When/How did you discover Pearl Jam?

HesCalledDyer

BookieMaylock said:

I'm the youngest of five children. My oldest sister (11 years older than me) LOVES music, and she was saddled with taking care of me most of the time, and so from birth on, (luckily) most of my life had an amazing soundtrack sponsored by her favorite bands: Pink Floyd, The Who, Led Zep, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Heart, ELP, CSN/Y, etc. etc. ETC!  When we were together, which was always, there was music. In fact, she helped me learn to read by showing me how to follow along with the lyrics printed inside the album covers. 

When I graduated from high school it made sense that I would try to get a job at a record store- its where I belonged- I think I told them that when I gave them my application- I didn't even ask how much it paid (I didn't care) and that's probably why I got the job.  One of my first tasks on my first day there was to help to put up a display in the corner window for a band I'd never heard of. We stapled dozens of album flats to the walls, bending and bowing them to create interesting shapes and give it some dimension, and we hung 50 red plastic apples on clear fishing line from the ceiling at various heights- we even got some apple air scented air freshener to spray around near there (we wanted it to feel immersive). As we listened to the band's music (which was the tradition at the store- play the band's music while you put up their display) and I was steeped in the awesomeness of the whole experience; being out of school and having an unbelievably lucky and amazing new job, and the cool people who worked there and shopped there, and this new amazing music playing so loud on the huge speakers that the whole place vibrated (and also, I was probably a little high on apple air freshener ...) that band was quickly becoming MY BAND and these songs were being pressed into a new life soundtrack that I was now creating for myself, separate from (but still part of) the one my sister had started for me when I was a child.  But, when I finally overcame my fear of sounding like a "know nothing poser" to ask the guy I was helping if he knew more about the band, he told me that Andy Woods, the lead singer, had died of an overdose in the spring, and the album we were listening to would be the only Mother Love Bone album.  He told me a little bit about how young he was, what a shame it was because of how talented they all were, how it was sad that he died before Apple was released- it was such a fantastic album. But I really loved it, I told him- already feeling entitled for more music from them I guess, I felt robbed of something.  "You know Alice in Chains, right? You know Soundgarden..." that's what he said- I did know them, a little, but then after that, after talking to him (over the course of the year and then the rest of my life to today), I REALLY started to know them. (In fact, that guy gave me a red vinyl "Louder than Love" album that I still cherish). He's the one who introduced me to MudHoney.  Of course, none of these bands were the same as MLB (no band will ever be), but they all came from the same place (and I don't mean Seattle). This was my music.

I think it was in the winter that we heard at the record store that Stone and Jeff were starting a new band. We couldn't wait.
When Temple of the dog came out in the Spring, there was NO WAY we weren't all over it. It was fucking amazing.
And then Pearl Jam.  And just like my first day in that corner display, I heard them for the very first time on a pre-released record store promo copy, over huge speakers that shook the store... it was so powerful and so full of energy and life and soul- all I could think is "they came back!"... MY BAND. They have been this for me, from that day until now. 

I wasn't able to see them live until THIS YEAR (when i had the time I didn't have the money, when I had the money I didn't have the time... it all finally worked out for me 27 years or so later). Saw three shows (both shows in Seattle, and Missoula).  Gotta tell ya, there was a moment during Crown of Thorns (Night 2, Safeco) when I saw Jeff and Stone playing together and I just couldn't stop the tears from falling (really, I didn't want to).  I'm pretty sure that just for a moment, I caught the scent of apples in the air...

Thanks Pearl Jam.

This story alone has made it worth being a fan all these years! Congratulations on finally seeing the band, I'm sure it was well worth the wait! That last paragraph really got me; thank you for sharing!

blackhawks

JH6056 said:

blackhawks said:

My brother turned me on to them in October 91.  He said I had to attend this show where he was going to college in Ames, Iowa.  He got 4th row tickets and the venue was a theater that holds 3000 or so.  10 was just out and he played it for me and I thought it was really solid.  Anyhow, I was staying at the Best Western in Ames and Eddie, Flea were swimming in the pool and having fun with other members of all the bands on the ticket (PJ, Smashing Pumpkins, Chili Peppers).  We were drinking beers at the pool and it was a real fun and laid back experience.  At the show PJ was first and blew the roof off the joint.  I was a fan after that performance!  Funny thing is Billy Corgan punched his guitar tech in the face when he came off stage for some reason after their set.  That show will always be memorable as it was the last time I saw one of my good friends alive unfortunately.  But it was a great introduction to PJ and I have been a fan since seeing them many many times.  

Wow that is one hell of an introduction! How do you even move on from there?

Btw don't even get me started on Billy Corgan. He's STILL sore that PJ took off the way they did, and still never gives them credit for actually being that talented and deserving the focus.  Smashing Pumpkins are talented too, but he's such a hater.  Over it.

I'm not a big fan of cell phones or the obsession with recording everything, but is it bad to say that I wish you'd had a smart phone at that pool?  Ooops, did I say that out loud? =D

Hah!  I wish I had some way to document it.  I remember one little boy was splashing around them and Eddie asked kindly for him to please stop.  If I knew then what I knew now.......  They seemed so normal and it holds true today.

CDEANSEATTLE

We were a Nirvana,  Mudhoney couple till Cobain ate pellets, then your hurting and needed something familiar, EV was their when we needed it. 

RunIntoTheRain

I love reading this thread!

Travels With

March 1994.  I went backpacking with three buddies (Devin, Lee, Bruce) in Yosemite.  My friend Devin played Ten on cassette the entire drive there and back (3 hours each way).  After singing many renditions of ALIVE on the trail and so much listening in the car I was hooked.  As soon as I got home I drove an hour to the nearest Tower Records (I lived in a super rural area) and bought Ten and Vs.  First show was Sacramento 95.  Joined the Vitalogy Health Club in November of 1996.  Love. Ever. Since. 

jamofpearls

Had to be late 91, maybe early 92.
I distinctly remembering my friend Leia sending me home w/ the Ten CD, and listening to it over and over again.
Was hooked, and never let go.
Finally got to see them in Birmingham, AL in 98 (yes, I have the poster!)

Chromebeard

I was 14 and fell asleep watching SNL. It was the first time PJ was on and the opening riff of Alive woke me from a dead sleep. I sprang up and just stared. I still to this day can't explain what happened in that moment but EVERYTHING had changed. Then when they came back on and played Porch I just sat in awe. The next day I had my mom take me to the mall to buy Ten. Then I immediately discovered Temple, Soundgarden, AIC and Nirvana. Life altering. 

Pap

Eddieredder said:

Heard Alive on KISW (Seattle) in the summer of 91 . Bought the tape the next day.........and every album after that, the day it came out. 

https://twitter.com/PearlJam/status/1360283433855897600

thomascbullock

When I was 16 (2004), the bass player of the nascent band I was in gave me the rearviewmirror best of, suggesting that we should cover some of these songs. I didn't immediately take to them. A few weeks later I was in my local used CD store (I miss those...), and noticed Pearl Jam had several live albums available, I thought maybe I'd pick up one of those as a way to see how their songs sounded in that context. The one I picked up was 7/11/03 Mansfield, and suddenly I "got it."  

1ThoughtKnown

with my ears around 3:30pm from a car stereo

static111

Michigan state fair, I was about 2nd or third grade maybe and there was a big screen playing some awards show and Jeremy was played in full, maybe VMAs? At any rate, ten was quickly added to my small collection of Elvis and Willie Nelson cassette tapes. I loved everything about the music and the voice and intensity and Jeremy is still one of my favorites to this day, though I wish they would bust out slow Jeremy at shows every once in a while

JT167846

Starting high school in Wellington, remember listening to PJ and snogging a girl for the first time haha-she's actually still a very dear friend of mine.

SHZA

Heard Alive as a HS sophomore. Kid I rode to school with had Ten on cassette 

lastexitlondon

I was 16 i think.  My friends  were older and just driving and we would sit in a dark lane . Get stoned and my friend  said listen to this. It was ten . On cassette,  blew our tiny minds. 

cblock4life

Being we’re the same age (sounds like most were teens) we absolutely related. Felt like finally we were listening to people who got us.  Not sure why but it always felt like we were the in between generation (hard to explain). So hubby hears them as soon as ten comes out..buys the disc with NO title (great purchase unknowingly, wish we wouldn’t have played it so much that we needed another that did have the title) and that was it.  30 years and 60 some concerts later, most since we retired and kids were old enough, it became our retirement plans....see the country while being groupies in our late 50’s. 
After PJ 20 (my husband had the flu but pushed thru both days) hubby wondered if it would be our last so I promised him it wouldn’t!  40+ concerts after PJ 20 we consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity, including the means to do so, to fulfill our retirement dreams. Hoping it’s not over yet 

cblock4life

Not my story but a good one....friend of ours who was SC (eds baseball friend) roommate tells us "hey, was at SC the other day and I think I met that guy you and your wife travel around to see, think his name is Ed"  Seriously?  WTF - he didn't even realize it!  What a kick in the ass that was!!!

CP218430

I was in jr. high when Ten and Nevermind took over the radio. There was something different and while I liked "Smells Like Teen Spirit" I veered towards Pearl Jam - they were saying things my little mind couldn't quite comprehend but somehow knew they were talking about emotions I was coming into and questions I didn't know how how vocalize. I dug into their music, read about their influences and forged my own path into literature - I haven't strayed away and don't plan on it. 

PJammer4life

I still remember first time I heard Eddie’s  voice on the radio, the second verse of Hunger Strike. Loved it instantly. So different and deep. Then  saw MTV Unplugged and Black. Recorded the second half of Black and Jeremy from the radio and played it over and over. When I finally got the cassette in my car, I listened to Alive about 15 times before even moving on to the rest of the album. Ten was and always will be special!to me.

SW88810

I was 15/16 in 92 ... heard/saw Alive and even flow on mtv and was instantly hooked, at the time it wasn’t the type of music or look myself or any of my friends were into but I was drawn in and excited by what I was seeing and hearing. At that age for me to go out and buy an album wasn’t the drop of a hat thing I can do now and I remember having a strict three song rule!! if I heard three songs off an album I liked I would buy it!! I didn’t wait for the third single I had to hear more .... been a fan ever since 

Robbert

My brothers made me listening to PJ when i was 12. Listening to Yield while playing some games on the PC with them. 
Favourite songs are Brain of J - Faithful - No way. Brings back the good times.
First concert was Arhnem 06.
Been to 24 PJ gigs and 9 EV shows since.