Pearl Jam is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington State. Formed in 1990 by guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament, Pearl Jam is one of the most popular bands in the grunge movement, forming the Big Four of Seattle alongside Soundgarden, Nirvana and Alice in Chains. In 2005, readers of USA Today elect Pearl Jam "Best American Rock Band" . In addition to their scenic commitment, the Seattle quintet was notable for its anti-Bush and humanitarian political commitment.
In 2012, the group lists close to 32 million records sold in the United States and approximately 60 million abroad >>>. Pearl Jam is considered one of the most important groups of the 1990s. AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine regards Pearl Jam as the most popular American rock 'n roll band of the' 90s. "
Guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament are together for the first time in the Green River band with Mark Arm and Steve Turner. After the breakup, the last two formed the Mudhoney group, while Gossard and Ament joined Andrew Wood to form the Lords of Wasteland group, later renamed Mother Love Bone, with Greg Gilmore and Bruce Fairwaither. The band separates with the death of its singer, Andrew Wood, who succumbs to a heroin overdose before the release of their first album, Apple four months later>. His friend Chris Cornell, singer of the band Soundgarden records an album in his memory. On this album, which takes the name of Temple of the Dog (from the lyrics of a song by Andrew Wood), are gathered Gossard, Ament, McCready and Cameron, at the time, drummer of the band Soundgarden. On the title Hunger Strike, Eddie Vedder accompanies Chris Cornell on vocals. In addition, Gossard began to work alone and to store some compositions in a cassette entitled Stone Gossard Demos , including three instruments. Gossard quickly meets Mike McCready, a solo guitarist recently without a band. Ament joins them soon after. The three musicians realize very quickly that they hold something worthwhile.
The band has not found any name or singer, Gossard begins to distribute an audio cassette of five demos to his friends hoping they will end up in good hands. They give it to the former Red Hot Chili Peppers' member, Jack Irons, hoping he'll join them or distribute it to other potential singers. Irons entrusts the tape to one of his acquaintances living in San Diego, Eddie Vedder>. Vedder works at night in a gas station and spends his time writing and performing songs with a local band called Bad Radio. Vedder listens briefly to Gossard's demos and begins to write the lyrics of the three instruments, ( Alive , Once and Footsteps ), in what he will describe later a "Mini-opera" entitled Momma-Son . Vedder returns the tape with his voice in the background to Seattle musicians, quite impressed to finally audition Vedder. Within a week, Vedder joins the group>.
