Is it true?

Crazyboutev

In my lead up to seeing Eddie Vedder in Perth this coming week I have been immersing myself and everyone around me (like it or not) in Eddie and Pearl Jam songs, dvds, articles. Tonight I happened to come arcoss an old Rolling Stone mag from 1997. The article certainly doesnt paint Pearl Jam or Eddie in a positive light and upon reading feel quite diheartened by its contents. Suggesting that Eddie Vedder is not honest and truthful about his past and pretty much stating that other band members were just 'followers' cause they didnt want to upset Ed cause they were afraid he'd leave.
Now Im an educated person so if this was true surely the band wouldnt have lasted 20 years! But stranger things happen I guess...
I know Ed has the negatitve opinion of the media and I know they cant be trusted/ I also realise its 'none of our business' but I for one as a very loyal fan would love to know the real Eddie Vedder story because Id like to believe that the band and the singer who have gotten me through those hard/challenging teen years and the achievements and disappointments in adulthood are real/meaningful . Im probably not making sense-I get quite passionate about Pearl Jam and they are and have been my favourite pass time/hobby for 16yrs.

Would die for an autobiography! Perhaps one day...

threefish10

Sounds like the article may have been based on or used the book "five against one" as a reference. Don't know if you have read it, but it doesn't paint Ed in a very good light. It starts off well with a good history of the Seattle music scene and the roads that brought pearl jam together. Then it veers off into an Ed bash a thon, talking to people whom have been "wronged" by Ed, like Dave A and I think even ed's step dad.

But yeah, I guess we won't really know the truth. And the closest thing to an autobiography we'll get I guess is this Cameron Crowe doco and book that are coming out in September.

Crazyboutev

Yep all sounds familiar. I suppose everyones reality is different! Hanging out for September !

maj4e

I remember that article. They even said things like, "no he wasn't an unhappy kid I saw him at school all the time". To me it came across as RS trying to bring him down a few notches and people who either had an ax to grind or wanted their names in a magazine just saying whatever came to mind. But honestly does it really matter 20 years into our run w/ Eddie and Pearl Jam? Not in the least to me.

Jamminonthe1

If you see this as slanted, then anything Cameron Crowe does is slanted, too, since he's a friend of the band. Whatever.

Mindless Drifter

Eddie vedder isnt even his real name..... :P

Crazyboutev

Well it is his real name ! Its not like a stage name thats completely made up. Its real! That we do know

eldarion75

If you're basing that observation on that book, i'd ignore it and disregard it completely if i were you. Complete hatchett job and totally one sided and most of it from a bitter disgruntled point of view.

vitalpj10

spin me around, roll me over...... ring a bell?

awesomerooster

I think I have that old RS magazine somewhere...
I read that when I was 15 and took it hard. I was really heartsick. Spent three days locked in my room. Then I got over it. Not everything you read is true.

wolfamongwolves

maj4e wrote:

I remember that article. They even said things like, "no he wasn't an unhappy kid I saw him at school all the time". To me it came across as RS trying to bring him down a few notches and people who either had an ax to grind or wanted their names in a magazine just saying whatever came to mind. But honestly does it really matter 20 years into our run w/ Eddie and Pearl Jam? Not in the least to me.

Yeah, I have it too. It's a complete crucifixion piece. I think that quote you mentioned that they used as "proof" that Eddie's surly demeanour was a fake was from some girl who'd known him at high school who said something like "I don't remember him him being moody. He was so darn cute!" A convincing argument of Eddie's cycical duplicitousness, if I ever heard one! :roll:

The article is just plain bad journalism with an agenda. They couldn't get an interview with Eddie, and just slanted everything they wrote towards that agenda & gave very little that was convincing to back it up. Of course Ed's not perfect, but claiming his entire personality is a fraud? - that's a bit much.

Put it this way - if Courtney Love... yes, the Courtney Love of "It should have been Eddie, not Kurt" fame... was moved to defend his honour after the article came out, then I think it's safe to say you shouldn't put too much stock in that article.

Crazyboutev

Well Im glad Im not the only one whose first instinct is 'its not true'. Just wanted to see what others thought or knew because Im instantly defensive when anyone say anything negative -like a protective mother-not always rational.
Im beginning to think why did i keep this mag ? must be cause Ed looks so hot on the cover! May keep cover and burn article!
As for Courtney Love what a momental screw up .

3 sleeps till Eddie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kat

Everyone has twenty years of videos, interviews, photos, projects, tours, causes he supports, lyrics and music to judge the person by if judging him is important to you. An article done by people with an axe to grind is part of the history, unfortunately, but remember that that's what happened.