2008 Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam has been on the move, touring in Canada, South America, and Mexico. Now the U.S. gets its turn to experience live the music and energy of the band that dominated American rock & roll in the '90s even as they fought the control and commercialism of the recording industry. Yes, Pearl Jam has been active here, too, notably joining such other performers as Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M., Dave Matthews Band, John Mellencamp, James Taylor, Death Cab for Cutie, and the Dixie Chicks in the Vote for Change concerts leading up to the national elections in 2004. More recently, Eddie Vedder and the group joined with Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin in fundraising for survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

Guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament had helped create a promising Seattle-based group called Mother Love Bone, which fell apart in 1990 after its flamboyant lead vocalist Andrew Wood died of a heroin overdose. When Gossard and Ament were ready to rejoin the music scene, they brought together Mike McCready on lead guitar and Soundgarden's Matt Cameron on drums, and then Eddie Vedder, to do lead vocals. They named themselves 'Mookie Blaylock,' but to avoid legal complications of using the name of a living person, in fact, an active player in the NBA, they chose again, this time Pearl Jam. The formation of the new group had involved a demo record; many of its songs were packaged as part of their multi-platinum album, Ten, a year later.

The Grunge rock phenomenon swept the group to superstardom. They continued to produce multi-platinum albums, despite their refusal to be forced into making videos or charging the high prices demanded by Ticketmaster. Legal conflicts ensued, with the Justice Department eventually ruling against Pearl Jam. The hassles did not prevent their winning the 1995 Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance with the song 'Spin the Black Circle.' An even bigger hit was their cover of an oldie by the name of 'Last Kiss.'

Riot Act, named for the 1715 British law designed to keep groups from assembling in protest, was Pearl Jam's seventh album, or 80th if you count the 73 full European and American dates recorded in full and released in an unprecedented series of double-CD sets released in 2001 and 2002. The practice of recording every concert continues, and will be repeated again this tour. Another studio album is in the works, which Eddie Vedder has hinted will be "pretty aggressive." But nothing can match the fun of getting your tickets and becoming part of the action.