List of Pearl Jam band members
Encyclopedia
Pearl Jam
is an American alternative rock
band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1990. The original incarnation of Pearl Jam included bassist Jeff Ament
, guitarists Stone Gossard
and Mike McCready
, vocalist Eddie Vedder
, and drummer Dave Krusen
. This line-up recorded Pearl Jam's debut studio album, Ten
. Three months before the album was released, Krusen left the band in May 1991.
Krusen was replaced by Matt Chamberlain
, who had previously played with Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
. After playing only a handful of shows, one of which was filmed for the "Alive" video, Chamberlain left to join the Saturday Night Live
band. As his replacement, Chamberlain suggested Dave Abbruzzese
, who joined the group and played the rest of Pearl Jam's live shows supporting the Ten album. The band then recorded the studio albums Vs., released in 1993, and Vitalogy
, released in 1994. Although Abbruzzese performed on the album Vitalogy, he was fired in August 1994, four months before the album was released. The band cited political differences between Abbruzzese and the other members; for example, he disagreed with the Ticketmaster
boycott. He was replaced by Jack Irons
, a close friend of Vedder and the former drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
.
Irons' first recording with the band was "Hey Foxymophandlemama, That's Me" for Vitalogy. He drummed on the Pearl Jam/Neil Young
collaborations Mirror Ball
and Merkin Ball
, both released in 1995, and the Pearl Jam studio albums No Code
, released in 1996, and Yield
, released in 1998. That same year, prior to Pearl Jam's U.S. Yield Tour
, Irons left the band due to dissatisfaction with touring. Pearl Jam enlisted former Soundgarden
drummer Matt Cameron
as Irons' replacement on an initially temporary basis, but he soon became an official member of the band. With Cameron, Pearl Jam has released the studio albums Binaural
in 2000, Riot Act
in 2002, Pearl Jam
in 2006, and Backspacer
in 2009. In 2002, the band brought in organist Boom Gaspar
as an additional member. Gaspar has appeared on the studio albums Riot Act and Pearl Jam in addition to touring with the band.
Mike McCready
Stone Gossard
Jeff Ament
Matt Cameron
Pearl Jam has employed one musician who performs on tours and contributes to studio recordings with the band, but is not considered an official member.
Boom Gaspar
Matt Chamberlain
Dave Abbruzzese
Jack Irons
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
is an American alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1990. The original incarnation of Pearl Jam included bassist Jeff Ament
Jeff Ament
Jeffrey Allen Ament is an American musician who serves as the bassist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
, guitarists Stone Gossard
Stone Gossard
Stone Carpenter Gossard is an American musician who serves as the rhythm and lead guitarist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
and Mike McCready
Mike McCready
Michael David McCready is an American musician who serves as the lead guitarist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Dave Krusen, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
, vocalist Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder is an American musician and singer-songwriter who is best known for being the lead singer and one of three guitarists of the alternative rock band Pearl Jam. He is widely considered a cultural icon of alternative rock.He is also involved in soundtrack work and contributes to albums...
, and drummer Dave Krusen
Dave Krusen
Dave Krusen is an American musician who is best known for being the original drummer for the American rock band Pearl Jam and for his work on the band's debut album, Ten...
. This line-up recorded Pearl Jam's debut studio album, Ten
Ten (Pearl Jam album)
Ten is the debut studio album by the American grunge band Pearl Jam, released on August 27, 1991 through Epic Records. Following the disbanding of bassist Jeff Ament and guitarist Stone Gossard's previous group Mother Love Bone, the two recruited vocalist Eddie Vedder, guitarist Mike McCready, and...
. Three months before the album was released, Krusen left the band in May 1991.
Krusen was replaced by Matt Chamberlain
Matt Chamberlain
Matthew Chamberlain is an American drummer, producer and sound engineer. He is currently based in Los Angeles, California.-Early life:...
, who had previously played with Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians is an alternative rock jam band that originated in Texas in the mid-1980s. The band is best known for their 1988 hit "What I Am" from the album Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars. Their music contains elements of rock, folk, blues, and jazz...
. After playing only a handful of shows, one of which was filmed for the "Alive" video, Chamberlain left to join the Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
band. As his replacement, Chamberlain suggested Dave Abbruzzese
Dave Abbruzzese
David James Abbruzzese is an American musician who was the drummer for the American rock band Pearl Jam from 1991 to 1994. He replaced drummer Matt Chamberlain in 1991, shortly before the release of the band's debut album, Ten...
, who joined the group and played the rest of Pearl Jam's live shows supporting the Ten album. The band then recorded the studio albums Vs., released in 1993, and Vitalogy
Vitalogy
Vitalogy is the third studio album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on November 22, 1994 through Epic Records. Pearl Jam wrote and recorded Vitalogy while touring behind its previous album Vs....
, released in 1994. Although Abbruzzese performed on the album Vitalogy, he was fired in August 1994, four months before the album was released. The band cited political differences between Abbruzzese and the other members; for example, he disagreed with the Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. is an independent American ticket sales and distribution company based in West Hollywood, California, USA, with operations in many countries around the world. In 2010 it merged with Live Nation to become Live Nation Entertainment...
boycott. He was replaced by Jack Irons
Jack Irons
Jack Steven Irons is an American musician who is best known as the original drummer of the American rock band The Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as the former drummer for Eleven and Pearl Jam. He has also worked with Joe Strummer and The Latino Rockabilly War, Redd Kross, Raging Slab, Spinnerette...
, a close friend of Vedder and the former drummer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
.
Irons' first recording with the band was "Hey Foxymophandlemama, That's Me" for Vitalogy. He drummed on the Pearl Jam/Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
collaborations Mirror Ball
Mirror Ball (Neil Young album)
Mirror Ball is the twenty-third studio album by Canadian musician Neil Young, his only album featuring Pearl Jam, released on June 27, 1995 through Reprise Records. The album has been certified gold by the RIAA in the United States.-Recording:...
and Merkin Ball
Merkin Ball
Merkin Ball is a two-song EP by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam featuring Neil Young, released on December 5, 1995 through Epic Records. Merkin Ball is a companion to Neil Young's 1995 album, Mirror Ball...
, both released in 1995, and the Pearl Jam studio albums No Code
No Code
No Code is the fourth studio album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on August 27, 1996 through Epic Records. Following a troubled tour for its previous album, Vitalogy , in which Pearl Jam engaged in a much-publicized boycott of Ticketmaster, the band went into the studio...
, released in 1996, and Yield
Yield (album)
Yield is the fifth studio album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on February 3, 1998. Following a short tour for its previous album, No Code , Pearl Jam went into the studio in 1997 to record its follow-up...
, released in 1998. That same year, prior to Pearl Jam's U.S. Yield Tour
Yield Tour
The Yield Tour was a concert tour by the American rock band Pearl Jam to support its fifth album, Yield.-History:Pearl Jam promoted Yield with tours in Oceania, and North America in 1998. Following the tour of Australia and before its summer tour of North America began, drummer Jack Irons left the...
, Irons left the band due to dissatisfaction with touring. Pearl Jam enlisted former Soundgarden
Soundgarden
Soundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
drummer Matt Cameron
Matt Cameron
Matthew David "Matt" Cameron is an American musician who serves as the drummer for the American rock bands Pearl Jam and Soundgarden...
as Irons' replacement on an initially temporary basis, but he soon became an official member of the band. With Cameron, Pearl Jam has released the studio albums Binaural
Binaural (album)
Binaural is the sixth studio album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on May 16, 2000 through Epic Records. Following a full-scale tour in support of its previous album, Yield , Pearl Jam took a short break before reconvening toward the end of 1999 to commence work on a new...
in 2000, Riot Act
Riot Act (album)
Riot Act is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released November 12, 2002 through Epic Records. Following a full-scale tour in support of its previous album, Binaural , Pearl Jam took a year-long break. The band then reconvened in the beginning of 2002 and...
in 2002, Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam (album)
Pearl Jam is the eighth studio album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam and its debut and only release for J Records...
in 2006, and Backspacer
Backspacer
Backspacer is the ninth studio album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on September 20, 2009. Pearl Jam began work for the follow-up to its previous album—2006's Pearl Jam—in early 2008. In 2009, the band began to build on instrumental and demo tracks written...
in 2009. In 2002, the band brought in organist Boom Gaspar
Boom Gaspar
Kenneth E. Gaspar , more commonly known as Boom Gaspar, is an American musician who has performed with the American rock band Pearl Jam as a piano/keyboard/organ player since 2002.-Early life:...
as an additional member. Gaspar has appeared on the studio albums Riot Act and Pearl Jam in addition to touring with the band.
Current members
Eddie VedderEddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder is an American musician and singer-songwriter who is best known for being the lead singer and one of three guitarists of the alternative rock band Pearl Jam. He is widely considered a cultural icon of alternative rock.He is also involved in soundtrack work and contributes to albums...
- Active: 1990–present
- Instruments: lead vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Occasional instruments: rhythm guitar, harmonica
- Release contributions: all Pearl Jam releases
- Eddie Vedder was a member of the original band formed in 1990.
Mike McCready
Mike McCready
Michael David McCready is an American musician who serves as the lead guitarist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Dave Krusen, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
- Active: 1990–present
- Instruments: lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
- Release contributions: all Pearl Jam releases
- Mike McCready was a member of the original band formed in 1990.
Stone Gossard
Stone Gossard
Stone Carpenter Gossard is an American musician who serves as the rhythm and lead guitarist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
- Active: 1990–present
- Instruments: rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
- Occasional instruments: lead guitar,bass guitar
- Release contributions: all Pearl Jam releases
- Stone Gossard was a member of the original band formed in 1990.
Jeff Ament
Jeff Ament
Jeffrey Allen Ament is an American musician who serves as the bassist for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Along with Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam...
- Active: 1990–present
- Instruments: bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Occasional instruments: upright bass
- Release contributions: all Pearl Jam releases
- Jeff Ament was a member of the original band formed in 1990.
Matt Cameron
Matt Cameron
Matthew David "Matt" Cameron is an American musician who serves as the drummer for the American rock bands Pearl Jam and Soundgarden...
- Active: 1998–present
- Instruments: drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Release contributions: all Pearl Jam releases from Live on Two LegsLive on Two LegsLive on Two Legs is the first major live album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on November 24, 1998 through Epic Records. The album has been certified platinum by the RIAA in the United States.-Overview:...
(1998) to present - Matt Cameron had worked with members of the band before on the Temple of the DogTemple of the DogTemple of the Dog was an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1990. It was conceived by vocalist Chris Cornell of Soundgarden as a tribute to his friend, the late Andrew Wood, lead singer of Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone...
project, which was conceived by Chris CornellChris CornellChris Cornell is an American rock musician best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Soundgarden and as the former lead vocalist for Audioslave. He is also known for his numerous solo works and soundtrack contributions since 1998...
of SoundgardenSoundgardenSoundgarden is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984 by singer Chris Cornell, lead guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto...
as a tribute to Andrew Wood of Mother Love BoneMother Love BoneMother Love Bone was an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1988. The band was active from 1988 to 1990. Frontman Andrew Wood's personality and compositions helped to catapult the group to the top of the burgeoning late 1980s/early 1990s Seattle music scene...
, and had helped them record some early instrumental demos in 1990. A year after the disbandment of Soundgarden, he joined Pearl Jam as a replacement for Jack Irons following the band's 1998 tour of Australia and before its 1998 summer tour of North America began.
Additional personnel
Boom Gaspar
Boom Gaspar
Kenneth E. Gaspar , more commonly known as Boom Gaspar, is an American musician who has performed with the American rock band Pearl Jam as a piano/keyboard/organ player since 2002.-Early life:...
- Active: 2002–present
- Instruments: organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, keyboardsElectronic keyboardAn electronic keyboard is an electronic or digital keyboard instrument.The major components of a typical modern electronic keyboard are:... - Release contributions: Riot ActRiot Act (album)Riot Act is the seventh studio album by American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released November 12, 2002 through Epic Records. Following a full-scale tour in support of its previous album, Binaural , Pearl Jam took a year-long break. The band then reconvened in the beginning of 2002 and...
(2002), Pearl JamPearl Jam (album)Pearl Jam is the eighth studio album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam and its debut and only release for J Records...
(2006) - Boom Gaspar first became acquainted with Vedder while he was in Hawaii. Gaspar was introduced to Vedder through C. J. RamoneC. J. RamoneChristopher Joseph Ward , better known as C. J. Ramone, is an American musician best known as working as the bassist of punk rock group Ramones from 1989 to 1996.-Background:...
. He has a songwriting credit for the song "Love Boat Captain" which is on Riot Act.
Former members
Dave KrusenDave Krusen
Dave Krusen is an American musician who is best known for being the original drummer for the American rock band Pearl Jam and for his work on the band's debut album, Ten...
- Active: 1990–1991
- Instruments: drums
- Release contributions: TenTen (Pearl Jam album)Ten is the debut studio album by the American grunge band Pearl Jam, released on August 27, 1991 through Epic Records. Following the disbanding of bassist Jeff Ament and guitarist Stone Gossard's previous group Mother Love Bone, the two recruited vocalist Eddie Vedder, guitarist Mike McCready, and...
(1991) - Dave Krusen was a member of the original band formed in 1990. Krusen was asked to join Pearl Jam after auditioning with the band. Krusen left the band following the completion of the recording sessions for Ten and checked himself into rehabilitation.
Matt Chamberlain
Matt Chamberlain
Matthew Chamberlain is an American drummer, producer and sound engineer. He is currently based in Los Angeles, California.-Early life:...
- Active: 1991
- Instruments: drums
- Release contributions: "Alive" (live), from the UK/German release of Ten (1991)
- Matt Chamberlain briefly joined Pearl Jam following the departure of Dave Krusen and toured with the band in the summer of 1991 before the release of the band's debut album, Ten. Chamberlain left the band following this tour and the filming of the "Alive" video on August 3, 1991 to join the Saturday Night Live band. For his replacement, Chamberlain suggested drummer Dave Abbruzzese, who joined the group and played the rest of Pearl Jam's live shows supporting the Ten album.
Dave Abbruzzese
Dave Abbruzzese
David James Abbruzzese is an American musician who was the drummer for the American rock band Pearl Jam from 1991 to 1994. He replaced drummer Matt Chamberlain in 1991, shortly before the release of the band's debut album, Ten...
- Active: 1991–1994
- Instruments: drums
- Release contributions: Vs. (1993), VitalogyVitalogyVitalogy is the third studio album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on November 22, 1994 through Epic Records. Pearl Jam wrote and recorded Vitalogy while touring behind its previous album Vs....
(1994) - Dave Abbruzzese joined Pearl Jam after being recommended by friend Matt Chamberlain, whom Abbruzzese knew through the Texas music scene. Months after the band finished the initial recording sessions for Vitalogy, Abbruzzese was fired in August 1994 due to personality conflicts with the band members.
Jack Irons
Jack Irons
Jack Steven Irons is an American musician who is best known as the original drummer of the American rock band The Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as the former drummer for Eleven and Pearl Jam. He has also worked with Joe Strummer and The Latino Rockabilly War, Redd Kross, Raging Slab, Spinnerette...
- Active: 1994–1998
- Instruments: drums
- Release contributions: Vitalogy (1994), Merkin BallMerkin BallMerkin Ball is a two-song EP by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam featuring Neil Young, released on December 5, 1995 through Epic Records. Merkin Ball is a companion to Neil Young's 1995 album, Mirror Ball...
(1995), No CodeNo CodeNo Code is the fourth studio album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on August 27, 1996 through Epic Records. Following a troubled tour for its previous album, Vitalogy , in which Pearl Jam engaged in a much-publicized boycott of Ticketmaster, the band went into the studio...
(1996), YieldYield (album)Yield is the fifth studio album by the American alternative rock band Pearl Jam, released on February 3, 1998. Following a short tour for its previous album, No Code , Pearl Jam went into the studio in 1997 to record its follow-up...
(1998) - Irons became the official drummer for the band in late 1994 following the firing of Dave Abbruzzese. In 1998, prior to Pearl Jam's U.S. Yield Tour, Irons left the band due to dissatisfaction with touring.