Pearl Jam is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. The group emerged as part of the grunge movement of the early 1990s and became one of the most commercially successful and influential rock bands of that period. Since its formation, the band's core lineup has consisted of vocalist and guitarist Eddie Vedder, guitarists Stone Gossard and Mike McCready, and bassist Jeff Ament. The band employed several drummers during its early years, including Dave Krusen, Matt Chamberlain, Dave Abbruzzese, and Jack Irons. Matt Cameron joined the band in 1998 and remained a member until 2025. Keyboardist Boom Gaspar has performed with the band as a touring and session musician since 2002.
Pearl Jam was formed following the breakup of Green River and Mother Love Bone, previous bands involving Gossard and Ament. After Mother Love Bone vocalist Andrew Wood died in 1990, Gossard and Ament began working with guitarist Mike McCready on new material. A demo tape recorded by the trio was passed to San Diego musician Eddie Vedder through drummer Jack Irons. Vedder wrote lyrics and recorded vocals for several tracks, leading to his recruitment as the band's lead singer.
The group initially performed under the name Mookie Blaylock, after basketball player Mookie Blaylock, before changing its name to Pearl Jam upon signing with Epic Records. The band's first live performance took place on October 22, 1990, at the Off Ramp Café in Seattle.
Pearl Jam released its debut album, "Ten", on August 27, 1991. The album featured songs such as "Alive", "Even Flow", and "Jeremy", and addressed themes including depression, violence, and isolation. Although its commercial success developed gradually, "Ten" eventually became one of the best-selling rock albums of its era and remained on the Billboard 200 chart for nearly five years. The music video for "Jeremy" received extensive airplay and won multiple awards at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards.
During the early 1990s, Pearl Jam became associated with the Seattle grunge scene alongside bands such as Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains. The band toured extensively in support of "Ten" and became known for its live performances. In 1992, Pearl Jam appeared on "Saturday Night Live", performed on MTV Unplugged, and participated in the Lollapalooza tour. Members of the band also appeared in Cameron Crowe's 1992 film "Singles".
The band's second album, "Vs.", was released in 1993 and sold more than 950,000 copies in its first week in the United States, setting a sales record at the time. Singles from the album included "Go", "Daughter", "Animal", and "Dissident". During this period, the band reduced its participation in music videos and media promotion.
In 1994, Pearl Jam became involved in a dispute with ticket distribution company Ticketmaster over service fees and exclusive venue contracts. The band alleged anti-competitive practices and testified before a United States congressional subcommittee. Pearl Jam subsequently boycotted Ticketmaster-affiliated venues for several years, which complicated the band's touring activities in the United States.
The band's third album, "Vitalogy", was released in late 1994. It became one of the fastest-selling CDs in United States history at the time of release. The album included the songs "Spin the Black Circle", "Corduroy", "Better Man", and "Immortality". Shortly after recording the album, drummer Dave Abbruzzese left the band and was replaced by Jack Irons.
In 1995, Pearl Jam collaborated with Neil Young on the album "Mirror Ball". Songs recorded during those sessions but not included on Young's album were released as the EP "Merkin Ball".
The band's fourth album, "No Code", was released in 1996 and featured a more experimental and eclectic style than previous releases. Songs on the album included "Who You Are", "Hail, Hail", and "Off He Goes". In 1998, Pearl Jam released "Yield", which marked a partial return to a more direct rock sound. Singles from the album included "Given to Fly", "Wishlist", and "Do the Evolution". During the same year, Jack Irons left the band and was replaced by former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron.
Pearl Jam resumed large-scale touring in 1998 after ending its boycott of Ticketmaster venues. The live album "Live on Two Legs" was released following the tour. In 1999, the band's cover of "Last Kiss" became one of its highest-charting singles, with proceeds donated to aid refugees affected by the Kosovo War.
The band's sixth studio album, "Binaural", was released in 2000. The album experimented with binaural recording techniques and included the singles "Nothing as It Seems" and "Light Years". During the band's 2000 European tour, nine audience members died in a crowd crush at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark. The remaining tour dates were canceled, and the event had a lasting impact on the band.
Pearl Jam released "Riot Act" in 2002. The album reflected themes of mortality and social issues and featured Boom Gaspar on keyboards. Songs included "I Am Mine" and "Save You". During the accompanying tour, Vedder frequently expressed political views concerning the presidency of George W. Bush and the Iraq War.
In 2003, Pearl Jam left Epic Records after more than a decade with the label. Subsequent releases included the rarities collection "Lost Dogs", the concert DVD "Live at the Garden", and the compilation "rearviewmirror (Greatest Hits 1991-2003)". The band also released live recordings through its official bootleg series.
Pearl Jam signed with J Records and released its self-titled eighth studio album, "Pearl Jam", in 2006. The album addressed contemporary political themes and included the singles "World Wide Suicide", "Life Wasted", and "Gone". The band toured internationally in support of the album and returned to major European festivals for the first time since the Roskilde incident.
In 2009, Pearl Jam released "Backspacer", produced by Brendan O'Brien. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and included the single "The Fixer". The band supported the album with extensive touring in North America, Europe, and Oceania.
As part of the band's 20th anniversary celebrations, "Ten" was reissued in expanded editions in 2009, followed by reissues of "Vs." and "Vitalogy" in 2011. Director Cameron Crowe released the documentary film "Pearl Jam Twenty" in 2011.
The band's tenth studio album, "Lightning Bolt", was released in 2013 and became the group's fifth album to reach number one on the Billboard 200. Singles included "Mind Your Manners" and "Sirens". The album later won a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.
Pearl Jam was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 during its first year of eligibility. The band continued touring internationally throughout the late 2010s and released the live album and concert film "Let's Play Two" in 2017.
In 2020, Pearl Jam released its eleventh studio album, "Gigaton". Planned touring activities were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in postponed dates. During this period, the band also released archival live recordings and expanded digital collections of past concerts.
The band's twelfth studio album, "Dark Matter", produced by Andrew Watt, was released in 2024. The album received Grammy nominations in several rock categories. During the associated world tour, several concerts in London and Berlin were canceled due to illness within the band.
On July 7, 2025, drummer Matt Cameron announced his departure from Pearl Jam after 27 years with the group.
Pearl Jam has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and is regarded as one of the best-selling rock bands of all time. Throughout its career, the band has been known for its emphasis on live performances, its control over commercial promotion and distribution, and its engagement with social and political issues.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Jam
Studio albums
Ten (1991)
Vs. (1993)
Vitalogy (1994)
No Code (1996)
Yield (1998)
Binaural (2000)
Riot Act (2002)
Pearl Jam (2006)
Backspacer (2009)
Lightning Bolt (2013)
Gigaton (2020)
Dark Matter (2024)
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…shrink me down again