Merging the mammoth riffs of Black Sabbath with the straightforward attack of the Ramones, guitarist Kim Thayil created his own original style that helped propel Soundgarden to world-wide fame. Thayil picked up the guitar with inspiration from theatrical rock stylings of Kiss. Upon further investigation, he checked out their influences, namely the New York Dolls. Via the Dolls, Thayil discovered punk -- the Stooges, the Velvet Underground, MC5, the Ramones, and others that shaped his now trademark guitar sound.