Unfortunately, May is almost over, which means less Pearl Jam. So, let’s end this month with a final FYI about them.
Now, back in September I did an FYI on Pearl Jam’s frontman. But instead of just reposting it, I’ve decided to clean it up and expand it. So, here’s the brand spanking new FYI on Eddie Vedder.
Eddie’s birth name is Edward Louis Severson III and is originally from Evanston, IL.
At age 7, Eddie appeared in a Chuckles candy ad. Don’t believe me? See for yourself.
At age 12 he received his first guitar.
By the mid 80’s Vedder began recording demos and became involved in the San Diego Music scene.
Eddie was in a band with fellow Chicago native, and future Rage Against The Machine/Audioslave drummer, Brad Wilk.
He was also in a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band.
By 1988 Eddie was fronting the band Bad Radio, who first performed “Better Man”.
In 1990 former RHCP drummer, Jack Irons, gave Ed a demo from some guys in Seattle.
Vedder took the demo and wrote the lyrics to several future Pearl Jam songs, known as the “Mamasan trilogy”, which contained the songs “Alive”, “Once” and “Footsteps”.
Hopefully, you know the story behind ”Alive”, if not, go here.
Eddie participated in Temple of the Dog, before he even landed the job with Pearl Jam.
“Hunger Strike” was not originally not intended to be a duet, but Chris Cornell had a problem with the vocals and Eddie came in and sang the vocals just as Cornell has imagined.
Vedder was the drummer for Matt Dillion’s fictional band, Citizen Dick, in the 1992 film Singles.
In 1995, Ed was part of Mike Watt’s touring band; which also featured Dave Grohl and Pat Smear. He was also on Watt’s album Ball-Hug or Tugboat? on the tracks “Against The 70’s” and “Big Train”.
The song “Long Road” was written about the passing of Vedder’s high school drama teacher, Calyton E. Ligget, at San Dieguito High School.
He re-recorded “Long Road” with Pakistani musician Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan for the 1995 film Dead Man Walking; the duo also contributed the song “Face of Love”.
In 1997, he recorded “Any Way You Want It” with his idols The Ramones for their album We’re Outta Here!”.
The soundtrack for the 1999 film Cradle Will Rock features the song “Croon Spoon”, which is a duet between Eddie and Susan Sarandon.
Vedder appeared with The Supersuckers on the Free the West Memphis 3 tribute album.
He covers the Beatles’ classic “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” for the 2002 film I Am Sam.
Eddie appears on Neil Finn’s (from Crowded House) live album, 7 Worlds Collide.
We’re a Happy Family - A Tribute to Ramones features Eddie with Zeke on the tacks “I Believe In Miracles” and “Daytime Dilemma (Dangers of Love)”.
Also in 2002, he appeared on the tracks “Good Woman” and “Evolution” on Cat Power’s You Are Free.
Jack Irons enlisted Vedder for his cover of Pink Floyd’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” on his 2004 solo album Attention Dimension.
Eddie jammed with Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band on October 13, 2004 for the Vote For Change tour, which included a performance of “Better Man”.
In 2005, he recorded The Molo Sessions with the Walmer High School Choir in South Africa; which included the Pearl Jam songs “Long Road”, “Love Boat Captain” and “Better Man”.
Vedder contributed the song “Goodbye” for Jack Johnson’s surfing flick A Brokedown Melody.
Eddie has written the song “No More” for the documentary Body of War.
On September 18, 2007 he released his first solo album, which was the soundtrack for the film Into the Wild.
He appeared with The Million Dollar Bashers for a cover of “All Along The , Watchtower” for the Bob Dylan biography I’m Not There.
Vedder had a cameo, as himself, in the 2007 comedy Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox.
Vedder received a Golden Globe for the track “Guaranteed” from Into the Wild, the track also received a Grammy nomination.
In April of 2008 he embarked on his first solo tour, which was a ten date run of the West Coast.
Vedder will contribute music for the upcoming minseries “The People Speak”, which is based off of Howard Zinn’s book A People’s History of the United States.
He has inducted The Doors, Neil Young, The Ramones and R.E.M. into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, which provided memorable performances. However, Vedder’s speeches have become legendary; notably his 17 minute long speech for the Ramones.
Vedder is a friend of Pete Townshend and has performed with him several times, usually on the song “Heart To Hang Onto”.
He provides the forward to Townshend’s biography Who Are You: The Life of Pete Townshend, which has been released in the UK and will hit the States in the fall.
Here’s a young Eddie with Bad Radio performing “Believe You Me”.
acostill on May 30th, 2008 
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