Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready expanded on the death of Chris Cornell during an appearance Sirius XM’s Feedback today (via Consequence of Sound) to promote his photo book Of Potato Heads and Polaroids: My Life Inside and Out of Pearl Jam. 

McCready admitted that he is “still reeling” from the Soundgarden frontman’s death, saying he “loved him like a brother.” 

“He allowed me to play on the Temple of the Dog record and let me take chances when he didn’t have to do that,” McCready said. “I didn’t know him that well–but in terms of playing music we got to do the Temple tour, that was just a dream come true for me.” 

The conversation shifted to the exclusion of Pearl Jam drummer Dave Abbruzzese and his exclusion from the band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. “I feel like he should’ve been in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” the guitarist said. “Dave was integral at the part when we were starting to take off….He rode that wave and helped us through that. I felt like he should’ve been part of that.” 

McCready said he misses Abbruzzese, calling him a great drummer before giving him another personal shoutout. The former Pearl Jam drummer made waves with repeated posts on social media urging the band to include him in their nomination. Pearl Jam was inducted with original drummer Dave Krusen and current drummer Matt Cameron, the former of which reunited with the band for a take on “Alive” during the performance.