If you rewind the clock back to the early 1990s, it was easier than not to refer to
Pearl Jam as nothing other than a “grunge band.” It soon became evident, however, that there was something about the Seattle quintet’s music that connected with audiences well beyond the confines of the grunge genre. That transcendence (for better or worse, at least in the eyes of the band) would translate into multi-platinum albums and sold-out venues. But of course, fame doesn’t always sit well with musicians. And in their own way, the members of Pearl Jam actually might have done the music world a favor by being turned off by the spotlight. Had they not taken the road less traveled (I.e., a grumpier attitude toward the media, music videos, and the like), the members of Pearl Jam might not have exerted such a massive influence.
On March 24, Epic Records reissued
Ten, Pearl Jam’s breakthrough debut album that featured the hit singles “
Jeremy” and “
Even Flow.” After taking a trip down memory lane, we at Ultimate-Guitar started to think back to the multiple ways that
Eddie Vedder and the boys made their mark following the album’s original release in 1991. While not every move made by the band was all-together successful (Ticketmaster, anyone? ),
Pearl Jam still made it clear that they had a lot more on their agenda than simply being “rock stars.” Whether you want to call them activists, educators, or just a bunch of guys with a distaste for authority, Pearl Jam is one band that simply wasn’t satisfied with churning out hit records.
Grunge Meets Folk Rock
Pearl Jam had always noted Neil Young as a major musical influence, but it was not until the band joined the former Buffalo Springfield guitarist onstage that history was made. An invitation to play at the Bridge School Benefit Concert in 1992 would spark a series of future collaborations with the veteran musician. While that in itself might be noteworthy, a little station called MTV took the musical relationship to the next level – at least for the younger listeners who had once pushed aside their parent’s
Crazy Horse albums.
At the 1993 MTV Music Video Awards, Pearl Jam performed “Rockin’ In The Free World” with Young, and suddenly a fresh, hip moniker was bestowed upon Neil Young: The Godfather of Grunge.
Who Would Dare Feud With Kurt Cobain? Why, Eddie Vedder!
Now that
Kurt Cobain has been elevated to that of a musical legend, it’s easy to forget about his dislike of Pearl Jam. In the early 1990s, there was somewhat of a feud occurring between he and
Eddie Vedder, with Cobain insisting that his archrivals in Pearl Jam were basically sellouts. Although it was not probably Cobain’s intention, you couldn’t ask for better publicity than a battle between grunge’s 2 biggest musical acts. Whether the harsh comments had anything to do with Vedder’s sudden aversion to the media and commercial ventures is hard to tell. Recently Vedder did say that he believed Kurt would have given him the nod of approval had he lived to see the Pearl Jam frontman today. Given the fact that Vedder has overcome plenty of demons himself, he may just be right about his musical peer.
Scoffing At Music Videos
In an odd way, Pearl Jam might just have sensed the downfall of the music video. After receiving 4 MTV Video Music Awards for “Jeremy, ” the band decides to take a hiatus from the music video world. It’s a thrilling update for a record label to hear, I’m sure. By refusing to make a video for the single “Black” (also from the Ten album), Pearl Jam entered into a very different phase of its career. The TV-driven publicity was set aside for a more private endeavor directed at its fan club, which was often given first dibs at bootlegs and rarities. Sometimes the fan buzz is all you need, however. Pearl Jam’s cover of “Last Kiss,” which was originally offered as a Christmas single to fans, eventually become the best-charting single thus far for the band. No videos needed.
Musicians With A Cause
Pearl Jam may have driven many a record exec to the point of insanity with their lack of MTV and radio publicity, but it’s hard to knock a band that was attempting to do something worthwhile with its fame. As one of the foremost proponents of social causes in the music world, Pearl Jam has taken multiple opportunities to work for charitable causes. Obviously, there have been plenty of artists in the past who have worked for social change (just take a look at the 1960s), but there certainly was a decline in musical activism in the past few decades.
Besides performing at various benefit concerts (including the Apache Survival Coalition and the Mount Graham Coalition), Pearl Jam actually reached into its own cookie jar for a good cause. Let’s return to that huge hit “Last Kiss.” Given the fact that it was their biggest hit on the charts and went multi-platinum worldwide, it would have been easy to indulge in the fruits of their labors. Instead, the band chose to distribute all of the proceeds from “Last Kiss” to refugees of the Kosovo War.
It Started Out So Well…
One battle that didn’t end as perfectly as Pearl Jam might have wanted was the Ticketmaster debacle. After learning that Ticketmaster was adding service charges to their concert tickets, the band went on a course of action that lasted nearly 5 years. Between testifying in Washington, D.C. And boycotting venues that used Ticketmaster as a ticketing source, Pearl Jam put aside financial gain for their beliefs. While it was honorable in theory, many fans became irked that tickets were not readily available through other outlets. Taking a cue from the fans, Pearl Jam finally put up the white flag and ended their fight in 1998. The score might be Ticketmaster 1, Pearl Jam 0, but that was one hell of a noble fight.
The Jamily
Continuing in the grand tradition of Grateful Dead, Pearl Jam is one of those bands that has lured fans to tour across land, air, and sea. While the general audience appeal during the 1990s was a massive one, there is a distinct sect of the group that could be considered fervent devotees. The Jamily might not be a name quite as familiar as The Deadheads, but they’ve been compared to Jerry Garcia fanatics more than a time or two.
Still Outspoken as Ever
Controversy still hasn’t shied away from Pearl Jam, as was made quite clear at 2007’s Lollapalooza in Chicago. The band had just performed its single “
Daughter” and transitioned into Pink Floyd’s “
Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2” when
Vedder decided to inject some new lyrical content into the mix. He proceeded to deliver the lines, “
George Bush, leave this world alone…George Bush, find yourself another home, ” which apparently didn’t sit well with corporate sponsors AT&T. During a live Webcast, apparently much of the “offensive” content was edited out. AT&T contended it was innocent of any such censorship, and instead put the blame on the company in charge of the production aspect of the Webcast. Vedder’s improvised lyrics seemed fairly benign in comparison to some of the moves he’s pulled in the last 20 years, but it does seem he still has the magic touch when it comes to ruffling the feathers of corporate America.
Weathering The Tide
Pearl Jam has remained under the radar – at least in terms of massive publicity campaigns – since its move to no longer make videos. While 1991’s Ten still remains the most commercially successful album of their career, a dedicated fan base has ensured that each record following the debut has gone at least gold. The most impressive aspect? It’s the fact that Pearl Jam is still very much thriving almost 20 years later, which is a feat that most of its grunge band peers could not do – whether due to creative differences or tragic ends.
A new album is in the works, and it looks like the band – particularly Eddie Vedder – has a mellowed outlook on life. When asked about giving way to new ideas in the studio, Vedder told
Rolling Stone (February 2009) that he and his bandmates are actually willing to give a little headway.
“At this point, I think we're willing to let somebody cut the songs up a little bit,” says Vedder.
“In the past, Brendan (O’Brien, producer) would say, 'It's a great song, but I think you should do it in a different key', and we'd say no. But now that we've heard Bruce [Springsteen] has listened to his suggestions, I think we will, too.” You’ve come a long way, Eddie.
- Amy Kelly (c) 2009
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