Every band begins in a similar way. A group of musicians coming together to jam and see if their chemistry clicks. Creating melodies and experimenting with different sounds, honing my skills through endless practice. And then, if fortune smiles upon you, a moment of revelation. When everything aligns perfectly, there’s a magical moment of clarity. Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam has a vivid recollection of that moment.
That sounds very similar to Pearl Jam’s lyrics. The members of the band primarily operated within Seattle’s vibrant music scene during the late 1980s and ’90s, having previously been involved in various other musical projects. However, as is often the case with local band crowds, regular rotation frequently altered and disrupted lineups. Members migrated to join forces with a new band, forming a close-knit group of talented individuals.
However, a tragic event drove their creation. In the beginning, Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard had intentions of creating a band alongside Andrew Wood, which they named Mother Love Bone. Unfortunately, after they had composed a few songs and started to generate some attention, Wood tragically passed away due to an overdose.
With a group of musicians and a handful of demos, they started searching for a fresh leader, with the help of their friend Mike McCready. According to Eddie Vedder, it seems like something prepared them. There was a palpable sense of anticipation and disappointment in the air. They used to be part of a band, but then they disbanded. Now, they are eager to form a new band.
That’s how he received a tape of instrumental song intros at his home in San Diego, to which he promptly sent his own tape in return. “I sent the tape through my friend Jack Irons,” he explained, referring to the audition process. “They mentioned that if you happen to know any talented vocalists…” That was simply an unexpected tape that I sent up to Seattle.
However, even before they had the chance to meet in person, those two tapes marked the beginning of something significant. It marked the beginning of an emerging band that would soon become known to the world as Pearl Jam. Vedder received a tape that contained the instrumental tracks for three songs. In his response, he had included the lyrics to ‘Alive‘, ‘Once‘, and ‘Black‘, which would later be featured on their first album.
During an interview with Carrie Brownstein from Sleater Kinney, she inquired about the first song she wrote with Pearl Jam that brought her a sense of genuine pride. It’s remarkable that Vedder mentions this right from the start. “I believe the first one on that tape had three songs. I remember ‘Alive’ and ‘Black’ being on it, and I think ‘Once’ was also included,” he recalled. “‘Alive’ and ‘Black’ remain unchanged from their previous state.” And they’re quite fascinating.
Once Vedder successfully completed the tape test, the band entered a rehearsal room where the songs swiftly solidified into their final form. We put in a lot of effort, dedicating a whole week to practice before finally recording on the last day. He casually mentioned that he ended up with a tape of around ten or eleven songs. Most of those tape made it onto the record. His nonchalant tone made it seem like a straightforward process.
But that’s how it seemed to the members, as all the previous bands and unsuccessful projects were now making way for something promising. “It felt like many of the things I had been involved in before were somewhat unoriginal or excessively derivative. However, this had its own unique quality,” Vedder reminisced, and that’s how Pearl Jam came into existence.
