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The Faithful

vc23vc23 Posts: 28
edited March 2013 in The Porch
This question has been in my head the past couple of days and I am trying to figure it out. Why are we still fans of this band?

Let me explain, I was watching PJ20 this past weekend and it hit me that I have been a fan of this band for a very long time. When PJ came out, I was a senior in hight school so Ten made a huge impression on me. The energy and power was something that captivated me. As PJ continued to age like a fine wine, I felt each record they released concided similar places in my life. I have seen it on this board before but PJ's music is like a soundtrack to my life.

Now I am 38. Work in corporate america. Married a couple of kids. So why am I still as passionate about this band today as I was 20 years ago? I guess there is no logical explanation for it but all I know is that the when I hear their music or attend a show, the feeling can not be replicated.

I guess what I am trying to say, is that we are lucky to have something that we are passionate about that transcends ordinary everyday life. 21 years and counting!
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • mysticweedmysticweed Posts: 3,710
    you married a couple of kids?


    jk

    you are so right
    fuck 'em if they can't take a joke

    "what a long, strange trip it's been"
  • vc23vc23 Posts: 28
    Too funny!

    Let me clarify, married and we have two kids.
  • buck502000buck502000 Birthplace of GIBSON guitar Posts: 8,951
    First rule of Ten Club...........
  • BrianEngelBrianEngel Posts: 183
    OMG! I, too, married a couple kids because I love PJ so much!! Eddie's Lyrics make us do it, i guess!!! :lol:
    (sorry, had to!)
    I wonder this same thing, tho, too! How could it be??
    I am 35 and loved PJ in highschool, and they did keep creating valueable, passionate, loving music. And They are also 21 years older than when they started.
    I suppose it is a combo burrito of all these things and more.
    The band is easy for me to get behind politically. Lyrically, they talk about changing the world, making life better for everyone (except maybe W Bush), they seem to rally for underdogs, earth, small guys.
    And, the dudes have cool, thrifty fashion sense. And (i'm a non-gay dude) Eddie Vedder is rather sexy!
    "Don't need a raincoat, I'm already wet!"
  • BrianEngelBrianEngel Posts: 183
    Have you folks seen the show they did (you tube...Boston, i think) when eddie notices a sign language interpreter, brings her onto the stage, busts into Give To Fly, and ends it with a little dance with her? That shit makes me teary!
    "Don't need a raincoat, I'm already wet!"
  • voodoopugvoodoopug Posts: 1,011
    BrianEngel wrote:
    Have you folks seen the show they did (you tube...Boston, i think) when eddie notices a sign language interpreter, brings her onto the stage, busts into Give To Fly, and ends it with a little dance with her? That shit makes me teary!

    That was in Maryland Heights, MO (Near St. Louis) in 2000. I was at that show! Pretty cool moment. Its also on the Touring Band DVD as well.
    There's Pearl Jam, The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Robert Johnson......and then everybody else.
  • jasonjason Posts: 468
    BrianEngel wrote:
    OMG! I, too, married a couple kids because I love PJ so much!! Eddie's Lyrics make us do it, i guess!!! :lol:
    (sorry, had to!)
    I wonder this same thing, tho, too! How could it be??
    I am 35 and loved PJ in highschool, and they did keep creating valueable, passionate, loving music. And They are also 21 years older than when they started.
    I suppose it is a combo burrito of all these things and more.
    The band is easy for me to get behind politically. Lyrically, they talk about changing the world, making life better for everyone (except maybe W Bush), they seem to rally for underdogs, earth, small guys.
    And, the dudes have cool, thrifty fashion sense. And (i'm a non-gay dude) Eddie Vedder is rather sexy!

    Fashion sense?? Pretty cool jumpsuit, but no drawstring??? They missed that day in class!
  • JonnyPistachioJonnyPistachio Florida Posts: 10,219
    vc23 wrote:
    This question has been in my head the past couple of days and I am trying to figure it out. Why are we still fans of this band?

    Let me explain, I was watching PJ20 this past weekend and it hit me that I have been a fan of this band for a very long time. When PJ came out, I was a senior in hight school so Ten made a huge impression on me. The energy and power was something that captivated me. As PJ continued to age like a fine wine, I felt each record they released concided similar places in my life. I have seen it on this board before but PJ's music is like a soundtrack to my life.

    Now I am 38. Work in corporate america. Married a couple of kids. So why am I still as passionate about this band today as I was 20 years ago? I guess there is no logical explanation for it but all I know is that the when I hear their music or attend a show, the feeling can not be replicated.

    I guess what I am trying to say, is that we are lucky to have something that we are passionate about that transcends ordinary everyday life. 21 years and counting!

    I was a senior in HS too, when they came out, and it really shaped me and made me a fan of all sorts of music. Their evolution has been fun to watch, and their live shows are amazing..
    Pick up my debut novel here on amazon: Jonny Bails Floatin (in paperback) (also available on Kindle for $2.99)
  • 2-feign-reluctance2-feign-reluctance TigerTown, USA Posts: 23,406
    voodoopug wrote:
    BrianEngel wrote:
    Have you folks seen the show they did (you tube...Boston, i think) when eddie notices a sign language interpreter, brings her onto the stage, busts into Give To Fly, and ends it with a little dance with her? That shit makes me teary!

    That was in Maryland Heights, MO (Near St. Louis) in 2000. I was at that show! Pretty cool moment. Its also on the Touring Band DVD as well.


    Same here. My 5 seconds of DVD fame rocking out in the front row... 8-)
    www.cluthelee.com
  • butte1butte1 Posts: 379
    Honestly, I have had a theory for a while Like most theories it is not 100% but I think it applies a majority of the time. The theory is that the music that you "love" between the ages of 18 and 22 is the music that stays with you for life. Like my parents with the Beatles, like my older cousin with hair metal etc... etc.... It doesn't mean that you do not like other types of music but this is the music you always come back. I believe because for a great share of us the ages of 18-22 are a period of time that is arguably the greatest time of our lives. I am 39, I am married and have three kids and they give me great joy and I would not trade them for the world but when I look back the ages of 18-22 was probably the most unadulterated fun I have ever had in my life. Pearl Jam was a soundtrack to that era for me. The fact that they continued to put out great music after that, and that the music "changed" and "grew" as a I changed and grew allowed me to continue to love the band and love the new music as much as I did the old music but when I go to a concert and see PJ live honestly it's like I am 22 years old again and honestly it's like the guys on stage are transported as well. Few bands can continue to play this long and sell out stadiums, I saw my parents still going to Rolling Stones shows and I often wonder if their experience with the Stones is like mine with PJ..... This is sort of a rambling of why I still love them and maybe others can relate if it made any sense at all :D
    R and R Station - Mar 26, 1992 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Aug 29, 1992 ** Summerfest Milw - Jul 08, 1995 ** Summerfest Milw - Jul 09, 1995 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Jun 26, 1998 ** ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre (E.V. at Tibetan Freedom Concert) - Jun 13, 1999 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Oct 08, 2000 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Jun 21, 2003 ** United Center - May 16, 2006 ** Summerfest - Jun 30, 2006 ** Riverside Theatre Milw (Eddie Solo Tour) - 2008 ** United Center - Aug 23, 2009 ** The Chicago Theatre (Eddie Solo Tour) - Jun 29, 2011 ** Orpheum Theatre MN (Eddie Solo Tour) - July 2, 2011 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Sep 03, 2011 ** Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Sep 04, 2011
  • brainofb78brainofb78 Posts: 5
    It's amazing these stories, we all come from different areas on the map, but all share the same sentiments, I too am 35 and married, and Pearl Jam helped shape the kind of person I am today, and was a large part of my formative years through high school and every major milestone since, and being on this forum hearing these great stories that totally reflect my journey too, it's really cool to share this with so many like minded individuals
  • Out of My Mind and TimeOut of My Mind and Time Posts: 1,333
    We need way more threads like this one. Too many cry babies with: I lost lottery, wheres my single, they don't tour in my town, I can't see his jacket because his beard is in the way, Benny's costs to much, Auctions, why don't they do this, why don't they do that." Blah blah

    What if ???: This band never existed. What if Ten was the ONLY album. What if the band split. What if we could never hear any of them play together or solo ever again.

    NIGHTMARE :shock:

    I'm just along for the ride. Soundtrack to my life does not even seem to cover it. I would say way of life. Like surfing. Changes you forever. You are forever grateful for the moment and then can only dream about it and wish to happen again. This band has given. Music, Art, charity, life, and I enjoy it all! ;)
  • CJPJCJPJ Bethlehem, PA Posts: 31
    Great thread. I love to hear stories like these. I too was a senior in high school in 1991 when Ten came out. Before I heard PJ I listened to mostly classic rock. Zeppelin, Doors, Hendrix. I remember wishing something new and different would come out like id never seen. Then i came home late one night at age 17 and saw Alive on 120 minutes and the rest is history. 39 years old and 25 shows later I can't imagine a different soundtrack to my life than this one.
  • lcusicklcusick Posts: 310
    butte1 wrote:
    Honestly, I have had a theory for a while Like most theories it is not 100% but I think it applies a majority of the time. The theory is that the music that you "love" between the ages of 18 and 22 is the music that stays with you for life. Like my parents with the Beatles, like my older cousin with hair metal etc... etc.... It doesn't mean that you do not like other types of music but this is the music you always come back. I believe because for a great share of us the ages of 18-22 are a period of time that is arguably the greatest time of our lives. I am 39, I am married and have three kids and they give me great joy and I would not trade them for the world but when I look back the ages of 18-22 was probably the most unadulterated fun I have ever had in my life. Pearl Jam was a soundtrack to that era for me. The fact that they continued to put out great music after that, and that the music "changed" and "grew" as a I changed and grew allowed me to continue to love the band and love the new music as much as I did the old music but when I go to a concert and see PJ live honestly it's like I am 22 years old again and honestly it's like the guys on stage are transported as well. Few bands can continue to play this long and sell out stadiums, I saw my parents still going to Rolling Stones shows and I often wonder if their experience with the Stones is like mine with PJ..... This is sort of a rambling of why I still love them and maybe others can relate if it made any sense at all :D
    I agree with what you say here; except PJ is an exception for me. They came out when I was 31 years old. I loved a ton of bands from the 70s (when I grew up). I was not a fan of most of the 80s music- so when Ten came out, I remember thinking wow, good music is back! Then my oldest started listening to PJ all the time around 1996, then my other two kids, too. So as a family, we all loved PJ together. We have gone to concerts together etc. I have included PJ in my life for a long time and can relate to their music, lyrics and the passion they have. I will always love PJ, along with groups from my day- Cat Stevens, Neil Young, Stones, Zeppelin, etc. PJ is right up there!!! :D
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