Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam is an American rock group from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1990. The band is associated with the grunge movement of the early 1990s and becomes one of the most commercially successful and influential rock acts of that period. Its core line-up centres on vocalist and guitarist Eddie Vedder, guitarists Stone Gossard and Mike McCready, and bassist Jeff Ament.

Formation and early line-up

Pearl Jam emerges after the breakup of Green River and Mother Love Bone, bands involving Gossard and Ament. Following the death of Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood in 1990, Gossard and Ament begin working with McCready on new material. A demo tape from the trio reaches Vedder through drummer Jack Irons, and Vedder writes lyrics and records vocals for several songs, leading to his recruitment as lead singer.

The band first performs under the name Mookie Blaylock, taken from the basketball player, before adopting the name Pearl Jam after signing with Epic Records. Its first live show takes place at the Off Ramp Café in Seattle on 22 October 1990.

Albums and key songs

Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten, is released in 1991 and includes “Alive”, “Even Flow” and “Jeremy”. The album deals with themes such as depression, violence and isolation, and becomes one of the best-selling rock albums of its era after a slower rise in popularity. “Jeremy” gains wide airplay and wins multiple awards at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards.

The second album, Vs., arrives in 1993 and sells more than 950,000 copies in its first week in the United States, a record at the time. Its singles include “Go”, “Daughter”, “Animal” and “Dissident”. During this period the band limits its use of music videos and wider media promotion.

Vitalogy follows in 1994 and becomes one of the fastest-selling CDs in United States history at the time of release. Songs on the album include “Spin the Black Circle”, “Corduroy”, “Better Man” and “Immortality”. Drummer Dave Abbruzzese leaves shortly after the sessions and is replaced by Jack Irons.

In 1995, Pearl Jam works with Neil Young on Mirror Ball, with unused recordings from those sessions later issued as the EP Merkin Ball. No Code appears in 1996 and has a more experimental and eclectic sound, with tracks including “Who You Are”, “Hail, Hail” and “Off He Goes”. Yield follows in 1998, moving back towards a more direct rock style, and includes “Given to Fly”, “Wishlist” and “Do the Evolution”.

Binaural is released in 2000 and uses binaural recording techniques. Its singles include “Nothing as It Seems” and “Light Years”. During the band’s European tour that year, nine audience members die in a crowd crush at Roskilde Festival in Denmark, an event that has a lasting effect on the group.

Riot Act appears in 2002 and includes “I Am Mine” and “Save You”. The album features Boom Gaspar on keyboards and reflects themes of mortality and social issues. In 2006, the band releases its self-titled eighth studio album, including “World Wide Suicide”, “Life Wasted” and “Gone”, with political themes across the record. Backspacer follows in 2009 and debuts at number one on the Billboard 200; its single is “The Fixer”. Lightning Bolt is released in 2013, also reaches number one, and includes “Mind Your Manners” and “Sirens”. The album later wins a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.

The band’s eleventh studio album, Gigaton, is released in 2020, and Dark Matter follows in 2024. Dark Matter, produced by Andrew Watt, receives Grammy nominations in several rock categories.

Line-up and live work

Pearl Jam’s early drummers include Dave Krusen, Matt Chamberlain, Dave Abbruzzese and Jack Irons. Matt Cameron joins in 1998 and remains a member until 2025. Boom Gaspar performs with the band as a touring and session keyboard player from 2002.

The band becomes known for live performance and extensive touring. It appears on Saturday Night Live and MTV Unplugged in 1992, takes part in the Lollapalooza tour, and features in Cameron Crowe’s film Singles. After disputes with Ticketmaster over fees and exclusive venue contracts in 1994, Pearl Jam boycotts Ticketmaster-affiliated venues for several years before resuming large-scale touring in 1998. The live album Live on Two Legs is issued after that tour.

Other live and archival releases include Live at the Garden, the official bootleg series, and the live album and concert film Let’s Play Two. The documentary Pearl Jam Twenty is released in 2011.

Labels, recognition and later career

After leaving Epic Records in 2003, Pearl Jam releases material through J Records and issues compilations and rarities collections including Lost Dogs and rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003). The band later records through Pearl Jam Live P&D. It is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 and is recognised as one of the best-selling rock bands of all time, with more than 100 million records sold worldwide.

The band is also noted for its control over commercial promotion and distribution, and for engaging with social and political issues. Vedder often expresses political views during the Riot Act tour, particularly in relation to George W. Bush’s presidency and the Iraq War.