Significance of the 2000 Bootlegs/Tour

jp307677

I was just thinking what a major part the 2000 bootleg program was to this band. Something we now take for granted was unheard of before the 2000 tour.

I first saw Pearl Jam last minute at Mansfield #1 in August of 2000. I had been more of a casual fan before that since Vitalogy was released, but became instantly obsessed from this point forward. I had never seen a crowd so energetic and passionate, literally screaming every word to every song and a band so personable with a large crowd. It also goes without saying that they sound incredible live.

Not long after the show, I ran across a double-disc bootleg of a show from Germany in a record store. I soon learned that every show from the tour was being officially released. Was this for real? I got my hands on almost every bootleg I could find. Since that tour, the band, especially the bootlegs have never left my rotation. I also see them every single chance I get.

If it wasn't for this initial startup, I don't think myself or likely many of the fans would feel so passionate about the band. It was perfect timing. In 2000, they certainly were no longer going to be blowing up the charts and be the obsession of the media at that point. They let everyone know just how good they are and that they are not going anywhere. The bootlegs have become such an important part of them and have drawn so many more fans. I think this was one of the most important and smartest decisions the band has made.

rummy

I've been a fan since 1992 but only a rabid one for the past three years - shortly after I started to appreciate live music and the bootlegs that go with it. Pearl Jam (obviously) write many, many extraordinary tunes but releasing the majority of their shows (and thus taking each and every song to another level) keeps me coming back for more.

So yes indeed those 2000 bootleg releases was the start of something special.

Final Bow

I won't forget the day when I've ordered the complete european leg. I still have the invoice and enjoy the bootlegs.

nippleholic

I remember picking some up on sale when Tower Records here in Toronto was going out of business. I wish I had the foresight (and money, since I was only around 16-17 at the time) to grab them all.

regalturbo

I'm the same way. Listening since the beginning, but I wasn't a real "fan" until I stumbled upon a couple 2000 boots. That was when I really appreciated how great and unique this band is!

regalturbo

I'm the same way. Listening since the beginning, but I wasn't a real "fan" until I stumbled upon a couple 2000 boots. That was when I really appreciated how great and unique this band is!

BinFrog

Final Bow said:

I won't forget the day when I've ordered the complete european leg. I still have the invoice and enjoy the bootlegs.

Same, same and same.

igotid_8

I've been following the band from day one. I was a radio DJ in college, and we were playing Ten before the radio got a hold of it. But yes, this band took it to another level releasing all the bootlegs! I have collected them, and it's been a blast.

Along those same lines, Bruce Springsteen has finally come around and now offers bootlegs for his current tour. I wonder why it took him so long? They sound good, but the editing is not very good. (And I love the Boss). The student has become the teacher!

elvistheking44

These are as good as it gets, with 2003 a shade behind. The sound, set lists, and packaging are top notch. I don't listen to many boots anymore, but if I do its usually one of the 2000 shows.....

cdawg23

I couldn't agree more. I love PJ's studio work, but I think they are one of the few bands that sound better live. I can't listen to a studio record over and over, but a live show is fun to listen to when driving or working out or relaxing.

rummy

Yeah, after listening to the first five studio albums over and over and over and over again, I'd grown somewhat tired of them (it happens to me with most bands) and the live shows give me (us) so much more.

HesCalledDyer

I hear ya! I was always a really big fan in the 90s and bought all the albums on release date. I remember saving up my change from school lunch for 2 weeks and buying Ten on cassette. From the first listen of Ten, I knew I had found something magical. They were my new favorite band.

But it wasn't until the 2000 tour that I saw them live for the first time. It's still one of my favorite shows of the ones I've been to. I had no idea how vast their catalog was outside of official albums. I had never heard of Leatherman. Hell, I never bought CD singles so I hadn't even heard Wash yet (and what a way to hear it for the first time! The band bringing Amy on stage with the umbrella!)

That show sparked me to find other songs I hadn't heard. And when they announced they were selling official bootlegs of every show of the tour, I scoured the bins at my local stores looking for shows with songs I hadn't heard. My search for songs led to an appreciation for just how awesome this band is live. I did a lot of road tripping between here and Baltimore (about a 3 hour drive) back then to visit my girlfriend while she was away at college, and the 2000 bootlegs were always the soundtrack on my drives. I couldn't wait to see them live again! I couldn't wait for the next album even though Binaural was still fresh.

The 2000 tour and bootlegs were absolutely "it" for me! My favorite band became my obsession, my passion, and it's only grown deeper ever since!

Great post, OP!!

i_lov_it

I remember I used to Wonder in to the Record Store to see if they had any New Boots in

foodshop65

the 2000 boots, especially the Europe shows are spectacular. i think they helped define themselves as a touring band and how much we love them live.

Uncle Snuffy

I bought the entire 2000 set when it was first released. Still keep them in the same box they came in. I've actually been thinking about letting them go/selling them. I just don't know if I can.

BF89905

nippleholic said:

I remember picking some up on sale when Tower Records here in Toronto was going out of business. I wish I had the foresight (and money, since I was only around 16-17 at the time) to grab them all.

I did the same.... but from what I remember the closing sale had already been on for a few days before I got there.

diamond_marmalade

If it wasn't for the boots I am not sure i would be as big as a fan as I am. Got into PJ between Binaural and Riot Act and discovered the boots fairly quickly. The 03 NY and Stage College boots really confirmed me as a fan but I bought quite a few 00 boots around that time. I remember picking up London 29/5 from Amazon and I listened to that a lot. You could tell this was a unique thing you were getting involved in. My appreciation of the group evolved a lot from there but those boots from that time was pretty much where it started for me.

Zod

I guess I'm a geek and well vested in the internet. I was already trading bootlegs (and even downloading a few) before the '00 series. To me the '00 series was a mass upgrade on both quality and scale. I'm not sure it transformed me as a PJ fan because there were a number of unofficial boots circulating prior 2000 (and the internet was just getitng useful as a tool to trade them digitally with other fans).

My favorite thing was being able to have a silver pressed cd copy of shows you went too as souvenier. Even better than buy a tshirt

2-feign-reluctance

We're spoiled, just admit it! :bz

May 30th

katowice i had as a high school kid. played the crap out of it and some of my friends got into them because i played this for them

BLACK35

Just picked up 12 2000 bootlegs today, was shocked to find them. Was more money than I wanted to spend today, but didn't have any of them....was a sweet find