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Biography

 

 

General Information:

 

Full name:       Jeffery Allen Ament

Date of birth: March 10, 1963

Born in:           Havre, Montana

Grew up in:     Big Sandy, Montana

College:          University of                             Montana

Major:            Graphic Design

Influences:      Kiss, Aerosmith, Led                         Zeppelin, Ted Nugent,                         Black Sabbath, Iron                         Maiden, and more.

Instruments:

 

Main

  • Bass guitar

Other

  • Standup bass
  • Percussion
  • Keyboard
  • Guitar
  • Organ
  • Diembe
  • Also sings

 

Bands:

 

·        Deranged Diction

·        Green River

·        Lords of the Wasteland

·        Mother Love Bone

·        Temple of the Dog

·        Pearl Jam

·        Three Fish

·        M.A.C.C.

Other:

 

·        Jeff is a vegetarian.

·        Jeff enjoys playing basketball and once tried out for the LA Clippers.

·        In Pearl Jam, Jeff is the band biographer.

·        Jeff enjoys art and photography.

·        Jeff appeared in the movies Singles and Dogtown and the Z-Boys.

 

 

A Biography of Jeff Ament

 

          Primarily know for his work with the band Pearl Jam, Jeff Ament got his start in music with the band Deranged Diction. Jeff had been playing guitar since age 12 and took up bass as a teenager. Jeff attended college at the University of Montana, but later left college to follow music and moved to Seattle.

After quitting Deranged Diction, Jeff was asked to join a grunge rock band with Stone Gossard called Green River. Together with singer Mike Arm, guitarist Steve Turner, drummer Alex Vincent, and Pearl Jam rhythm guitarist-to-be Stone Gossard, Green River released three LPs. After touring the west coast, Jeff and Stone decided to quit the band.

Jeff and Stone then got together with singer Andy Wood and recorded a 16-song demo under the name Mother Love Bone. The band also included drummer Greg Gilmore and second guitarist Bruce Fairweather. After Mother Love Bone recorded their album Apple, singer Andy died from a heroin overdose before the album was even released in the spring of 1990. The band decided that Mother Love Bone could not continue without their compelling singer and decided to disband.

At that point, Jeff considered giving up music altogether, but instead began writing songs with Stone again and they began looking for a new drummer and singer. Jack Irons from the Red Hot Chili peppers recommended Eddie Vedder. Eddie wrote lyrics for the songs “Alive” and “Once” and was asked to join the band. The band would also recruit lead guitarist Mike McCready and drummer Matt Cameron to join the band. However, before Pearl Jam had even entered the studio, the band worked together with Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell on an Andy Wood tribute album with the name Temple of the Dog, releasing their self-titled album in 1991.

Pearl Jam released their debut album Ten in 1992. By that summer, Pearl Jam had already achieved huge commercial success and they were deemed one of the most popular bands of the 1990’s. Together, Pearl Jam has released a total of 7 studio albums, including their newest release Riot Act. They have also released what seems like hundreds of live albums (which makes sense, since they are great live).

As his next project, Jeff formed the band Three Fish with singer/guitarist Robbi Robb and drummer Richard Stuverud. The side project gave Jeff a chance to put down his bass; because he not only plays bass in the band, but also plays guitar, percussion, organ, diembe, and also sings. Three Fish has quite a different sound from Pearl Jam’s “grunge” sound—incorporating Turkish and Egyptian instruments into their music to create a polyrhythmic beat. Jeff did the band’s photography and also produced the band’s second album entitled The Quite Table.

Jeff also collaborated with Mike McCready, Chris Cornell and Matt Cameron on a tribute to Jimi Hendrix called M.A.C.C., which stands for McCready, Ament, Cornell, and Cameron. In the midst of his work with Pearl Jam and Three Fish, Jeff also found the time to create a graphic design company with his brother, Barry, called Ames Bros.

Today, Jeff still hasn’t forgotten his Montana roots and currently owns a house outside Missoula, Minnesota. Pearl Jam has also played several shows in Montana over the past several years. Pearl Jam are currently touring this summer to promote Riot Act.