Pearl Jam Online: An Interview With Jack Irons
http://www.pearljamonline.it/PJ20/JackIrons/int.htm#eng
Jack Steven Irons (born July 18, 1962 in Los Angeles, California) is an American musician who is best known as the original drummer of the American rock band The Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as the former drummer for Eleven and Pearl Jam. He has also worked with Joe Strummer and The Latino Rockabilly War, Redd Kross, Raging Slab, Spinnerette and The Les Claypool Frog Brigade. In 2004, Irons released his first solo album, Attention Dimension. On August 24, 2010 Jack Irons released his second solo album, No Heads Are Better Than One.
Hello Jack, thanks for accepting this interview, it is very kind of you and we're so honored. You were the Red Hot Chili Peppers original drummer, you made an album & went on tour with the late great Joe Strummer and you played drums with Pearl Jam from 1994 to 1998. This is just a short list of all the things you've done in your career so far. Tell us a little about your beginnings in the world of music and how things have changed over all these years.
My first interest was seeing a drum set in a window of a music store and thinking I want to have that. I met Hillel [Slovak, 1962-1988, first Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist] when I was 13 and we started taking music lessons together and then some months later we started playing with Alain Johannes and that really was the core of my musical beginnings. A few years later we started playing with Flea.
Legend has it that you were the person who introduced Gossard & Ament to Vedder in 1990 by handing the famous Stone Gossard demos to a young Eddie. There are many versions of this story. Tell us once and for all how it really happened.
My recollection is of meeting Stone and Jeff at a hotel in Los Angeles. They were starting a new band and asked if I was interested in playing with them. I wasn't ready to move to Seattle and start a new life there and also had some touring obligations with other bands. They gave me the demo of their music that had Matt Cameron on drums and asked me to check it out and maybe pass it on to any singers I might know. So I gave it to Eddie. I left on a 3 month tour with Redd Kross and about a month later I heard that Eddie went up to Seattle to play with them.
Before joining Pearl Jam, Eddie played in San Diego with Bad Radio, a band that mixed the sound of Red Hot Chili Peppers with punk and new wave. Have you ever seen them live? If so, what do you remember about them?
I did see Eddie play with a band at that time, I don't know if it was Bad Radio. I remember thinking he had a great voice. I don't remember a lot more but it was only one time that I saw them play.
In 1994 you received a phone call from Pearl Jam asking you to join the band. Did you accept immediately or you were reluctant at first?
Actually in 1994 I heard they were looking for a drummer again so I phoned Eddie and asked if I could play with them. They tried a few different drummers at that point but I was fortunate to get the gig.
When you joined them, Ed Vedder reportedly said: "This should have been the band from the beginning." Do you agree or do you think that joining the band in a second time was the best thing to do?
Looking back I think for me a bit later in their career was better. Their beginnings were so explosive and busy that it could have been hard for me at that point of my life.
You recorded two of the most celebrated Pearl Jam albums, "No Code" and "Yield". Looking back at those years, how was the atmosphere in Pearl Jam? Do you remember any particular fact or anecdote that impressed you at that time?
That was a fun period. I think for the most part we had a lot of good times playing together. I am very happy I had those years with them.
Pearl Jam fans are always looking for rarities and unreleased songs. In 2012 "No Code" and "Yield" will be reissued. Do you remember any particular song that was recorded between 1994 and 1998 and might still be locked in one of Pearl Jam's "secret archives"?
I don't remember maybe they will surprise me too.
In 1995, you and the guys recorded "Mirror Ball" and went on tour with Neil Young. Neil reportedly said that you were "unbelievable." He stated that you played "[your] ass off on every take at every session," and added, "I can't say enough good things about him." What do you remember of this great experience?
It was an amazing experience to play with him and be part of that. He was a huge favorite of mine, so I was honered to play with him and play drums on his music.
We at pearljamonline.it believe that you are the drummer who has understood Pearl Jam best. This is our opinion. The guys have always referred to you as the band's salvation in a period when they did not communicate. Stone once said: "Jack's personality, maturity, and generosity have really helped us communicate with each other." How do you feel about this?
I think every drummer Pearl Jam had has served an important role. I think at the time I joined the band my personality was right for their situation and I am grateful for that.
In 2004 and 2010 you released two solo albums (both available in physical format exclusively on http://www.pearljam.com). Your first album, "Attention Dimension" featured Ament, Gossard and Vedder. What are your memories of those sessions?
Those years were filled with a lot of personal transition for me. Attention Dimension was a process for me to create in the midst of a lot of life changes and the pursuit of personal growth. It was really nice to have all my old friends support my process and contribute to that record.
In 2007 you played a live set at the Hullabaloo Festival in Los Angeles with Vedder and Flea. Is there any chance that this collaboration might evolve into something more in the future? Have you ever talked about that?
That was a great show and we had a lot of fun doing it. We did at the time consider doing some more but we haven't done so yet.
This year marks Pearl Jam's twentieth anniversary. Have you been involved in the filming of "Pearl Jam Twenty," Cameron Crowe's upcoming movie about Pearl Jam? Any chance that you might be part of the celebrations (ie. concerts etc.)?
I have not currently been involved with the filming for the movie. I did do an interview for the book.
Jack, you're the man. You were and you will always be ourfavorite Pearl Jam drummer (no offense to Matt Cameron!). We truly wish you all the best. Goodbye and take care!
Take care!
Jack Steven Irons (born July 18, 1962 in Los Angeles, California) is an American musician who is best known as the original drummer of the American rock band The Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as the former drummer for Eleven and Pearl Jam. He has also worked with Joe Strummer and The Latino Rockabilly War, Redd Kross, Raging Slab, Spinnerette and The Les Claypool Frog Brigade. In 2004, Irons released his first solo album, Attention Dimension. On August 24, 2010 Jack Irons released his second solo album, No Heads Are Better Than One.
Hello Jack, thanks for accepting this interview, it is very kind of you and we're so honored. You were the Red Hot Chili Peppers original drummer, you made an album & went on tour with the late great Joe Strummer and you played drums with Pearl Jam from 1994 to 1998. This is just a short list of all the things you've done in your career so far. Tell us a little about your beginnings in the world of music and how things have changed over all these years.
My first interest was seeing a drum set in a window of a music store and thinking I want to have that. I met Hillel [Slovak, 1962-1988, first Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist] when I was 13 and we started taking music lessons together and then some months later we started playing with Alain Johannes and that really was the core of my musical beginnings. A few years later we started playing with Flea.
Legend has it that you were the person who introduced Gossard & Ament to Vedder in 1990 by handing the famous Stone Gossard demos to a young Eddie. There are many versions of this story. Tell us once and for all how it really happened.
My recollection is of meeting Stone and Jeff at a hotel in Los Angeles. They were starting a new band and asked if I was interested in playing with them. I wasn't ready to move to Seattle and start a new life there and also had some touring obligations with other bands. They gave me the demo of their music that had Matt Cameron on drums and asked me to check it out and maybe pass it on to any singers I might know. So I gave it to Eddie. I left on a 3 month tour with Redd Kross and about a month later I heard that Eddie went up to Seattle to play with them.
Before joining Pearl Jam, Eddie played in San Diego with Bad Radio, a band that mixed the sound of Red Hot Chili Peppers with punk and new wave. Have you ever seen them live? If so, what do you remember about them?
I did see Eddie play with a band at that time, I don't know if it was Bad Radio. I remember thinking he had a great voice. I don't remember a lot more but it was only one time that I saw them play.
In 1994 you received a phone call from Pearl Jam asking you to join the band. Did you accept immediately or you were reluctant at first?
Actually in 1994 I heard they were looking for a drummer again so I phoned Eddie and asked if I could play with them. They tried a few different drummers at that point but I was fortunate to get the gig.
When you joined them, Ed Vedder reportedly said: "This should have been the band from the beginning." Do you agree or do you think that joining the band in a second time was the best thing to do?
Looking back I think for me a bit later in their career was better. Their beginnings were so explosive and busy that it could have been hard for me at that point of my life.
You recorded two of the most celebrated Pearl Jam albums, "No Code" and "Yield". Looking back at those years, how was the atmosphere in Pearl Jam? Do you remember any particular fact or anecdote that impressed you at that time?
That was a fun period. I think for the most part we had a lot of good times playing together. I am very happy I had those years with them.
Pearl Jam fans are always looking for rarities and unreleased songs. In 2012 "No Code" and "Yield" will be reissued. Do you remember any particular song that was recorded between 1994 and 1998 and might still be locked in one of Pearl Jam's "secret archives"?
I don't remember maybe they will surprise me too.
In 1995, you and the guys recorded "Mirror Ball" and went on tour with Neil Young. Neil reportedly said that you were "unbelievable." He stated that you played "[your] ass off on every take at every session," and added, "I can't say enough good things about him." What do you remember of this great experience?
It was an amazing experience to play with him and be part of that. He was a huge favorite of mine, so I was honered to play with him and play drums on his music.
We at pearljamonline.it believe that you are the drummer who has understood Pearl Jam best. This is our opinion. The guys have always referred to you as the band's salvation in a period when they did not communicate. Stone once said: "Jack's personality, maturity, and generosity have really helped us communicate with each other." How do you feel about this?
I think every drummer Pearl Jam had has served an important role. I think at the time I joined the band my personality was right for their situation and I am grateful for that.
In 2004 and 2010 you released two solo albums (both available in physical format exclusively on http://www.pearljam.com). Your first album, "Attention Dimension" featured Ament, Gossard and Vedder. What are your memories of those sessions?
Those years were filled with a lot of personal transition for me. Attention Dimension was a process for me to create in the midst of a lot of life changes and the pursuit of personal growth. It was really nice to have all my old friends support my process and contribute to that record.
In 2007 you played a live set at the Hullabaloo Festival in Los Angeles with Vedder and Flea. Is there any chance that this collaboration might evolve into something more in the future? Have you ever talked about that?
That was a great show and we had a lot of fun doing it. We did at the time consider doing some more but we haven't done so yet.
This year marks Pearl Jam's twentieth anniversary. Have you been involved in the filming of "Pearl Jam Twenty," Cameron Crowe's upcoming movie about Pearl Jam? Any chance that you might be part of the celebrations (ie. concerts etc.)?
I have not currently been involved with the filming for the movie. I did do an interview for the book.
Jack, you're the man. You were and you will always be ourfavorite Pearl Jam drummer (no offense to Matt Cameron!). We truly wish you all the best. Goodbye and take care!
Take care!
Athens 2006 / Milton Keynes 2014 / London 1&2 2022 / Seattle 1&2 2024 / Dublin 2024 / Manchester 2024 / New Orleans 2025
Post edited by Unknown User on
0
Comments
Pearl Jam "exploded" into Stardom sometime during the fall 1991 / Winter of 1992, that's when they earned their reputation as putting on some of the most powerful performances of any musicians coming out of the late '80s- early '90s alternative music scene. Nirvana's music was better, but Pearl Jam's live performances were the best, bar none. That was because of Eddie's energy and legendary balcony acrobatics, Mike's solos, Stone's riffs, Jeff's bass and energy bouncing around the stage, and the absolute power of the drums of Dave Abbruzzese.
Jack's grooves and laid back influences on the band would not have propelled them in those early years, Eddie's angst was absolutely matched by Dave's drums.
Irons: "Actually in 1994 I heard they were looking for a drummer again so I phoned Eddie and asked if I could play with them. They tried a few different drummers at that point but I was fortunate to get the gig."
I am EXTREMELY curious who they had tried out before Jack and after Dave. I was skeptical that they did this, even though that was the story Jack was told. Surprised that no other drummer, in 17 years, has ever mentioned they played some trial rehearsals. I'm guessing that if they did try out other drummers, it was friends in town and not a wide net cast.
*NYC 9/28/96 *NYC 9/29/96 *NJ 9/8/98 (front row "may i play drums with you")
*MSG 9/10/98 (backstage) *MSG 9/11/98 (backstage)
*Jones Beach 8/23/00 *Jones Beach 8/24/00 *Jones Beach 8/25/00
*Mansfield 8/29/00 *Mansfield 8/30/00 *Nassau 4/30/03 *Nissan VA 7/1/03
*Borgata 10/1/05 *Camden 5/27/06 *Camden 5/28/06 *DC 5/30/06
*VA Beach 6/17/08 *DC 6/22/08 *MSG 6/24/08 (backstage) *MSG 6/25/08
*EV DC 8/17/08 *EV Baltimore 6/15/09 *Philly 10/31/09
*Bristow VA 5/13/10 *MSG 5/20/10 *MSG 5/21/10
I think every drummer Pearl Jam had has served an important role. I think at the time I joined the band my personality was right for their situation and I am grateful for that.
Perfect summation of his time with the band.