chris Cornell.

In 1987, Poneman contributed $2,000 of his own money to help get Soundgarden's debut single, "Hunted Down" / "Nothing to Say" and EP, Screaming Life, released on Pavitt's fledgling Sub Pop label. On April 1, 1988, Poneman and Pavitt pooled together $19,000 which gave Poneman a 50% stake in the business, to open Sub Pop Records as