Before Mother Love Bone and Pearl Jam, Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard were in a band called Green River. Since Green River is reuniting for Sub Pop’s 20th Anniversary gig and I’m celebrating Pearl Jam this month, it’s a perfect time for an FYI on Green River.
Green River formed in 1984 when Mark Arm (guitar, vocal), Steve Turner (guitar) , Alex Vincent (drums) and Jeff Ament (bass) come together.
Later that year guitarist Stone Gossard joined the band.
Arm and Turner were previously in the bands The Limp Richards and Mr. Epp & The Calculations, who was dubbed the the worst band in the world.
Vincent had played drums in the band Spluii Numa, Turner had also jammed with the band.
Ament was in the band Derranged Diction, who had shared the bill with Mr. Epp and Spluii Numa several times.
Gossard was in the band Ducky Boys before joining Green River.
Come on Down was the band’s debut EP released in 1985 through Homestead Records.
Come on Down features the first recording of “Swallow My Pride”.
Steve Turner left the band before their national tour and was replaced by Ament’s former bandmate Bruce Fairweather.
In March of 1986 Green River contributed the tracks “10,000 Things” and “Your Own Best Friend” for the legendary compilation Deep Six which also featured tracks by Soundgarden, The Melvins, Skin Yard (which featured Matt Cameron) and Malfunkshun (with Andy Wood).
Green River followed then recorded the single ”Together We’ll Never / Ain’t Nothin’ To Do”.
The band’s second EP was Dry As a Bone released in July of 1987 through Sub Pop.
In June of 1988 the band released their only full length album, Rehab Doll through Sub Pop.
Prior to the release of Rehab Doll the band began to fight over the direction of their career and broke up in October of 1987, but agreed to first finish the album.
A rerecorded version “Swallow My Pride” and a cover of Bowie’s “Queen Bitch appear on Rehab Doll.
Once Green River broke up Mark Arm and Steve Turner formed Mudhoney with Melvins bassist Matt Lukin (who Pearl Jam would name a song title after) and Dan Peters. Ament, Gossard and Fairweather go on to Mother Love Bone with Andy Wood.
In September of 1990 Rehab Doll and Dry As a Bones were reissued together as the Rehab Doll/Dry As a Bones compilation through Sub Pop.
On November 30, 1993 at the Aladdin Theater in Vegas, Mark Arm and Steve Turner join Pearl Jam on stage (Mudhoney had been touring with PJ) and have a semi Green River reunion. They perform “Swallow My Pride”, “Ain’t Nothing To Do” and an Elvis cover of “My Way” with Terry Presley.
The mentioned performances of “Swallow My Pride” and “My Way” are released on Pearl Jam’s 1995 Christmas Single.
“Swallow My Pride” has been covered by Soundgarden on their 1988 EP Fopp and fellow Seattle band the Fastbacks for the compilation Sub Pop 200.
Green River will reunite this July 12 and 13 for Sub Pop’s 20th anniversary show.
One thing that grinds my gears is when people tell me that they don’t like Pearl Jam nowadays because Eddie Vedder is too political. I mean if you told me that you didn’t care for his vocals, I would buy that as a valid reason. But Vedder, and the rest of the guys, have always been outspoken on their political and social views.
Sure, the guys seem a more vocal now about politics, but who isn’t complaining about the U.S. in these crazy times? And yes, sometimes it can be a little too much, I mean trying to relate Bush to “Better Man” is a big stretch, even for me.
Ok, back to the point. Pearl Jam from day one as been a very active group in politics, charities, etc. It’s not just Eddie, but all of the guys.
Even since their debut album Ten in 1991 to their 2006 self-titled release, the band has contained some sort of political or social track on their albums. This includes everything from ”Jeremy”, ”Glorified G”, “W.M.A.”, “Better Man”, “Habit”, “Do The Evolution”, “Rival”, “Bu$hleaguer” and “World Wide Suicide”.
The band has also been playing gigs to get people to vote, support politicians or raise some cash for charity. These show pretty much go back to the early days of the band, like playing at a Rock for Choice show and Bridge School Benefit beginning in 1992, but would return to support these causes again throughout the years. They are, of course also all about the environment.
The band also played Voters for Choice shows in 95′ and 98′ and the Tibetan Freedom in 98′. Of course they were part of the Vote for Change Tour in 2004, but remember when Vedder supported Nader in 2000? Jeff Ament has had the band play some gigs in his home state of Montana to help out politicians like John Tester.
Finally, remember a few months ago when the band, minus Eddie, recorded the track “Rock Around Barack”?
These are just a few of many examples.
If you’re really curious about how active the band is, then just check out their site and see the numerous organizations that they support.
Long rant short, the members of Pearl Jam have and will always be a socially conscience band. You can’t blame just Vedder, who is an easy target since he’s the frontman and all. All the guys are passionate about certain issues and use their status in attempt to make a difference. I see nothing wrong with that, unless you’re overboard like Bono.
This is a great track written by drummer Matt Cameron, which always get stuck in my head once I hear it.
It was recorded during Binaural, but didn’t make the cut. It saw the light of day on the rarities compilation Lost Dogs in 2003.
It’s always been one of my favorite tracks off of Lost Dogs, it’s extremely catchy and is very much classic rock.
Over time I’ve discovered other versions of “In The Moonlight”. There is a Matt Cameron demo and also a rough mix from the Binaural sessions. It’s very interesting to hear the evolution of the song.
Matt’s demo is very 60’s garage rock, and it’s pretty cool to hear him singing.
The rough mix somewhat maintains that 60’s garage rock vibe, but it has Eddie now on vocals, some finished lyrics and some nice guitar work.
The version on Lost Dogs is almost too polished, when compared to the demos, but there are some nice harmonies on this version. It’s still a great track.
Three new Oasis tunes have been leaked into the digital world today.
The tracks include “Stop The Clocks”, “Nothing On Me” and “I Wanna Live A Dream (In My Record Machine)”. Obviously, the songs are currently being pulled on sites like YouTube.
NME had a chance to review the tracks and here’s what they think:
“Nothin’ On Me”:
A relentless crunchy riff from Noel Gallagher and a sneery nasal vocal from Liam characterise this rollocking new Oasis song. It’s a meaty return for the band, more Led Zeppelin-inspired than their more subtle recent work, such as‘The Importance Of Being Idle’. “They got nothing on me,” Liam repeats, “I don’t care what they say – all I want is the truth“. A forceful return from the Gallaghers, although lacking the smash’n'grab choruses of some of their other anthems.
“I Wanna Live A Dream (In My Record Machine)”:
Opening with a soft tambourine shake cut through by Noel Gallagher’s sombre acoustic guitar, Noel sings John Lennon-style vocals on this quieter number. Tambourine and bells rattling in the background throughout give a Doors-esque edge to the affair, with drummer Zak Starkey’s glammy stomp pumping in a minute in to add weight to the song. “Take Me, back to the darkness where they sent me,” Noel Gallagher sings on this subtle yet uplifting and punchy number. “I want to live the dream” he sings on an uprising chorus, “I want a piece of the world“, before weighty piano stabs add to the build. Towards the death a classically understated Noel Gallagher riff brings the song home. Understated yet upliftingly epic, it’s a song of fine balance and poise.
“Stop The Clocks”:
Noel Gallagher is a huge fan of this song, naming their 2006 ‘Best Of’ album after it. Noel sings lead vocals over urgent acoustic strums, while a psychedelic guitar sound effect again adds a Doors-esque element to the intro. Noel cuts in over his own more conventional vocals with an echo-effect voice sample before his bandmates add to the build by adding layered backing vocals. It’s a lighters-in-the-air moment for sure, although without the immediacy of a ‘Wonderwall’ or ‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’. “Stop the clocks and turn the world around,” he sings. “Let your love lay me down…“.
“When the night is over there’ll be no sound“, he continues in a Lee Mavers-esque repetitive croon, before a drumbeat pounds and clatters towards a riffy crescendo, with a sudden twang to finish.
Besides having the new songs leaked, several demos from the band’s 2005 release Don’t Believe The Truth have also surfaced. The demos include: “A Bell Will Ring”, “Eyeball Tickler”, “Lord Don’t Slow Me Down”, “Love Like A Bomb” and “Meaning of Soul”.
I like what I’m hearing from the new tracks. I enjoyed Don’t Believe The Truth, but I felt their albums before that weren’t that great. Sounds like their back on track.
By now you must already know the news about Trent Reznor surprising most of us by releasing a new album, The Slip, as a FREE download. Image details: Voodoo Music Experience served by picapp.com
Reznor and company had released a free single entitled “Discipline” a free weeks ago and now have done the album as a thanks to fans. What’s even cooler is that the album is licensed by Creative Commons, which means fans can pretty much do whatever they want with the music. If your a traditionalist, don’t worry, because cd and vinyl copies of The Slip will come out in July.
If you want to get your own download of The Slip visit NIN’s official site.
Now, I did download the album and listened to it once, it’s pretty good. It seems like a straightforward NIN album, but you should check it out, I mean it’s not going to cost you anything.
Well I wasn’t going to write anymore about Pearl Jam today, but this news was just too juicy to resist.
Guitarist Mike McCready chatted with Rolling Stone late last week and informed us all that Pearl Jam is indeed working on a new album. If that great news wasn’t enough, he went on to say that the band is re-teaming with uber producer Brendan O’Brien.
O’Brien has already produced the classic Pearl Jam albums Vs., Vitalogy, No Code and Yield, not to mention his mixing skills on Binaural, Riot Act, Lost Dogs and the band’s greatest hits album rearviewmirror. So, Pearl Jam fans should rejoice, an O’Brien produced Pearl Jam album is going to be sick.
McCready added that the recording process is still in it’s early stages and that the band has already had one session with O’Brien, but will resume work with him after that band wraps up their East Coast tour.
This is going to be a great year for Pearl Jam fans!
Here’s the last collaboration between Pearl Jam and O’Brien, a cover of the Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” from last year’s Adam Sandler flick of the same name.
The Music Channel here at b5 decided to get together and compile a list of songs that you need to add to you iPod…immediately.
Since I’m pretty much devoting May to Pearl Jam, it only makes sense for me to select two songs from the greatest American rock band ever.
The first selection is an acoustic version of a song that you’ve probably heard a million times. But, have you heard their fantastic versions of “Corduroy” from some of the Bridge School Benefits? It puts a new spin on the classic song, and I just can’t get enough of it.
The second selection is another live track. This is a cover of “Soldier of Love”, which appeared on the 1999 benefit album No Boundaries. “Soldier of Love” though was overshadowed by “Last Kiss”, which was another Pearl Jam cover on this album. This is just neat song, cha-cha-cha.
Last May at Evolvor we dedicated the month of May to the one and only Pearl Jam. So, with their upcoming tour and all, we thought that we’d give it another shot.
I’ll still be keeping everyone up with news and all the other 90’s alternative sweetness, but just get prepared for lots of Pearl Jam (even more than usual).
I’m uber excited about this, and hopefully people we’ll get a kick out of this Pearl Jam madness.
Just to give you an idea about what I’ll be doing this month, here’s my top 5 Pearl Jam posts from last year.
Since my little brother is returning from Italy tomorrow, and I also have something big planned for Pearl Jam in May, “Brother” has been playing a lot this week.
“Brother” appears on Pearl Jam’s Lost Dogsalbum, which is full of rarities. It was originally an outtake from their debut album Ten.
Apparently this song almost broke the band up before they even got started. Stone Gossard, who wrote the song, was tired of playing the riff which ticked off bassist Jeff Ament to point of almost quiting the band. Gossard apparently didn’t even care to have “Brother” included on Lost Dogs.
There’s even more trouble with this song. See the original version included lyrics and vocals by Eddie Vedder, but he wasn’t pleased with it. So, Vedder suggested Mike McCready overdub the vocals with some fantastic guitar work. This instrumental version is the one that appears on Lost Dogs.
While both versions are good, the instrumental version is just sick. Yes, a Pearl Jam song can rock without Vedder.
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