New Jeff interview, talks new solo record, his band’s upcoming album and tour, plus Kanye

Jeff might want to read this thread if he’s still confused

https://twitter.com/snowcone965/status/991695769714479104?s=21

Is it all just performance art?

Bummer that no album is in site.

BS44325 said:

I’m really disappointed in Jeff’s take on Kanye. Nobody has to accept Kanye’s beliefs in any way shape or form but to see a guy like Jeff say “I have a hard time separating the art from the artist...” or to accuse him of just doing this for publicity is just so sad. Pearl Jam has taken a variety of political stances over the years and fans such have myself have supported them in taking those positions even when I disagree with them. I support their art and their right to take a stand and I only assumed Jeff would feel the same. His closed mindedness is what is unfortunate.

I agree with you. I respect Pearl Jam's and every artist's right to express their political opinions, and can have different thoughts about an artist's beliefs and their music (so long as it isn't very explicitly and specifically the message of the song, which is extremely rare, even for PJ) As Jeff says himself, that's art! 

However, I respect Jeff's difference in that opinion too, and if he wants to judge artists by their political beliefs, he has every right to do that himself. I don't advocate that and I suggest the above paragraph, but I respect his right to do otherwise. I'll just tell him one thing: if people did what he is doing to Pearl Jam (and they did back in the Bush years), they would not have nearly as much success. 

I personally respect Kanye's talent and music, and while it's surely not my favorite and I don't agree with his views, I respect his ability to have them. All of my disliking of his music lies in the fact that simply I don't like lots of his sound and he breaks the first commandment of Pearl Jam: Even in a non-political setting, he's just an asshole and can't get away from that.

BS44325 said:

tbergs said:

BS44325 said:

I’m really disappointed in Jeff’s take on Kanye. Nobody has to accept Kanye’s beliefs in any way shape or form but to see a guy like Jeff say “I have a hard time separating the art from the artist...” or to accuse him of just doing this for publicity is just so sad. Pearl Jam has taken a variety of political stances over the years and fans such have myself have supported them in taking those positions even when I disagree with them. I support their art and their right to take a stand and I only assumed Jeff would feel the same. His closed mindedness is what is unfortunate.

I get what you're saying, but I'd call it the Nugent effect. When an artist is generally a jackass as a person, I have a hard time enjoying their music. I think it makes sense. I think Kanye has made some outstanding music over the years, but he is such a narcissistic asshat I can't stand it. You can't compare PJ to someone like that because they're not self righteous reality TV pricks. PJ get a pass because they're all decent people. Ed may go on a rant, but he's never proclaimed himself to be the next coming of Christ. Not much decent about Kanye the person.

I understand and I actually don’t care how people feel about Kanye but I’m getting the impression from this interview that Jeff is telling Kanye to “shut up and sing”. We all know how PJ felt about the attacks on them and the Dixie Chicks etc. during the Bush years and it comes off as hypocritical to see Jeff fail to support another artist even if he disagrees with him. A more thoughful response would have been “I personally disagree with Kanye but I respect his right as an artist to take a stand and push his position through his art”. Is Jeff ok with radio stations banning Kanye’s music like some did to the Dixie Chicks? A real courageous answer would have taken the rights of artistic expression head on as it is what PJ has always stood for and Jeff failed massively on this front. No dragon energy.

There's not even a hint of "shut up and sing" in that. 
You are (whether you realize it or not) riding a bandwagon  that's hot right now, right wingers jumping to Kanye's defense because he said something good about Trump.  It's all the rage right now, but it will pass soon.
Don't just make up a controversy where there is none to be had.

BS44325 said:

I’m really disappointed in Jeff’s take on Kanye. Nobody has to accept Kanye’s beliefs in any way shape or form but to see a guy like Jeff say “I have a hard time separating the art from the artist...” or to accuse him of just doing this for publicity is just so sad. Pearl Jam has taken a variety of political stances over the years and fans such have myself have supported them in taking those positions even when I disagree with them. I support their art and their right to take a stand and I only assumed Jeff would feel the same. His closed mindedness is what is unfortunate.

I am not surprised to see you say this at all, but I still don't understand why you are "disappointed" in him for not being able to separate the art from the artist, given how much emotions are involved when it comes to art, especially for actual artists. To me, it only makes sense to combine the art and the artist. For me, it is odd that anyone CAN separate the art from the artist.... It almost suggests a lack of understanding of what art and being an artist actually means.

TJ25487 said:

PJ_Soul said:

BS44325 said:

I’m really disappointed in Jeff’s take on Kanye. Nobody has to accept Kanye’s beliefs in any way shape or form but to see a guy like Jeff say “I have a hard time separating the art from the artist...” or to accuse him of just doing this for publicity is just so sad. Pearl Jam has taken a variety of political stances over the years and fans such have myself have supported them in taking those positions even when I disagree with them. I support their art and their right to take a stand and I only assumed Jeff would feel the same. His closed mindedness is what is unfortunate.

I am not surprised to see you say this at all, but I still don't understand why you are "disappointed" in him for not being able to separate the art from the artist, given how much emotions are involved when it comes to art, especially for actual artists. To me, it only makes sense to combine the art and the artist. For me, it is odd that anyone CAN separate the art from the artist.... It almost suggests a lack of understanding of what art and being an artist actually means.

IMO there is no right or wrong answer here only opinions and my opinion is that it is wise to separate the artist from the art if their beliefs differ from yours as I have with Ed and now Jeff. I happen to love Trump and his conservative agenda and don't believe in open borders and the left wing liberal agenda. That's fine for Ed and Jeff and I just tune it out and focus on their music. Easy peasy. 

Of course people can do whatever they feel like and of course this is all about opinion - what else would it be? I didn't feel like there was a need to clarify that, especially considering the language I used ("To me", "for me") ... For me, separating the art from the artist degrades the art, and given the connection between the art and the artist, which is NOT a matter of opinion, that makes the most sense as well. But also, that's great if that's what you want to do (not that you love Trump though - that I have a very difficult time wrapping my head around in any case and I consider love for Trump harmful to everyone - how can you love someone with such low morals and who lies all the time?), but I don't really get how you can tune out Eddie's politics and also focus on the music if you're listening to a political song. Is that possible? Do you mean that you literally ignore the lyrics?

PJ_Soul said:

BS44325 said:

I’m really disappointed in Jeff’s take on Kanye. Nobody has to accept Kanye’s beliefs in any way shape or form but to see a guy like Jeff say “I have a hard time separating the art from the artist...” or to accuse him of just doing this for publicity is just so sad. Pearl Jam has taken a variety of political stances over the years and fans such have myself have supported them in taking those positions even when I disagree with them. I support their art and their right to take a stand and I only assumed Jeff would feel the same. His closed mindedness is what is unfortunate.

I am not surprised to see you say this at all, but I still don't understand why you are "disappointed" in him for not being able to separate the art from the artist, given how much emotions are involved when it comes to art, especially for actual artists. To me, it only makes sense to combine the art and the artist. For me, it is odd that anyone CAN separate the art from the artist.... It almost suggests a lack of understanding of what art and being an artist actually means.

I separate it all the time. Example...I love Bushleaguer and I love how PJ uses art to express their political view. It is great performance art with a message even though I completely disagree with the message. That is separating art from the artist as I can still “enjoy” PJ regardless of their politics. What is “disappointing” is that Jeff suggests that he can’t do this...his enjoyment gets affected. Go re-watch the Bushleaguer part of PJ20 to see how Jeff felt about people turning on them over the song. He seems to be responding to Kanye in the same way narrow minded people responded to PJ in the Bush years.

BS44325 said:

PJ_Soul said:

BS44325 said:

I’m really disappointed in Jeff’s take on Kanye. Nobody has to accept Kanye’s beliefs in any way shape or form but to see a guy like Jeff say “I have a hard time separating the art from the artist...” or to accuse him of just doing this for publicity is just so sad. Pearl Jam has taken a variety of political stances over the years and fans such have myself have supported them in taking those positions even when I disagree with them. I support their art and their right to take a stand and I only assumed Jeff would feel the same. His closed mindedness is what is unfortunate.

I am not surprised to see you say this at all, but I still don't understand why you are "disappointed" in him for not being able to separate the art from the artist, given how much emotions are involved when it comes to art, especially for actual artists. To me, it only makes sense to combine the art and the artist. For me, it is odd that anyone CAN separate the art from the artist.... It almost suggests a lack of understanding of what art and being an artist actually means.

I separate it all the time. Example...I love Bushleaguer and I love how PJ uses art to express their political view. It is great performance art with a message even though I completely disagree with the message. That is separating art from the artist as I can still “enjoy” PJ regardless of their politics. What is “disappointing” is that Jeff suggests that he can’t do this...his enjoyment gets affected. Go re-watch the Bushleaguer part of PJ20 to see how Jeff felt about people turning on them over the song. He seems to be responding to Kanye in the same way narrow minded people responded to PJ in the Bush years.

That doesn't sound like separating art from the artist at all. Just because you don't let it bother you doesn't mean you're separating the two. It also doesn't mean you should expect others to do the same. I see nothing wrong at all when people want to make it mean something to them. And that is what you seem mad about. That Jeff (or anyone) would allow art to actually mean something to them on the level that the artist intended it, or that they would link a person's vile attitude to their art, when artists put their attitudes into their art ... For many it's not possible to separate those two things, or if it is, they wouldn't even want to separate the two, because it's a package deal to them, which makes perfect sense, especially for people who are artists themselves. That shouldn't bother you, and I don't get why it does.

Trump lovers and conservatives have to separate the two.  Otherwise they are left with Kanye and Nugent.   Their only entertainment would be Fox and Alex Jones. 

BS44325 said:

rgambs said:

BS44325 said:

tbergs said:

BS44325 said:

I’m really disappointed in Jeff’s take on Kanye. Nobody has to accept Kanye’s beliefs in any way shape or form but to see a guy like Jeff say “I have a hard time separating the art from the artist...” or to accuse him of just doing this for publicity is just so sad. Pearl Jam has taken a variety of political stances over the years and fans such have myself have supported them in taking those positions even when I disagree with them. I support their art and their right to take a stand and I only assumed Jeff would feel the same. His closed mindedness is what is unfortunate.

I get what you're saying, but I'd call it the Nugent effect. When an artist is generally a jackass as a person, I have a hard time enjoying their music. I think it makes sense. I think Kanye has made some outstanding music over the years, but he is such a narcissistic asshat I can't stand it. You can't compare PJ to someone like that because they're not self righteous reality TV pricks. PJ get a pass because they're all decent people. Ed may go on a rant, but he's never proclaimed himself to be the next coming of Christ. Not much decent about Kanye the person.

I understand and I actually don’t care how people feel about Kanye but I’m getting the impression from this interview that Jeff is telling Kanye to “shut up and sing”. We all know how PJ felt about the attacks on them and the Dixie Chicks etc. during the Bush years and it comes off as hypocritical to see Jeff fail to support another artist even if he disagrees with him. A more thoughful response would have been “I personally disagree with Kanye but I respect his right as an artist to take a stand and push his position through his art”. Is Jeff ok with radio stations banning Kanye’s music like some did to the Dixie Chicks? A real courageous answer would have taken the rights of artistic expression head on as it is what PJ has always stood for and Jeff failed massively on this front. No dragon energy.

There's not even a hint of "shut up and sing" in that. 
You are (whether you realize it or not) riding a bandwagon  that's hot right now, right wingers jumping to Kanye's defense because he said something good about Trump.  It's all the rage right now, but it will pass soon.
Don't just make up a controversy where there is none to be had.

There certainly is a hint of shut up and sing. And let’s be clear...Jeff said that he loves Kanye. He had no problem “enjoying” Kanye’s music after the “George Bush doesn’t care about black people” incident. Now that Kanye is all MAGA however...well...his music can no longer be enjoyed! The defense I am jumping too is free speech and free speech alone. I’m ok with anything Kanye says and have never let his views taint my enjoyment of his music. My assumption is Jeff as an artist would have similar views and the “shut up and sing” hint arises from the pressures other artists will feel from speaking out in anyway they choose. 

It's not "shut up and sing" it's "dude, if you are going to say something, say something that makes sense".
I don't listen to Kanye, so I don't get the "genius" of him.  All I see is a guy who can't even articulate his thoughts and feelings when asked to.
Childish Gambino just did in 4 minutes what Kanye has been trying to do for a decade.
Jeff is right to wonder, if his music is supposedly so solid, why can't he actually defend his insane statements and control his insane ego?