David Welker: When I listen to Pearl Jam and when think of Pearl Jam I am struck by the raw power and intensity of their delivery, their stage presence, their message and their unrivaled positivity. When I got the call from the band to do this poster it was just after Chinese New Year. I live very close to Chinatown here in New York and in my neighborhood there were parades and fireworks and dragons in the streets. I've been drawing and painting dragons for years. Astrologically I am a dragon. I have an obsession with the Chinese motif as well as the modern 20th Century Japanese monster movie incarnation of the dragon. For years I've wanted to do my interpretation of two intertwined dragons locked in motion together. This to me was a perfect representation of Pearl Jam's relationship to its fans. A Pearl Jam concert is very much about the bands involvement and inclusion of the audience in their music. The show itself becomes a huge participation. A joint effort. The fans sing every song along with Eddie Vedder and they do a very good job of extending the power of his voice. The whole experience of a Pearl Jam concert is this huge, powerful collaboration of energy. The dragon is a representation of pure, energy. Two dragons intertwined is an exponential magnification of this power and intensity. And when they both descend and collide into an amazing city like New York the experience is truly powerful. Even though the dragons may seem in one moment dangerous and menacing the city surges on around them, stopping to observe their awesome magnitude, unafraid of being crushed. In the next moment they will be gone.
Can someone explain this poster to me? Are the kids supposed to be Pearl jam and Neil is like their father? Honestly I have no idea. And which one is Boom?
It is Neil and Gloria Steinham as the parents.
and the kids are based on pictures of PJ when they were younger.
not sure which is which though. except ED is the middle kid on the left blowing the whistle thingy
Here's what Justin Hampton wrote on the board way back when...
"I was commisioned by Pearl Jam to create their 20th anniversary event poster. They wanted something very special to commemorate the occaison so I worked directly with Jeff Ament on the concept. The theme is a riff on the famous Norman Rockwell 'Freedom of want' print. At the head of the table is Neil Young & Gloria Steinem as musical & cultural influences and below them are the band members as kids of that actual generation. From top to bottom on the left are: Jeff Ament, Eddie Vedder & Boom. Top to bottom on the right are Stone Gossard, Mike McCready and Matt Cameron. I worked from photos of them all as kids that I was supplied by their management. Designing the 20th poster was extra special for me as I was at & sold their merch 20 years before at their very 1st show at The Offramp in Seattle when they were named Mookie Blaylock. It was very full circle for me"
Here's what Justin Hampton wrote on the board way back when...
"I was commisioned by Pearl Jam to create their 20th anniversary event poster. They wanted something very special to commemorate the occaison so I worked directly with Jeff Ament on the concept. The theme is a riff on the famous Norman Rockwell 'Freedom of want' print. At the head of the table is Neil Young & Gloria Steinem as musical & cultural influences and below them are the band members as kids of that actual generation. From top to bottom on the left are: Jeff Ament, Eddie Vedder & Boom. Top to bottom on the right are Stone Gossard, Mike McCready and Matt Cameron. I worked from photos of them all as kids that I was supplied by their management. Designing the 20th poster was extra special for me as I was at & sold their merch 20 years before at their very 1st show at The Offramp in Seattle when they were named Mookie Blaylock. It was very full circle for me"
Here's what Justin Hampton wrote on the board way back when...
"I was commisioned by Pearl Jam to create their 20th anniversary event poster. They wanted something very special to commemorate the occaison so I worked directly with Jeff Ament on the concept. The theme is a riff on the famous Norman Rockwell 'Freedom of want' print. At the head of the table is Neil Young & Gloria Steinem as musical & cultural influences and below them are the band members as kids of that actual generation. From top to bottom on the left are: Jeff Ament, Eddie Vedder & Boom. Top to bottom on the right are Stone Gossard, Mike McCready and Matt Cameron. I worked from photos of them all as kids that I was supplied by their management. Designing the 20th poster was extra special for me as I was at & sold their merch 20 years before at their very 1st show at The Offramp in Seattle when they were named Mookie Blaylock. It was very full circle for me"
Wow very cool!! Thanks for this!!
Unverified side note....I seem to remember that there was discussion about Peggy Young being there instead of Gloria Steinem in the original concept, but Justin changed before it was final.
David Welker: When I listen to Pearl Jam and when think of Pearl Jam I am struck by the raw power and intensity of their delivery, their stage presence, their message and their unrivaled positivity. When I got the call from the band to do this poster it was just after Chinese New Year. I live very close to Chinatown here in New York and in my neighborhood there were parades and fireworks and dragons in the streets. I've been drawing and painting dragons for years. Astrologically I am a dragon. I have an obsession with the Chinese motif as well as the modern 20th Century Japanese monster movie incarnation of the dragon. For years I've wanted to do my interpretation of two intertwined dragons locked in motion together. This to me was a perfect representation of Pearl Jam's relationship to its fans. A Pearl Jam concert is very much about the bands involvement and inclusion of the audience in their music. The show itself becomes a huge participation. A joint effort. The fans sing every song along with Eddie Vedder and they do a very good job of extending the power of his voice. The whole experience of a Pearl Jam concert is this huge, powerful collaboration of energy. The dragon is a representation of pure, energy. Two dragons intertwined is an exponential magnification of this power and intensity. And when they both descend and collide into an amazing city like New York the experience is truly powerful. Even though the dragons may seem in one moment dangerous and menacing the city surges on around them, stopping to observe their awesome magnitude, unafraid of being crushed. In the next moment they will be gone.
No offense to you or Mr. Walker personally, but that poster is awful. Major buzzkill when you’re at a show early enough to snag a poster and it’s a dud. Reminds me of a Far Side cartoon.
1996: Randall's Island 2 1998: East Rutherford | MSG 1 & 2 2000: Cincinnati | Columbus | Jones Beach 1, 2, & 3 | Boston 1 | Camden 1 & 2 2003: Philadelphia | Uniondale | MSG 1 & 2 | Holmdel 2005: Atlantic City 1 2006: Camden 1 | East Rutherford 1 & 2 2008: Camden 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Newark (EV) 2009: Philadelphia 1, 2 & 4 2010: Newark | MSG 1 & 2 2011: Toronto 1 2013: Wrigley Field | Brooklyn 2 | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore 2015: Central Park 2016: Philadelphia 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Fenway Park 2 | MSG (TOTD) 2017: Brooklyn (RnR HOF) 2020: MSG | Asbury Park2021: Asbury Park 2022: MSG | Camden | Nashville 2024: MSG 1 & 2 (#50) | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore
David Welker: When I listen to Pearl Jam and when think of Pearl Jam I am struck by the raw power and intensity of their delivery, their stage presence, their message and their unrivaled positivity. When I got the call from the band to do this poster it was just after Chinese New Year. I live very close to Chinatown here in New York and in my neighborhood there were parades and fireworks and dragons in the streets. I've been drawing and painting dragons for years. Astrologically I am a dragon. I have an obsession with the Chinese motif as well as the modern 20th Century Japanese monster movie incarnation of the dragon. For years I've wanted to do my interpretation of two intertwined dragons locked in motion together. This to me was a perfect representation of Pearl Jam's relationship to its fans. A Pearl Jam concert is very much about the bands involvement and inclusion of the audience in their music. The show itself becomes a huge participation. A joint effort. The fans sing every song along with Eddie Vedder and they do a very good job of extending the power of his voice. The whole experience of a Pearl Jam concert is this huge, powerful collaboration of energy. The dragon is a representation of pure, energy. Two dragons intertwined is an exponential magnification of this power and intensity. And when they both descend and collide into an amazing city like New York the experience is truly powerful. Even though the dragons may seem in one moment dangerous and menacing the city surges on around them, stopping to observe their awesome magnitude, unafraid of being crushed. In the next moment they will be gone.
No offense to you or Mr. Walker personally, but that poster is awful. Major buzzkill when you’re at a show early enough to snag a poster and it’s a dud. Reminds me of a Far Side cartoon.
To each their own but the thread is exactly for that, to see which poster speaks to each of us the most. Ugly or not. Art is about perception.
David Welker: When I listen to Pearl Jam and when think of Pearl Jam I am struck by the raw power and intensity of their delivery, their stage presence, their message and their unrivaled positivity. When I got the call from the band to do this poster it was just after Chinese New Year. I live very close to Chinatown here in New York and in my neighborhood there were parades and fireworks and dragons in the streets. I've been drawing and painting dragons for years. Astrologically I am a dragon. I have an obsession with the Chinese motif as well as the modern 20th Century Japanese monster movie incarnation of the dragon. For years I've wanted to do my interpretation of two intertwined dragons locked in motion together. This to me was a perfect representation of Pearl Jam's relationship to its fans. A Pearl Jam concert is very much about the bands involvement and inclusion of the audience in their music. The show itself becomes a huge participation. A joint effort. The fans sing every song along with Eddie Vedder and they do a very good job of extending the power of his voice. The whole experience of a Pearl Jam concert is this huge, powerful collaboration of energy. The dragon is a representation of pure, energy. Two dragons intertwined is an exponential magnification of this power and intensity. And when they both descend and collide into an amazing city like New York the experience is truly powerful. Even though the dragons may seem in one moment dangerous and menacing the city surges on around them, stopping to observe their awesome magnitude, unafraid of being crushed. In the next moment they will be gone.
No offense to you or Mr. Walker personally, but that poster is awful. Major buzzkill when you’re at a show early enough to snag a poster and it’s a dud. Reminds me of a Far Side cartoon.
To each their own but the thread is exactly for that, to see which poster speaks to each of us the most. Ugly or not. Art is about perception.
Yes... that’s why I said no offense to the person who posted it or to the artist. And then I posted my perception.
1996: Randall's Island 2 1998: East Rutherford | MSG 1 & 2 2000: Cincinnati | Columbus | Jones Beach 1, 2, & 3 | Boston 1 | Camden 1 & 2 2003: Philadelphia | Uniondale | MSG 1 & 2 | Holmdel 2005: Atlantic City 1 2006: Camden 1 | East Rutherford 1 & 2 2008: Camden 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Newark (EV) 2009: Philadelphia 1, 2 & 4 2010: Newark | MSG 1 & 2 2011: Toronto 1 2013: Wrigley Field | Brooklyn 2 | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore 2015: Central Park 2016: Philadelphia 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Fenway Park 2 | MSG (TOTD) 2017: Brooklyn (RnR HOF) 2020: MSG | Asbury Park2021: Asbury Park 2022: MSG | Camden | Nashville 2024: MSG 1 & 2 (#50) | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore
David Welker: When I listen to Pearl Jam and when think of Pearl Jam I am struck by the raw power and intensity of their delivery, their stage presence, their message and their unrivaled positivity. When I got the call from the band to do this poster it was just after Chinese New Year. I live very close to Chinatown here in New York and in my neighborhood there were parades and fireworks and dragons in the streets. I've been drawing and painting dragons for years. Astrologically I am a dragon. I have an obsession with the Chinese motif as well as the modern 20th Century Japanese monster movie incarnation of the dragon. For years I've wanted to do my interpretation of two intertwined dragons locked in motion together. This to me was a perfect representation of Pearl Jam's relationship to its fans. A Pearl Jam concert is very much about the bands involvement and inclusion of the audience in their music. The show itself becomes a huge participation. A joint effort. The fans sing every song along with Eddie Vedder and they do a very good job of extending the power of his voice. The whole experience of a Pearl Jam concert is this huge, powerful collaboration of energy. The dragon is a representation of pure, energy. Two dragons intertwined is an exponential magnification of this power and intensity. And when they both descend and collide into an amazing city like New York the experience is truly powerful. Even though the dragons may seem in one moment dangerous and menacing the city surges on around them, stopping to observe their awesome magnitude, unafraid of being crushed. In the next moment they will be gone.
I'd say definitive for the 2000's for sure. Not sure about a career.
Tossing two others out there - one for its simplicity in relatable song topics about escapism, struggle, and independence (and really, an Ames print should be in the running): The other being a little more literal about the machine that is McCready:
I'd say definitive for the 2000's for sure. Not sure about a career.
Tossing two others out there - one for its simplicity in relatable song topics about escapism, struggle, and independence (and really, an Ames print should be in the running): The other being a little more literal about the machine that is McCready:
I’m a fan of the McCready poster. Underrated gem right there.
1996: Randall's Island 2 1998: East Rutherford | MSG 1 & 2 2000: Cincinnati | Columbus | Jones Beach 1, 2, & 3 | Boston 1 | Camden 1 & 2 2003: Philadelphia | Uniondale | MSG 1 & 2 | Holmdel 2005: Atlantic City 1 2006: Camden 1 | East Rutherford 1 & 2 2008: Camden 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Newark (EV) 2009: Philadelphia 1, 2 & 4 2010: Newark | MSG 1 & 2 2011: Toronto 1 2013: Wrigley Field | Brooklyn 2 | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore 2015: Central Park 2016: Philadelphia 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Fenway Park 2 | MSG (TOTD) 2017: Brooklyn (RnR HOF) 2020: MSG | Asbury Park2021: Asbury Park 2022: MSG | Camden | Nashville 2024: MSG 1 & 2 (#50) | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore
I'd say definitive for the 2000's for sure. Not sure about a career.
Tossing two others out there - one for its simplicity in relatable song topics about escapism, struggle, and independence (and really, an Ames print should be in the running): The other being a little more literal about the machine that is McCready:
I'd say definitive for the 2000's for sure. Not sure about a career.
Tossing two others out there - one for its simplicity in relatable song topics about escapism, struggle, and independence (and really, an Ames print should be in the running):
David Welker: When I listen to Pearl Jam and when think of Pearl Jam I am struck by the raw power and intensity of their delivery, their stage presence, their message and their unrivaled positivity. When I got the call from the band to do this poster it was just after Chinese New Year. I live very close to Chinatown here in New York and in my neighborhood there were parades and fireworks and dragons in the streets. I've been drawing and painting dragons for years. Astrologically I am a dragon. I have an obsession with the Chinese motif as well as the modern 20th Century Japanese monster movie incarnation of the dragon. For years I've wanted to do my interpretation of two intertwined dragons locked in motion together. This to me was a perfect representation of Pearl Jam's relationship to its fans. A Pearl Jam concert is very much about the bands involvement and inclusion of the audience in their music. The show itself becomes a huge participation. A joint effort. The fans sing every song along with Eddie Vedder and they do a very good job of extending the power of his voice. The whole experience of a Pearl Jam concert is this huge, powerful collaboration of energy. The dragon is a representation of pure, energy. Two dragons intertwined is an exponential magnification of this power and intensity. And when they both descend and collide into an amazing city like New York the experience is truly powerful. Even though the dragons may seem in one moment dangerous and menacing the city surges on around them, stopping to observe their awesome magnitude, unafraid of being crushed. In the next moment they will be gone.
No offense to you or Mr. Walker personally, but that poster is awful. Major buzzkill when you’re at a show early enough to snag a poster and it’s a dud. Reminds me of a Far Side cartoon.
Comments
When I listen to Pearl Jam and when think of Pearl Jam I am struck by the raw power and intensity of their delivery, their stage presence, their message and their unrivaled positivity. When I got the call from the band to do this poster it was just after Chinese New Year. I live very close to Chinatown here in New York and in my neighborhood there were parades and fireworks and dragons in the streets. I've been drawing and painting dragons for years. Astrologically I am a dragon. I have an obsession with the Chinese motif as well as the modern 20th Century Japanese monster movie incarnation of the dragon. For years I've wanted to do my interpretation of two intertwined dragons locked in motion together. This to me was a perfect representation of Pearl Jam's relationship to its fans. A Pearl Jam concert is very much about the bands involvement and inclusion of the audience in their music. The show itself becomes a huge participation. A joint effort. The fans sing every song along with Eddie Vedder and they do a very good job of extending the power of his voice. The whole experience of a Pearl Jam concert is this huge, powerful collaboration of energy. The dragon is a representation of pure, energy. Two dragons intertwined is an exponential magnification of this power and intensity. And when they both descend and collide into an amazing city like New York the experience is truly powerful. Even though the dragons may seem in one moment dangerous and menacing the city surges on around them, stopping to observe their awesome magnitude, unafraid of being crushed. In the next moment they will be gone.
At the head of the table is Neil Young & Gloria Steinem as musical & cultural influences and below them are the band members as kids of that actual generation.
From top to bottom on the left are: Jeff Ament, Eddie Vedder & Boom. Top to bottom on the right are Stone Gossard, Mike McCready and Matt Cameron.
I worked from photos of them all as kids that I was supplied by their management.
Designing the 20th poster was extra special for me as I was at & sold their merch 20 years before at their very 1st show at The Offramp in Seattle when they were named Mookie Blaylock.
It was very full circle for me"
Click to visit the Arizona PJ Fans Page
PJ
PHX 98|ABQ, PHX, Seattle 00|PHX 03|Arras 10|PJ20 1&2 11|Missoula 12|PHX, SD, LA 1&2 13|Denver 14|Telluride 16
EV
Vegas 1&2, PHX 12|Ohana 16
TOTD
LA 16
I was there as well
Click to visit the Arizona PJ Fans Page
PJ
PHX 98|ABQ, PHX, Seattle 00|PHX 03|Arras 10|PJ20 1&2 11|Missoula 12|PHX, SD, LA 1&2 13|Denver 14|Telluride 16
EV
Vegas 1&2, PHX 12|Ohana 16
TOTD
LA 16
Tossing two others out there - one for its simplicity in relatable song topics about escapism, struggle, and independence (and really, an Ames print should be in the running):
The other being a little more literal about the machine that is McCready:
2016: Lexington and Wrigley 1
Cincinnati 2014
Greenville 2016
(Raleigh 2016)
Columbia 2016