History of Pearl Jam in Timeline
Pearl Jam, formed in Seattle in 1990, is an American rock band pivotal to the grunge movement. The lineup includes founding members Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, Eddie Vedder, and drummer Matt Cameron (since 1998). They were initially formed from the remnants of Mother Love Bone following the death of vocalist Andrew Wood. Known for their activism and strong stance against Ticketmaster's pricing policies, Pearl Jam has maintained a dedicated fanbase and is recognized as one of the most influential and enduring rock bands of the 1990s, selling millions of records worldwide and outlasting many contemporaries.
1987: Green River Disbands
In 1987, Green River, the band featuring Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament, disbanded due to stylistic differences.
1987: Gossard and Ament Start Playing with Andrew Wood
In late 1987, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament began playing with Malfunkshun vocalist Andrew Wood, forming the basis for Mother Love Bone.
1988: Mother Love Bone Records and Tours
In 1988, Mother Love Bone recorded and toured, gaining increasing interest.
1989: Mother Love Bone Signs with PolyGram
In early 1989, Mother Love Bone signed with PolyGram.
July 1990: Mother Love Bone's 'Apple' Released
In July 1990, Mother Love Bone's debut album, Apple, was released four months after the death of Andrew Wood.
October 22, 1990: First Show as Mookie Blaylock
On October 22, 1990, the band played its first official show as Mookie Blaylock at the Off Ramp Café in Seattle.
December 22, 1990: Opening for Alice in Chains
On December 22, 1990, Mookie Blaylock opened for Alice in Chains at the Moore Theatre in Seattle.
1990: Pearl Jam Formation
In 1990, Pearl Jam was formed in Seattle, Washington by Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder.
March 1991: Recording 'Ten'
In March 1991, Pearl Jam entered Seattle's London Bridge Studios to record its debut album, Ten.
May 1991: Dave Krusen Leaves Pearl Jam
In May 1991, Dave Krusen left Pearl Jam after checking himself into rehabilitation for alcoholism and was replaced by Matt Chamberlain.
August 27, 1991: Release of 'Ten'
On August 27, 1991, Pearl Jam released Ten, named after Mookie Blaylock's jersey number, featuring songs about dark subjects.
1991: Opening for Alice in Chains Facelift Tour
In 1991, Mookie Blaylock served as the opening act for Alice in Chains' Facelift tour.
1991: Release of 'Ten'
In 1991, Pearl Jam released their debut album, Ten, which became a mainstream success and stayed on the Billboard 200 chart for nearly five years.
September 20, 1992: Magnuson Park Concert
On September 20, 1992, Pearl Jam played a concert at Magnuson Park in Seattle, which was later released as an LP in 2009.
1992: 'Ten' Becomes a Success
By the second half of 1992, 'Ten' became a breakthrough success, being certified gold and reaching number two on the Billboard charts.
1992: Vedder Expresses Pro-Choice Views
In 1992, Eddie Vedder published an article titled "Reclamation" detailing his views on abortion. During an MTV Unplugged concert the same year, he wrote "PRO-CHOICE!" on his arm in protest.
1992: Television Appearances and Lollapalooza
In 1992, Pearl Jam made television appearances on Saturday Night Live and MTV Unplugged, and they participated in the Lollapalooza tour.
1992: Pearl Jam's MTV Unplugged Performance
Pearl Jam's 1992 MTV Unplugged performance was ranked second in Rolling Stone's list of its 15 Best Episodes.
October 19, 1993: Release of 'Vs.'
On October 19, 1993, Pearl Jam released their second album, Vs., which sold 950,378 copies in its first week.
1993: MTV Video Music Awards and Refusal to Make Videos
In 1993, Pearl Jam received four awards at the MTV Video Music Awards for its video for "Jeremy", but the band refused to make a video for "Black", starting a trend of refusing to make videos.
1993: Release of 'Vs.'
In 1993, Pearl Jam's second album, Vs., was released and sold over 950,000 copies in its first week, setting a sales record at the time.
June 30, 1994: Gossard and Ament Testify Before Congress
On June 30, 1994, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament testified at a subcommittee investigation in Washington, D.C., alleging that Ticketmaster used anti-competitive practices.
November 21, 1994: Vitalogy Vinyl Release
On November 21, 1994, Pearl Jam released "Vitalogy" on vinyl, preceding the CD and cassette release.
December 6, 1994: Vitalogy CD and Cassette Release
On December 6, 1994, Pearl Jam released their album "Vitalogy" on CD and cassette. The CD became the second-fastest-selling CD in history, selling over 877,000 units in its first week.
1994: Pearl Jam's Battle with Ticketmaster
In 1994, Pearl Jam discovered Ticketmaster was adding service charges to charity benefit tickets, leading to a conflict and the band creating its own venues.
1994: Release of 'Vitalogy'
In 1994, Pearl Jam released their third album, Vitalogy, which became the second-fastest-selling CD in history at the time.
1994: Dave Abbruzzese Fired
In 1994, after the recording of Vitalogy, drummer Dave Abbruzzese was fired from Pearl Jam due to political differences and was replaced by Jack Irons.
1995: Self-Pollution Radio Broadcast
In 1995, Jack Irons made his debut with Pearl Jam at Neil Young's Bridge School Benefit, but was announced as the band's new drummer during the Self-Pollution satellite radio broadcast.
1995: Vitalogy Tour and Ticketmaster Boycott
In 1995, Pearl Jam continued its boycott against Ticketmaster during the "Vitalogy" tour, which limited their ability to play shows in the United States and affected their career. The band also backed Neil Young on his album "Mirror Ball", and released the EP "Merkin Ball".
1996: Release of No Code
In 1996, Pearl Jam released their album "No Code", which debuted at number one on the Billboard charts, but quickly fell. The album was considered a break from their previous sound and they did very little touring because of their refusal to play at Ticketmaster's venue areas. A European tour took place in the fall of 1996.
1996: Grammy Award for Spin the Black Circle
In 1996, Pearl Jam's "Spin the Black Circle" from the album "Vitalogy" won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.
1996: "Who You Are" Number One Hit
In 1996, Pearl Jam's song "Who You Are" reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock chart.
1996: No Code Number One
Since the release of No Code in 1996, no Pearl Jam album has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard music charts, until Backspacer.
1997: Recording Yield
In 1997, Pearl Jam recorded their fifth album, "Yield", which was a team effort among all members of the group.
February 3, 1998: Pearl Jam Releases Yield
On February 3, 1998, Pearl Jam released "Yield", which was cited as a return to the band's early, straightforward rock sound.
April 1998: Matt Cameron Joins Pearl Jam
In April 1998, Jack Irons left Pearl Jam and was replaced by former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron. Pearl Jam returned to full-scale touring, again using Ticketmaster to better accommodate concertgoers.
1998: Matt Cameron Joins Pearl Jam
In 1998, Matt Cameron joined Pearl Jam as the band's drummer.
1998: Last Kiss Recorded
In 1998, Pearl Jam recorded "Last Kiss" during a soundcheck and released it on the band's fan club Christmas single.
1998: "Given to Fly" Number One Hit
In 1998, Pearl Jam's song "Given to Fly" reached number one on the Mainstream Rock chart.
1998: 'Vs.' Record Broken
In 1998, the record for most copies of an album sold in its first week, set by Pearl Jam's Vs., was broken by Garth Brooks' Double Live.
1998: Live on Two Legs
Live on Ten Legs is a follow-up to Live on Two Legs, which consisted of songs recorded during their 1998 North American tour.
1999: Pearl Jam Reconvenes to Work on New Album
Towards the end of 1999, Pearl Jam reconvened to commence work on a new album, later released as Binaural.
May 16, 2000: Pearl Jam Releases Binaural
On May 16, 2000, Pearl Jam released its sixth studio album, "Binaural", which was drummer Matt Cameron's studio recording debut with the band.
June 2000: Roskilde Festival Incident
In June 2000, nine people died at the Roskilde Festival. This incident heavily influenced the lyrics of the next album, "Riot Act".
October 22, 2000: Pearl Jam's Tenth Anniversary Show
On October 22, 2000, Pearl Jam played the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, celebrating the tenth anniversary of its first live performance as a band.
2000: Vedder Supports Ralph Nader in 2000 Election
In 2000, Eddie Vedder supported Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader.
2000: Kille Knobel starts with Pearl Jam
In 2000, Kille Knobel began working with Pearl Jam as an operator and programmer for a tour, eventually becoming their longtime touring lighting designer.
2000: Binaural Tour
In 2000, Pearl Jam decided to record every show on its Binaural Tour professionally.
2000: Roskilde Festival Tragedy
In 2000, nine fans were crushed and suffocated at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark during Pearl Jam's performance.
2000: Vedder Discusses Pearl Jam's Legacy
In a 2000 interview, Eddie Vedder reflected on Pearl Jam's legacy, stating their goal was to give people something to believe in, as other bands had done for them.
September 21, 2001: America: A Tribute to Heroes
On September 21, 2001, Vedder and McCready joined Neil Young to perform "Long Road" at the America: A Tribute to Heroes benefit concert, which was a response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
2001: Pearl Jam Praised as Organic and Principled
In 2001, Eric Weisbard of Spin wrote that Pearl Jam, once accused of being synthetic, now seemed as organic and principled a rock band as exists.
2001: Pearl Jam Headlines Benefit Concert for UN
In 2001, Pearl Jam headlined a Seattle concert to support the United Nations' efforts to combat world hunger.
November 12, 2002: Pearl Jam Releases Riot Act
On November 12, 2002, Pearl Jam released "Riot Act", which featured a more folk-based and experimental sound.
2002: Boom Gaspar Joins Pearl Jam
Since 2002, Boom Gaspar has been a touring and session member with Pearl Jam as a keyboardist.
June 2003: Leaving Epic Records
In June 2003, Pearl Jam announced it was leaving Epic Records following the end of its contract with the label.
July 8, 2003: Live at the Garden Concert
On July 8, 2003, Pearl Jam performed at Madison Square Garden, which was later released as a DVD titled "Live at the Garden" in November 2003.
November 2003: Lost Dogs and Live at the Garden Release
In November 2003, Pearl Jam released "Lost Dogs", a collection of rarities and B-sides, and "Live at the Garden", a DVD featuring the band's July 8, 2003 concert at Madison Square Garden through Epic Records.
2003: Riot Act Tour
In 2003, Pearl Jam embarked on its Riot Act Tour, which included tours in Australia and North America. At many shows during the North American tour, Vedder performed "Bu$hleaguer" with a rubber mask of President George W. Bush.
2003: Live Tracks for Live on Ten Legs
Some of the live tracks on the Live on Ten Legs album (released in 2011) were recorded as early as 2003.
October 2004: Pearl Jam Supports John Kerry on Vote for Change Tour
In October 2004, Pearl Jam played concerts on the Vote for Change tour, supporting John Kerry's candidacy for U.S. president.
2004: Vote for Change Tour Appearance
In 2004, Pearl Jam appeared on the Vote for Change tour, after which they began working on their follow-up album to Riot Act.
2004: Live at Benaroya Hall Release and TV Licensing
In 2004, Pearl Jam released the live album "Live at Benaroya Hall" through a one-album deal with BMG. Also in 2004, Pearl Jam licensed a song for usage in a television show, with a snippet of "Yellow Ledbetter" used in the final episode of Friends.
2004: Vote for Change? 2004 Documentary Film Release
In the days prior to Election Day 2008, Pearl Jam digitally released a free documentary film titled "Vote for Change? 2004", documenting their time on the 2004 Vote for Change tour.
April 2005: Easy Street Records Show
In April 2005, Pearl Jam performed at Easy Street Records in Seattle.
September 2005: Canadian Cross-Country Tour
In September 2005, Pearl Jam embarked on a Canadian cross-country tour, beginning with a fundraising concert in Missoula, Montana.
October 5, 2005: Hurricane Katrina Relief Benefit Concert
On October 5, 2005, Pearl Jam played a benefit concert at the House of Blues in Chicago to raise money for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
November 22, 2005: Latin American Tour Begins
On November 22, 2005, Pearl Jam commenced its first ever Latin American tour.
2005: Early Sound Comparison
In 2005, McCready compared the material to the album Vs.
2005: Pearl Jam Adds Concert to Help Hurricane Katrina Victims
In 2005, Pearl Jam added a date at the Chicago House of Blues to their tour to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The concert proceeds were donated to Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross, and the Jazz Foundation of America.
2005: Pearl Jam Voted Greatest American Rock Band
In 2005, in a USA Today readers' poll, Pearl Jam was voted the greatest American rock band of all time.
February 2006: Signing with J Records
In February 2006, Clive Davis announced that Pearl Jam had signed with his label J Records.
April 2006: Pearl Jam Wins Best Live Act at Esky Music Awards
In April 2006, Pearl Jam was awarded the prize for "Best Live Act" in Esquire's Esky Music Awards, recognizing their exceptional live performances.
May 2, 2006: Pearl Jam Album Release
On May 2, 2006, Pearl Jam released their self-titled album, which was seen by many critics as a return to the band's early sound.
June 2006: Live at Easy Street Album Release
In June 2006, Pearl Jam's "Live at Easy Street" album, featuring recordings from their April 2005 show, was released exclusively to independent record stores.
2006: Vedder Discusses "Alive" Meaning
In 2006, Eddie Vedder told VH1 Storytellers how fans changed the meaning of 'Alive' into a self-empowering anthem, lifting the curse in the song.
2006: 2006 World Tour
In 2006, Pearl Jam embarked on their world tour, which included North America, Australia, and Europe.
2006: Italian Shows Documented
In 2006, Pearl Jam played shows in Italy which were later documented in the Immagine in Cornice DVD released in 2007.
2006: Rolling Stone on Pearl Jam's Fame
In 2006, Rolling Stone described Pearl Jam as having "spent much of the past decade deliberately tearing apart their own fame".
2006: Pearl Jam Founded Vitalogy Foundation
In 2006, the members of Pearl Jam founded the non-profit organization Vitalogy Foundation, which supports non-profit organizations working in community health, the environment, arts, education, and social change.
2006: Vedder Admits Peyote Jam Story Was False
In a 2006 cover story for Rolling Stone, Eddie Vedder admitted that the story about the band's name being related to a great-grandmother's peyote-laced jam was "total bullshit".
June 2007: Live at the Gorge 05/06 Box Set Release
In June 2007, Pearl Jam released a CD box set titled "Live at the Gorge 05/06", documenting their shows at The Gorge Amphitheatre.
August 5, 2007: Lollapalooza Headliners
On August 5, 2007, Pearl Jam headlined Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Chicago.
September 2007: Immagine in Cornice DVD Release
In September 2007, Pearl Jam released a concert DVD, titled "Immagine in Cornice", documenting the band's Italian shows from its 2006 tour.
2007: Vedder Criticizes Bush Administration and BP Amoco at Lollapalooza
At Lollapalooza 2007, Eddie Vedder criticized the Bush administration and BP Amoco for environmental issues. The band later questioned censorship when some lyrics were excised from the AT&T webcast of the event.
June 2008: Bonnaroo Music Festival Headline Act
In June 2008, Pearl Jam performed as the headline act at the Bonnaroo Music Festival.
July 2008: VH1 Tribute to The Who Performance
In July 2008, Pearl Jam performed at the VH1 tribute to The Who along with Foo Fighters, Incubus, and the Flaming Lips.
2008: Work Begins on Backspacer
In early 2008, Pearl Jam began working on the follow-up to their self-titled album, which would eventually become Backspacer.
March 2009: Ten Reissue
In March 2009, Pearl Jam's album "Ten" was reissued in four editions, featuring extras such as a remastering and remix of the entire album, a DVD of their 1992 MTV Unplugged appearance, and an LP of their September 20, 1992 concert at Magnuson Park.
August 2009: Virgin Festival and Outside Lands Headlining
In August 2009, Pearl Jam headlined the Virgin Festival and the Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival.
September 2009: Potential EP Release Teased
In September 2009, McCready revealed that Pearl Jam was scheduled to finish the Backspacer outtakes within six months, and told San Diego radio station KBZT that the band may release an EP in 2010 consisting of those songs.
October 2009: Austin City Limits and Philadelphia Spectrum Performances
In October 2009, Pearl Jam headlined the Austin City Limits Music Festival and played the last performance at the Philadelphia Spectrum on Halloween night.
May 2010: Month-Long Tour Begins
In May 2010, Pearl Jam started a month-long tour with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
May 21, 2010: Madison Square Garden Concert
On May 21, 2010, Pearl Jam concluded their month-long tour at Madison Square Garden in New York.
July 2010: European Tour
In June and July 2010, Pearl Jam went on a European tour, performing in Northern Ireland for the first time at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast.
October 2010: Bridge School Benefit Concert
In late October 2010, Pearl Jam performed at the 24th Annual Bridge School Benefit Concert.
2010: Potential EP Release Teased
In September 2009 McCready suggested that Pearl Jam may release an EP in 2010
January 17, 2011: Live on Ten Legs Album Release
On January 17, 2011, Pearl Jam released a live album titled "Live on Ten Legs", a compilation of live tracks from their 2003 to 2010 world tours.
March 2011: New Album Recording Plans
In March 2011, Jeff Ament told Billboard that Pearl Jam had 25 songs and would be heading into the studio in April to begin recording the follow-up to Backspacer.
May 16, 2011: Alpine Valley and Canadian Shows Confirmed
On May 16, 2011, Pearl Jam confirmed that they would play the Labor Day weekend at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin, followed by ten shows in Canada.
September 8, 2011: "Olé" Song Release
On September 8, 2011, Pearl Jam released a new song titled "Olé".
November 21, 2011: Costa Rica Concert
On November 21, 2011, as part of their PJ20 World Tour, Pearl Jam visited Costa Rica for the first time, performing to a crowd of 30,000 fans at the National Stadium.
2011: Vs. and Vitalogy Reissues
In 2011, Pearl Jam reissued Vs. and Vitalogy in deluxe form in the springtime.
2011: Pearl Jam Named Planet Defenders by Rock the Earth
In 2011, Pearl Jam was named 2011 Planet Defenders by Rock the Earth for their environmental activism and efforts to decrease their own carbon emissions.
June 2012: European Tour Announcement
The following month after the Costa Rica visit, Pearl Jam announced a tour of Europe, which started in June 2012.
2012: US Album Sales Milestone
By 2012, Pearl Jam had sold nearly 32 million albums in the United States.
July 11, 2013: Lightning Bolt Album Announcement
On July 11, 2013, Pearl Jam announced that their tenth studio album "Lightning Bolt" would be released internationally on October 14, 2013, and on the next day in the United States, along with releasing the first single "Mind Your Manners".
July 2013: Backspacer Sales
As of July 2013, Pearl Jam's album Backspacer had sold 635,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
September 18, 2013: "Sirens" Single Release
On September 18, 2013, Pearl Jam released their second single, "Sirens", from the album Lightning Bolt.
October 14, 2013: Lightning Bolt International Release
On October 14, 2013, Pearl Jam's tenth studio album, Lightning Bolt, was released internationally.
2014: Big Day Out Festival Headlining
In 2014, Pearl Jam headlined the final Big Day Out festival in Australia and New Zealand.
February 2015: Grammy Award for Best Recording Package
At the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in February 2015, Pearl Jam's album "Lightning Bolt" won the award for Best Recording Package.
November 2015: Latin America Tour
In November 2015 Pearl Jam played a nine-date tour of Latin America
January 2016: US and Canada Tour Announcement
In January 2016, Pearl Jam announced a tour of the United States and Canada, including appearances at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and Bonnaroo.
April 2017: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
In April 2017, Pearl Jam was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with comedian David Letterman inducting them at the ceremony.
August 2017: Let's Play Two Live Album and Concert Film Release
In August 2017, Pearl Jam announced the release of the live album and concert film "Let's Play Two" from the band's shows at Wrigley Field in Chicago the previous year.
2017: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
In 2017, Pearl Jam was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in its first year of eligibility.
March 2018: 2018 Tour Launch in South America
Pearl Jam launched a 2018 tour with shows in South America in March 2018, including shows at the Lollapalooza festival events in Brazil and Chile.
2018: Album Sales Milestone
By 2018, Pearl Jam had sold more than 100 million albums worldwide.
December 2019: European Tour Confirmation
In December 2019, Pearl Jam confirmed that they would be touring Europe in the summer of 2020.
January 13, 2020: Gigaton Album Announcement
On January 13, 2020, Pearl Jam announced that their album "Gigaton" would be released on March 27, 2020.
March 27, 2020: Gigaton Album Release Date
Pearl Jam had announced that Gigaton would be released on March 27, 2020
April 2020: North American Tour Postponement
In conjunction with the release of their eleventh studio album, Pearl Jam also announced tour dates in North America during March and April 2020. However, the North American leg was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 2020: MTV Unplugged Vinyl and CD Release
In September 2020, Pearl Jam confirmed that their MTV Unplugged live set would be released on vinyl and CD for the first time the following month.
May 2021: Pearl Jam Announces Digital Concert Collection "Deep"
In May 2021, Pearl Jam announced the release of Deep, a digital collection of nearly 200 concerts dating from 2000 to 2013. The collection comprises 5,404 individual songs and is accessible to members of the Pearl Jam Ten Club.
September 18, 2021: Pearl Jam Performs at Sea.Hear.Now Festival
On September 18, 2021, Pearl Jam played their first show since 2018 at the Sea.Hear.Now Festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Josh Klinghoffer, former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist, debuted as a touring musician with the band at this event.
May 2022: Matt Cameron Misses Shows Due to COVID-19
In May 2022, Matt Cameron missed his first shows in 24 years with Pearl Jam after testing positive for COVID-19. Josh Klinghoffer and Richard Stuverud filled in on drums during this time.
April 2023: Pearl Jam Announces Fourth Leg of Gigaton Tour
In April 2023, Pearl Jam announced a fourth leg of their Gigaton Tour, primarily focused in the Midwestern United States.
September 2023: Pearl Jam Postpones Noblesville, Indiana Show
In September 2023, Pearl Jam's show in Noblesville, Indiana, was postponed due to illness within the band.
April 19, 2024: Pearl Jam Releases "Dark Matter" Album
On April 19, 2024, Pearl Jam released their twelfth album, titled "Dark Matter", to critical acclaim, shortly before embarking on a world tour in 2024.
July 2024: Pearl Jam Cancels Shows Due to Illness
In June and July 2024, Pearl Jam canceled three shows in London and Berlin due to significant illness within the band, which Eddie Vedder described as a "near-death experience."
2024: Pearl Jam Supports Jon Tester's Re-election Efforts
Pearl Jam supported the re-election efforts of Senator Jon Tester with concerts in Missoula, Montana during their 2024 tour.
