Out of all of the grunge-era Seattle bands, who signed with a major label first? Here’s a hint. The record deal was with A&M records in 1989. The answer is… Soundgarden. After having some success with their earlier EPs recorded and released by Sub Pop and with their first full-length LP Ultramega OK, it didn’t take long for larger labels to gain interest in the band and the Seattle sound, or what was to be called grunge later on. Their major label debut Louder Than Love was slow to catch on at the start, but all of that changed beginning with major releases from Seattle bands Alice In Chains & Nirvana. Soundgarden was a part of that Seattle explosion with their 2nd effort for A&M Badmotorfinger, which launched them head first into international fame.