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Pearl Jam History

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Jeffery Allen Ament

Jeff Ament

Main Instrument - Bass guitar
Other Instruments - Standup bass, backing vocals, guitar
Publishing name - Scribing C-Ment
Birthday - March 10, 1963 in Big Sandy, Montana

Jeff Ament, the bassist, was born on March 3, 1963. He lived in Montana until he went to college to become a basketball star. He actually tried out for the LA Clippers once. He left college to follow art and music. He was in the band Green River in Seattle with PJ guitarist Stone Gossard. He was also in Mother Love Bone with Stone and Andrew Wood. This band was just getting big when Wood died of a heroin overdose. He was part of the Temple of the Dog tribute album to Wood. Among the things Jeff has been known for is his high jumping on stage, his hats, and he does most of the band's art. Jeff is also one of the most opinionated band members. It was he who led the fight against Ticketmaster.

Cool Facts-

  • Son of a barber
  • Favorite bands are Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Ted Nugent, Kiss, Iron Maiden, and Venom
  • Went to college at University of Montana to study art
  • First met Stone in Norhtwestern School of Arts
  • Original member of Green River and Mother Love Bone
  • Member of Three Fish
  • Went to school for graphic design
  • Does PJ artwork
  • Was in Temple of the Dog
  • Bass...energetic, bouncin', and melodic
  • Was in the movie, "singles"
  • Digs basketball, especially Seattle Supersonics
  • Jeff is one of two vegetarians in the band; the other is Eddie

Matthew D. Cameron

Matt Cameron

Main Instrument - Drum set
Other Instruments - Percussion, backing vocals
Publishing name - Walpurgis Night Music
Birthday - November 28, 1962

Cool Facts-

  • Former member of Soundgarden
  • Sung "Puberty Love," in the movie: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
  • Can also sing, play bass & guitar, and write songs
  • Was in Temple of the Dog
  • Moved to Seattle in 1980s & joined Feedback
  • Has a jazz side-band called Tone Dogs
  • Member of Wellwater Conspiracy with Monster Magnet’s John McBain

Stone Carpender Gossard

Stone Gossard

Main Instrument - Rhythm guitar
Other Instruments - Mellotron, backing/lead vocals, tambourine,
bass, lead guitar
Publishing name - Write Treatage Music
Birthday - July 20, 1966 in Seattle, Washington

Stone Gossard was born on July 20, 1966 to a wealthy family. His dad was a lawyer in Seattle and has remained their his entire life. He met Jeff Ament in the mid-80's, and they formed the band Green River. He was also in Mother Love Bone. After MLB broke up, he began to look for other members. He had seen a guitarist, Mike McCready, play and thought highly of him. So he recruited him along with Eddie and Dave Krusen, the original drummer, and they formed PJ. Stone has often been thought of as the backbone always holding PJ together. Besides being active in the support for the legalization of marijuana, Stone has been known for stomping his feet in concert and having a good sense of humor. It is Stone that provides the rhythm in most of PJ's songs. He has a very distinct sound that can also be heard in his side project, Brad.

Cool Facts-

  • His father was an attorney and his mother worked for the city government
  • First band was March of Crimes
  • Was an original member of Green River and Mother Love Bone
  • Member of Brad
  • Was in Temple of the Dog
  • Has a record company named Loosegroove Records
  • Influences: Led Zeppelin, KISS, Hendrix, funk and rap
  • Keys & vocals
  • Rhythm guitar...riff maker extraordinaire
  • Was in the movie, "singles"

Michael David McCready

Mike McCready

Main Instrument - Lead guitar
Other Instruments - Slide, backing vocals, piano, bass, rhythm guitar
Publishing name - Jumpin' Cat Music
Birthday - April 05, 1966 in Pensacola, Florida

Mike McCready, the lead guitarist, was born on April 5, 1965. He grew up in northeast Seattle listening to Kiss and heavy metal. He later listened to the Rolling Stones, Led Zepplin, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Jimi Hendrix. He was recruited to PJ by Stone and has been the lead ever since. Mike is definitely the purest musician of the band. He often doesn't take as much part in the issues the band has faced, but anyone who has seen him in concert knows the dedication that Mike brings to this band. In late 1994, after winning his fight against alcohol and drugs in rehab, he contacted some friends to form a side project. Among them were Layne Staley, the vocalist for Alice in Chains. They became Mad Season and had a few hits. Among the things Mike is known for, is loving Led Zepplin, loving to party, and getting crazy at concerts.

Cool Facts-

  • Was in a band named Shadow
  • Influences include KISS, Hendrix
  • Member of Mad Season
  • Friend of Mr. Potatohead
  • Was in Temple of the Dog
  • Lead guitar...sonic guitar solos

Eddie Jerome Vedder

Eddie Vedder

Main Instrument - Lead vocals
Other Instruments - Guitar, accordian, harmonica, tambourine,
backing vocals
Publishing name - Innocent Bystander
Birthday - December 23, 1964 in Evanston, Illinois

Eddie Vedder was born on December 23, 1964 with the name Edward Louis Severson III. He was later adopted and given the name Edward Mueller by a dad that he never got along with. After his mother's divorce, he took her maiden name, Vedder. He was born in Evanston, Illinois, but moved with his family to San Diego when he was eight. He was the lead singer of a band named Bad Radio for a little while. It was here that Jack Irons, a friend of his from Seattle, gave him a demo tape of Jeff and Stone's music. He fell in love with the music instantly and dubbed some of his lyrics on it. This has come to been known as the mini-opera(Ed was a huge fan of The Who and their opera Tommy). This eventually lead to the forming of Mookie Blaylock and later, Pearl Jam. On June 3, 1994 he married his girlfriend, Beth Liebling in Rome. She is in the band Hovercraft. Among the things Ed has been known for is is antics on stage, his love of The Who and vinyl, and making music that means something to his fans.

Cool Facts-

  • Lead vocals, lyricist, rhythm guitar
  • Does PJ album art, resident typist
  • Plays accordian and harmonica
  • Formerly in a band named Bad Radio
  • Was in Temple of the Dog
  • Master of ceremonies & sometimes DJ
  • Was in the movie, "Singles"
  • Basketball freak, especially Chicago Bulls
  • Good with card tricks
  • Eddie modeled for Montgomery Ward's catelog when he was 5
  • Eddie is one of two vegetarians in the band; the other is Jeff