1990

Often cited as, along with NIRVANA, the other arm of the Seattle Grunge stranglehold that stifled the life out of 80's Hard Rock. PEARL JAM blazed trails with a distinct non image, revisionist attitude and sombre downbeat music that has been accused of depressing a nation's youth.

PEARL JAM was borne out of the self inflicted heroin overdose death of MOTHER LOVE BONE vocalist Andrew Wood on March 16, 1990. The late singer's band colleagues, bassist Jeff Ament and ex-DUCKY BOYS / MARCH OF CRIMES guitarist Stone Gossard, both of whom had been members of cult Sub-Pop outfit GREEN RIVER, were forced to re-think their musical options.

The duo then pulled in school pal Mike McCready on second guitar. McCready had in his teenage years played with heavy metal bands WARRIOR and SHADOW, the latter the same band that were to supply vocalist Steven Van Liew to OVERLORD. Ament had cut his teeth with DERANGED DICTION before joining GREEN RIVER.

The fledgling act now borrowed SOUNDGARDEN drummer Matt Cameron to record their initial instrumental demo tape. An acquaintance, erstwhile REDD KROSS / RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS drummer Jack Irons, heard the cassette and arranged a meeting between BAD RADIO vocalist Eddie Vedder (a San Diego native) and the band to complete their line-up. The singer had dubbed his own lyrics and vocals on his copy of the tape and had sent it back up to Seattle.

Vedder soon relocated to Seattle and PEARL JAM. At the time the band was still called MOOKIE BLAYLOCK after the group's basketball hero. The unit completed by drummer Dave Krusen, a veritable veteran of the Seattle scene having been behind the kit for OUTRIGGER, AGENT BOY, HARD TIME and WARM DRIVE. The group started rehearsing parallel to TEMPLE OF THE DOG, the Andrew Wood tribute band assembled by Ament, Gossard, McCready, Cameron and SOUNDGARDEN vocalist Chris Cornell.

PEARL JAM's debut gig came just six days into rehearsal, the group playing a show at Seattle's Off-Ramp club, still under the title of MOOKIE BLAYLOCK.

In November 1990 the quintet cut their debut demo at London Bridge Studios in Seattle with producer Rick Parasher and swiftly undertake a number of shows on the West Coast supporting fellow Seattle-ites ALICE IN CHAINS. A change of name to PEARL JAM ensues and a deal with Epic Records follows.

1991 to 1992

In May 1991 Epic put out a promotion single in America in advance of PEARL JAM's debut album 'Ten' (so named after Mookie Blaylock's team number) featuring 'Alive', 'Wash' and a cover of the BEATLES number 'I've Got The Feeling'.

The Rick Parasher produced 'Ten' is released in August, by which time PEARL JAM have parted company with Dave Krusen. His breif replacement was former THREE POUND UNIVERSE man Matt Chamberlain. The band then recruited Dave Abbruzzese who made his debut at Seattle's Mural Amphitheater in early August a couple of weeks before 'Ten' is unveiled. Abbruzzese had previously been a member of DR. TONGUE.

By October '91 PEARL JAM were seen to be limbering up for an extensive bout of touring playing in America with RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS. The first show of the tour occurs on October 16 in Madison, Wisconsin and concludes on New Year's Eve in San Francisco alongside the RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS and NIRVANA.

For Christmas 1991 PEARL JAM joined a small group of major acts, such as R.E.M., in giving away previously unreleased material in the form of 7" vinyl singles to loyal fan club members. The first of these, on the bands own Ten label, was a live acoustic cut entitled 'Let Me Sleep (Christmas Time)' recorded in 1990, the B side being merely Christmas wishes from the band under the title of 'Rambling'!

With PEARL JAM mania now in full flow ('Ten' was still in the U.S. top ten eight months after it's release and would go on to sell five million copies in America alone) Polydor saw fit to capitalize on the insatiable appetite of fans. MOTHER LOVE BONE's 'Shine' EP and 'Apple' album were repackaged and retitled 'Star Dog Champion'. The record hit the number 77 spot in the Billboard charts.

With PEARL JAM in such demand exhausting touring saw the band through most of 1992 which included a slot on the 'Lollapalooza II' festival trek and first dates in Europe. They also managed to put in an anonymous cameo appearance in the movie 'Singles', billed as actor Matt Dillon's band CITIZEN DICK.

 

1992's fan club 7", 'Who Killed Rudolph?' included a cover of THE DEADBOYS 'Sonic Reducer', a studio track recorded in September of that year and later often performed live on the 'Vs' world tour. For the B side the band assembled a montage of seemingly unrelated radio and TV broadcasts titled 'Rambling Continued'. The group rounded off the year by supporting ROLLING STONES guitarist Keith Richards' EXPENSIVE WINOS outfit at a New Year's Eve show at New York's The Academy.

1993

Paying homage to his mentors, Vedder startled many by stepping into Jim Morrison's vacant frontman position as the remaining DOORS reunited for a performance inducting them into the Los Angeles Hall Of Fame.in January 1993. Returning to Europe in June, PEARL JAM proceed to play shows throughout Britain and the Continent, including gigs with NEIL YOUNG and U2.

Having contributed songs to the 'Sweet Relief: A Benefit For Victoria Williams' ('Crazy Mary') and the 'Judgement Night' ('Real Thing', in collaboration with CYPRESS HILL) albums, the eagerly anticipated second album 'Vs' arrived in October 1993 and witnessed a critical media backlash. However, huge advance sales proved PEARL JAM's staying power.

The band tended to plumb the retro depths further still with 'Vs' not only musically but in format too as the album was issued on vinyl prior to CDs and cassettes being released.

The new tour opened at San Francisco's Warfield Theater on October 28, 1993 and PEARL JAM would be supported by the likes of the ROLLINS BAND, MUDHONEY, URGE OVERKILL and the BUTTHOLE SURFERS along the way.

With PEARL JAM now the undisputed biggest rock band in America 'Vs' release was marked by sales just shy of million copies in it's first week alone breaking all records. (Only elclipsed in 2000 by LIMP BIZKIT). By the end of the year their sophomore effort had racked up sales figures in excess of 5 million.

During 1993 Gossard filled a fortnight's break in the band's hectic schedule by recording an album titled 'Shame' under the band name of BRAD. Among the musicians on this project was former MALFUNKSHUN drummer Regan Hagar.

Gossard had originally wished to call the band SHAME, but once this had been voiced in the media fierce legal objections uttered forth from a Los Angeles Glam act of the same name who laid claim to the title. Gossard relented and called the band BRAD, the christian name of the vociferous SHAME vocalist!

Gossard also involved himself in the re-issue of the MOTHER LOVE BONE album. With insatiable demand for anything PEARL JAM related the re-released MOTHER LOVE BONE album quickly pushed it's way to platinum sales status.

 

McCready and Ament used their down time to create the M.A.C.C. diversion with SOUNDGARDEN's Chris Cornell and Matt Cameron.

1994

In March 1994 PEARL JAM went to war with the American ticket agency Ticketmaster in a row over pricing, in particular what the band believed to be extortionate ticket prices for their gigs. Wishing to offer fans tickets to shows in America for under $20, the group announced plans to tour later in the year without the huge Ticketmaster concern behind them. Unfortunately, Ticketmaster were revealed to have exclusive contracts with a large number of America's top venues forcing PEARL JAM to cancel the tour. The band filed a memo with the US Justice Department's Anti-trust division in protest against Ticketmaster's alleged monopoly of the market and claiming the agency had pressured promoters into not booking the group. PEARL JAM retired to the recording studio working on new material

September 1994 Dave Abbruzzese split from PEARL JAM a few months before PEARL JAM's third album, 'Vitalogy' appears in the stores. Within a week the album was at number 1 in the American album charts.

Abbruzzese would later work with his own GREEN ROMANCE ORCHESTRA.

For the 1994 seasonal holiday offering to the fan club, PEARL JAM issued a further exclusive single. Recorded acoustically with Abbruzzee on guitar, the A side 'Angel' turned out to be a schmaltzy ode by Vedder to his future wife Beth. The B side, although confusingly once more titled 'Ramblings', was in fact a live jam recorded in California during 1993.

Ament amused himself outside of his mother act with THREE FISH. Completing the project was former FASTBACKS / BOMBADIERS / WAR BABIES drummer Richard Stuverud and TRIBE AFTER TRIBE vocalist Robbie Robb.

 

Late 1994 found PEARL JAM still on the road although without a permanent drummer. Josh Freese, of THE VANDALS, INFECTIOUS GROOVES and EXTRA LARGE, filled the gap temporarily. Freese would later join the in limbo GUNS N' ROSES then A PERFECT CIRCLE.

1995

In early January 1995 Vedder announced on air during the 'Monkey Wrench Radio Special' live radio broadcast hosted by PEARL JAM (and including appearances from SOUNDGARDEN and MUDHONEY, that ex-RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS and ELEVEN drummer Jack Irons is the new drummer.

By 1995 PEARL JAM had sold a staggering 45 million albums. Gossard re-enforced his work ethic when, together with BRAD drummer Regan Hagar, he set about creating a new label Loosegroove Records signing such artists as MALFUNKSHUN, WEAPON OF CHOICE and DEVILHEADS.

Early PEARL JAM drummer Dave Krusen took his time before bouncing back in 1995 with new outfit DIAMOND STAR HALO, a project including former CANDLEBOX guitarist Aareon Seravo. Krusen retained his PEARL JAM links by performing drum duties for HOVERCRAFT, a band fronted by Vedder's wife Beth Liebling and whose previous drummer was no less than Vedder himself.

JAM members also put their money where their mouth is by paying homage to their much praised inspiration, Canadian Rock legend NEIL YOUNG, the band writing and recording his 1995 Reprise album 'Mirrorball'. The involvement extended fiurther when Ament, McCready and Irons backed Young at his Reading Festival performance.

In February '95 PEARL JAM ventured to the Far East for dates in Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand as the sales of'Vs' continued to grow, by March the record being certified six times platinum! By June 'Ten' is announced to have been certified nine times platinum.

The same month Mike McCready's side project MAD SEASON (assembled with ALICE IN CHAINS vocalist Layne Staley and SCREAMING TREES drummer Barrett Martin) offer debut product with the 'Above' album.

In April PEARL JAM announced a 13 date American tour booked by the new ETM ticketing company, making sure to book themselves into little used venues not associated with Ticketmaster.

Unfortunately, the tour (which opened in Casper, Wyoming on June 16), is beset with problems and is cancelled with seven shows remaining after Vedder is struck with flu. The shows are later rescheduled for November, by which time the group had learnt that the investigation into the activities of Ticketmaster has been halted. PEARL JAM were, naturally, "disappointed" with the Justice Department's decision.

During December the tradition of fan club records continued in fine with PEARL JAM giving away an impressive vinyl double pack., including a live version of 'History Never Repeats', written by CROWDED HOUSE singer NEIL FINN. Recorded in Auckland, New Zealand the track featured both Finn and his brother Tim as guests. Of further historical interest was a live cut of 'Swallow My Pride' caught on tape in Las Vegas where GREEN RIVER were reunited when MUDHONEY joined the band onstage. Vedder topped the whole thing off by narrating FRANK SINATRA's 'My Way' together with ELVIS PRESLEY's cousin Terry!

1996 to 2002

The New Year of 1996 began with the group appearing on the soundtrack to Tim Robbins' 'Dead Man Walking' movie. PEARL JAM contributed 'Long Road' whilst Eddie Vedder performed 'The Face Of Love' with NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN.That February PEARL JAM offered a cover of the Eddie Holland penned Motown hit 'Leaving Here' to Epic Records' benefit set 'Home Alive: The Art Of Self-Defense' and celebrated at the end of the month with a Grammy Award for 'Best Hard Rock Performance' with 'Spin The Black Circle'.

During June of 1996 Jeff Ament took his turn in the limelight with the release of his THREE FISH solo project's self-titled album through Epic. Meantime, PEARL JAM turned up on another benefit album in July, this time offering a cover of the SILLY SURFERS' 'Gremmie Out Of Control' to Interscope's 'Music For Our Mother Ocean'. In August PEARL JAM's fourth album, 'No Code' made its debut, preceded by the single 'Who You Are'. 'No Code' debuts in the Billboard charts at number 1 as the group make plans to tour once more in the America and Europe.

1996's festive fan club issue was a studio recording of 'Olympic Platinum'. This turned out to not be a conventional recording as, despite Vedder taking lead vocals, Gossard occupied the drum stool and the band's producer Brendan O'Brien took over bass duties.

In June 1997 the second album, 'Interiors', from BRAD arrived through Epic Records as Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready opened the second day of the Tibetan Freedom Concerts on Randall's Island in New York performing 'Yellow Ledbetter' and NEIL YOUNG's seminal 'Rockin' In The Free World' earlier the same month.

The summer of 1997 caught PEARL JAM recording a fresh album at HEART's Bad Animals studio undelayed by McCready breaking his collar-bone in a baseball accident. Stone Gossard took the opportunity to set off on tour with BRAD in a break in PEARL JAM's recording schedule. McCready busied himself creating yet another spin off band with SCREAMING TREES drummer Barret Martin.

In November PEARL JAM supported the ROLLING STONES for no less than four shows in Oakland, California. The year tended to be marred when the band's video for 'Jeremy', the last promotion short the band filmed, was cited as a direct influence on a convicted murderer 16 year old Barry Loukatis who had killed two schoolmates and a teacher. Although the video was eventually found to have had no part in the killings the damage had been done as PEARL JAM had been continuously named throughout the court case.

Still, in February 1998 PEARL JAM were back in business with new album 'Yield'. Produced once again by Brenan O' Brien, the record- which included a hidden uncredited track 'Hummus', was to peak at number 2 in America.

McCready somehow found the time to gell yet another side project titled THE ROCKFORD's together with his former WARRIOR / SHADOW colleagues guitarist Danny Newcomb, bassist Rick Friel and drummer Chris Friel together with former HAMMERBOX / GOODNESS singer Carrie Akre. HEART's guitarist and vocalist NANCY WILSON guested on recordings.

problems with drummers were not long coming as Irons quit the band. His place was taken by Matt Cameron almost winding PEARL JAM's history back full circle. Cameron sessioned on RUSH vocalist GEDDY LEE's 2000 solo album 'My Favorite Headache'.

PEARL JAM found themselves in the midst of tragedy in June 2000 when mid way through their performance at the Danish Roskilde festival 8 fans were crushed to death in front of the stage. Vedder attempted to get the audience to move back but to no avail.

In an effort to shake off the bootleggers the band announced that all 26 shows from their last tour would be released officially on CD. PEARL JAM broke yet another record when they became the first band to have 5 live albums appearing in the Billboard charts at one time.

Early PEARL JAM member Dave Krusen, in alliance with ex BLIND MELON members guitarist Christopher Thorn and bassist Brad Smith, also returned to the scene following his stint with CANDLEBOX as 2000 saw the release of his UNIFIED THEORY project album.

Not ones for the tribute circus PEARL JAM would nevertheless break with convention to contribute their take on 'The Kids Are Alright' for THE WHO homage record 'Substitute: The Songs Of The Who'.

During late 2001 Vedder would donate his take on THE BEATLES 'You've Got To Hide Your Love Away' to a Sean Penn movie soundtrack 'I Am Sam'.The band's traditional Christmas fan club single would arrive late, in January of 2002, and comprised of live versions of new tracks 'Last Soldier' and Indifference' alongside cover versions of JOHN LENNON's 'Gimme Some Truth' and the RAMONES 'I Just Want To Have Something To Do', the latter a solo effort by bassist Jeff Ament. The bass player would also take time out that year to form up a fresh project band in alliance with Doug Pinnick of KINGS X and drummer Richard Stuverud.

Eddie Vedder appeared amongst a genuine all star cast donating his take of 'I Believe In Miracles' to the 2002 Joey Ramone and ROB ZOMBIE assembled RAMONES tribute album 'We're A Happy Family'. PEARL JAM put in their first live gig of the year acting as opening band for THE WHO at a fundraising event held at the Chicago House Of Blues on September 23rd. For this gig Stone Gossard's place would be taken by Boom, known for prior keyboard performances with the band.

PEARL JAM assembled a double disc rarities collection entitled 'Lost Dogs' for 2003 release. The record would prove of note for the uncredited inclusion of a Vedder acoustic number '4/20/02', a track written in homage by the singer to the late ALICE IN CHAINS frontman Layne Staley.

A noteable PEARL JAM gig was held in Santa Barbara, California during October as a fund raiser for the Louis Warschaw Prostate Cancer Centre. A brief TEMPLE OF THE DOG reunion saw PEARL JAM's former drummer Jack Irons, singer/songwriter Jack Johnson, guitarist Lyle Workman, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS guitarist John Frusciante and SOUNDGARDEN / AUDIOSLAVE frontman Chris Cornell delivering two tracks 'Hunger Strike' and 'Reach Down'.

2003 to 2007

On January 18th 2003, the 'Riot Act' world tour was announced. Unlike before, a fresh fan club ticketing guideline allowed fan club members to purchase concert tickets to various live shows. Once again, faithfully upholding modern PEARL JAM tradition, complete concerts were made available on official CD bootlegs. For the first time, die hard completists were unashamedly tempted with an offer - if they wholly purchased unmastered mp3's within compact hours of a show's full completion.

On February 8th they immediately commenced the Australian leg of the Riot Act World tour at the Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, fulfilling ten dates up to the 23rd, finishing at the Burswood Dome in Perth. JOHNNY MARR AND THE HEALERS and New Zealanders BETCHADUPA lent support. Film cuts gleaned from the final Perth date subsequently re-emerged as bonus footage upon the 'Live at the Garden' DVD. These comprised Eddie Vedder unveiling a solo document of 'Dead Man' and a midpaced duet of 'Throw Your Arms Around Me' with original singer Mark Seymour, formerly of HUNTERS AND COLLECTORS, strumming acoustic guitar. The second encore concluded with JOHNNY MARR guesting on CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL's 'Fortunate Son', terminating the closing show. It realised commercial bootleg release on April 7th.

The Columbia records star-studded 'We're a Happy Family : A Tribute to the Ramones', wholly recorded in May 2002, subsequently surfaced 9 months later on February 11th 2003. Overseen by original RAMONES guitarist Johnny Ramone and ROB ZOMBIE (sketching the cover artwork) who shared co-production credits, it featured liner notes from renowned horror author Stephen King. Such famed luminaries as RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, KISS, METALLICA, GREEN DAY and OFFSPRING guested. Eddie Vedder, prolific in compilation appearances, duetted with punk group ZEKE on two featured RAMONES tracks, namely 'I Believe in Miracles' and 'Daytime Dilemma (Dangers of Love)'.

'Riot Act' lead off single 'Save You' was also released on February 11th, charmingly peaking at 29 and 23 respectively on the US Modern Rock Tracks chart and the US Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Despite these it sadly missed the US Billboard Hot 100.

On February 18th, CAT POWER, alias Chan Marshall, released her album 'You Are Free', recruiting Vedder to donate guest vocal harmonizations on the murmured duets 'Good Woman' and 'Evolution'.

On February 28th the band embarked upon the tour's Japanese leg at the Izumity 21, Sun Plaza in Sendai, honouring five dates up to the 6th March, wrapping up at the Nagoyashi Kokaido in Nagoya. The March 3rd concert at the Budokan in Tokyo saw commercial bootleg release on June 10th.

On April 1st PEARL JAM journeyed upon the tour's American leg at the Pepsi Center in Denver Colorado. The band meanwhile performed at the House of Blues in Buena Vista, Florida, on April 12th 2003, the whole show aired via the web on Real One Music. Highlights included an ukelele rendition of THE WHO number 'Blue, Red and Grey' utilized by Vedder alongside other live ukelele cuts of Pearl Jam tracks.

'Live at the Showbox', filmed in Seattle, Washington on December 6th 2002, retailed at $15 on the band's official website on May 7th, eventually marketed at $20 on the Riot Act tour - Eddie Vedder proudly donned a Bill Gates mask during the 'Do the Evolution' taping, a specific highlight.

In personal affairs, guitarist Mike McCready undertook a demanding role as keynote speaker at the Northwest Chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation (CCFA) third annual Many Faces of Hope Luncheon, held on May 13th in Seattle. The longtime PEARL JAM axeman poignantly intimated his 20-year battle with Crohn's and ulcerative colitis, chronic and serious inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, colloquially known as inflammatory bowel disease. Specifically he bravely recalled a past incident at Oakland in 1997 when opening for the Rolling Stones, chronicling how the debilitating illness struck at that particular time. Other members of PEARL JAM attended in pledge of their unwavering support.

Two days later side project THE ROCKFORDS, the prominent brainchild of Mike McCready amongst longtime friends Carrie Akre, Chris Friel, Danny Newcomb and Rick Friel, convened at the Sunset Tavern in Seattle to liberally play at the CCFA benefit. Conventional cuts such as 'Adelaide', 'This Life', 'Silver Lining' and 'Flashes', taken from their debut offering, notably featured. Gary Westlake, Rock Tim DiJulio, Kelly Van Camp and Paul Pasterelli joined McCready to loosely jam on UFO covers such as classic mob favourites 'Doctor Doctor' and 'Lights Out'.

On the principal live front, the Riot Act world tour continued on May 28th at the Adams Centre in Missoula Montana. Scottish indie rockers IDLEWILD provided capable support.

'Searching for Melody', an album released in June by STEVE TURNER, affably boasted a competent line up incorporating bassist Stone Gossard, guitarist / keyboardist Johnny Sangster and sticksman Dan Peters of MUDHONEY. Photography for the album art was donated by Eddie Vedder, under the moniker Wes. C. Addle.

Due to flooding, it was announced on June 10th that their gig at the Riverbend Music Centre in Cincinnati, Ohio on the 19th was indefinitely cancelled - this was not rescheduled.

To achieve their ambitious goal of wholly performing their entire tour repertoire devoid of any track repetition, sprinkled over the course of three shows at Mansfield's Tweeter Centre in Boston, Massachusetts from July 2-11th, they opened proceedings before support band SLEATER KINNEY on the third night. Displaying intimate semi-acoustic tunes, these were to be the initial few of a staggering 44 numbers that night. During these prestigious occasions, the band extensively delved into their huge back catalogue, uncovering scarce B-sides, donated tracks culled from benefit albums, cover interpretations from such diverse sources as RAMONES and NEIL YOUNG, and regular album songs amongst hit fodder.

From July 17-19th, the band inaugurally performed three consecutive shows at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, Mexico. South American TV and radio broadcast the concluding show, one which marked the end of the Riot Act tour. A rare press conference with the Latin American Media saw them discuss their first ever Mexican visit collectively as a band, discussing patriotism, US politics, vivid experiences and past band history.

A long awaited rarities compilation saw release on Armistice Day, November 11th 2003, simply named 'Lost Dogs'. It was comprised of a wholesome 11 unreleased tracks - 'All Night', which appeared on initial track listings for the 1996 album 'No Code'; the 'Binaural'-era outtakes 'In the Moonlight', 'Fatal', 'Sweet Lew' and 'Education'; and a clutch of numbers hosting unknown origins, amongst them 'Sad', 'Hitchhiker' and 'Don't Gimme No Lip'. They became coupled with selected studio B-sides culled from the band's longtime career, from old penchants such as 'Alone', 'Wash', 'Footsteps' and 'Dirty Frank' to fresher compositions such as 'U', 'Down' and 'Undone'. Veteran live closer 'Yellow Ledbetter' coupled with 'Hard to Imagine', originally appearing on the 1998 Loosegroove soundtrack to 'Chicago Cab', also surfaced.

1999's modern reworking of WAYNE COCHRAN's 'Last Kiss', which comfortably settled at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 single charts, the highest of Pearl Jam's career, gladly accompanies. 1996's 'Gremmie Out of Control' and 1999's 'Whale Song', dually leased from the 'Music for Our Mother Ocean' compilations and a cover of the HIGH NUMBERS' 'Leaving Here' from 1996's 'Home Alive' benefit, are wholly collected from countless benefit albums and various compilations. 'Drifting', 'Strangest Tribe', 'Angel' and 'Let Me Sleep' amicably represent material pulled from the band's annual festive holiday single given to members of its Ten Club fan administration. Also of particular note is the 'hidden' track '4/20/02', penned in tribute to deceased ALICE IN CHAINS frontman Layne Stayley - his body was discovered on that very date.

Filmed by PEARL JAM crew members Liz Burns, Steve Gordon, Kevin Shuss and Brandon Vedder - 'Live at the Garden', showcasing the band's July 8th 2003 concert at Madison Square Garden, New York, beckoned the same day. Alongside the anticipated slew of fresh cuts from the 'Riot Act' opus and earlier PEARL JAM material, a modest handful of chosen covers littered the show. A rare performance of MOTHER LOVE BONE's 'Crown of Thorns' delightedly entertained the avid crowd, and also Victoria Williams' 'Crazy Mary' and JOHN LENNON's 'Gimme Some Truth' did the same. An impromptu rendition of BEN HARPER's 'With My Own Two Hands' cheekily coaxed the original vocalist (one half of the night's supporting acts) to grace the stage once more and honourably continue the songs remaining words. Later into the night Eddie Vedder brought the acoustic slide guitar professional onstage yet again, voicing the open verse to 'Vs.' closing ballad 'Indifference'. Following this, bassist Tony Barber of the BUZZCOCKS guested upon DEAD BOYS 'Sonic Reducer', though sheepishly forgot the chords. BUZZCOCKS lead guitarist and frontman Steve Diggle donated guest vocals on THE WHO classic 'Baba O'Riley' immediately afterwards.

Clocking in at a generous 2 hours and 40 minutes, it also boasts half an hour of bonus footage, specifically an Eddie Vedder solo rendition of 'Dead Man' filmed in Perth, Australia and 'Throw Your Arms Around Me' with original singer Mark Seymour of HUNTERS AND COLLECTORS. Guest performances, set to CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL revised number "Fortunate Son" by Pearl Jam – incorporated film recordings of Johnny Marr (THE SMITHS), BETCHADUPA, Cheetah Chrome of the DEAD BOYS), SLEATER KINNEY, Mike Tyler, STEVE EARLE, BEN HARPER, Billy Gibbons of ZZ TOP, Ann and Nancy Wilson from HEART, IDLEWILD, and the BUZZCOCKS. Snippets from a humble trickle of (a George W. Bush commentary song) 'Bushleaguer' performances on the 2003 Riot Act world tour saw inclusion, while Matt Cameron's camera angle, fittingly dubbed "Matt Cam", supplied his concert viewpoint on five songs. Band outtakes, flavoured with scarce track 'Down', and a crew montage, escorted by 'Yield's 'All Those Yesterdays', closed the bonus footage. Both 'Lost Dogs' and 'Live at the Garden' acted as their resulting swansong on Epic Records.

2003's festive holiday single bestowed a live interpretation of 'Reach Down' culled from the October 28th Santa Barbara, California show as a fund raiser for the Louis Warschaw Prostate Cancer Centre. This featured former drummer Jack Irons, singer/songwriter Jack Johnson, guitarist Lyle Workman, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS guitarist JOHN FRUSCIANTE and SOUNDGARDEN / AUDIOSLAVE frontman Chris Cornell, essentially reuniting the original TEMPLE OF THE DOG line-up. An acoustic, mid-tempo arrangement of RAMONES song 'I Believe in Miracles', taken from the October 22nd Benaroya Hall show, played noteworthy support. Original artwork for the single was composed by Jeff Ament.

On 5th October 2005 PEARL JAM jammed on both cover tunes and LED ZEPPELIN material with ROBERT PLANT during a benefit for Hurricane Katrina relief at the House of Blues in Chicago. Plant and members of his band joined PEARL JAM onstage during the latter group's second encore for a version of LED ZEPPELIN's 'Going To California'. Plant then duetted with PEARL JAM vocalist Eddie Vedder on 'Thank You' and 'Fool In The Rain'. Both singers used a lyric sheet for 'Fool', a song which Plant and LED ZEPPELIN had never performed live. Other songs performed by the pairing included ELVIS PRESLEY's 'Little Sister', Motown hit 'Money (That's What I Want)', before closing the show with NEIL YOUNG's 'Rockin' In The Free World', which featured Plant playing guitar. Tickets for the show were $1,000, with proceeds going to the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and the Jazz Foundation of America.

This scarce live recital of 'Little Sister' notably materialized as the Ten Club's fourteenth Christmas holiday single, featuring an initial demonstration cut of the previously unreleased 'Gone'. A polished, refined incarnation surfaced on their eponymous album which hit the shelves in April 2006.

Surfer Kelly Slater reminisced in their mutual love of surfing, discussing numerous topics such as parenthood, the songwriting process, fond memories of the late RAMONES guitarist Johnny Ramone, America's current political climate and their upcoming new album amongst other primary subjects. This two part interview aired the K-OS waves, Kelly's Sirius Satellite radio show, on February 12th and 19th of 2006, broadcast from a faraway surfing location designated in the Pacific.

Radio outlets gained a fifteen second preview of forthcoming single 'World Wide Suicide' on the 24th. By March 6th, bootlegs.pearljam.com offered the MP3 track as a free download, one which flamboyantly neglected Digital Rights Management so friends could liberally share it - 150, 000 seized pragmatical advantage over four days. Subsequently transpiring as the first digitally delivered no. 1 single in Canada's chart history; the song additionally debuted at no. 3 on the US Billboard Radio Monitor modern Rock charts, peaking at no. 1 on the format's audience chart, 1 on iTunes, 29 on the US Hot Digital songs, 47 on the US Pop 100 and 41 on the US Billboard Hot 100 . Three days later on the 23rd, it claimed no. 1 on Billboard Radio's Modern Rock chart and no. 2 on the Mainstream Rock chart.

The Ten Club joyously proclaimed a unique chance for UK fans to win attendance at the Astoria, London, England; a coy, intimate gig held on April 20th. Tickets immediately sold out following their widespread sale on March 31st. On April 15th Lindsay Lohan welcomed the band to the roundly established NBC television show 'Saturday Night Live'.

As the 'Pearl Jam' album debuted at number 2 on the US album charts, shifting over 279,000 copies in its first week of sale, the inagural leg of their 2006 world tour kickstarted proceedings in Toronto, Canada on May 9th, consequently finishing in New Jersey on June 3rd. That same month PEARL JAM's Eddie Vedder and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE's frontman Josh Homme hooked up with THE STROKES to cut a cover version of soul legend MARVIN GAYE's classic 'Mercy Mercy Me' for inclusion as the B-side on THE STROKES single 'You Only Live Once'.

The band's sophomore touring leg debuted at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 23rd, dissolving on July 22nd at the Gorge in George, Washington, US. Special dates boasted the capable services of TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS.

The Carling Weekend festivals at Leeds and Reading, UK, held on August 25th and 27th respectively, billed PEARL JAM in the headline slot, alongside FRANZ FERDINAND, MUSE, KAISER CHIEFS, ARCTIC MONKEYS and PLACEBO.

On October 22nd the band performed as part of an all-star San Francisco Bridge School Benefit event, a aid a Bay Area educational facility for students with severe speech and physical impairments, organised by NEIL YOUNG. Young joined PEARL JAM in the show for the first-ever complete band live performance of 'Throw Your Hatred Down' from 1995's 'Mirror Ball'. The day beforehand Eddie Vedder and FOO FIGHTERS's Dave Grohl had joined Young to jam 'Rockin' In The Free World'.

PEARL JAM's 2007 fan club single comprised a studio cover of THE WHO's 'Love Reign O'er Me' and a live version of NEIL YOUNG's 'Rockin' in the Free World', the latter song recorded at a November 2006 benefit for Make Poverty History in Australia and featuring U2's Bono and The Edge. THE WHO track was cut for the movie soundtrack 'Reign Over Me', starring Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle.