Eddie Vedder and Guitars Over Guns Collaborate on New Song

Sea
Sea Posts: 3,208
edited June 18 in The Porch
Eddie Vedder and Guitars Over Guns Collaborate on New Song
News June 18 2026  

Eddie Vedder, in partnership with young people from Chicago-based Guitars Over Guns, has released the original song “Better Believe.”

Debuted during a live performance at the Obama Presidential Center dedication on June 18, “Better Believe” was co-written and performed with Guitars Over Guns and is now available on all major streaming platforms.

Listen to “Better Believe” now.


In Studio

About the Song

The Obama Foundation brought Eddie and Guitars Over Guns together for the project. Audio Arts students and alumni from Columbia College Chicago, where the song was recorded, joined young musicians from the nonprofit through a collaboration facilitated by Andre “Add-2” Daniels, Columbia adjunct professor of instruction and Chicago regional director for Guitars Over Guns.

All royalties earned by Eddie and the song’s co-writers will benefit Guitars Over Guns, an arts-based youth development organization that uses music, mentorship, and the arts to empower young people and expand opportunities for their future.

Song Credits

 

song title:  "Better Believe featuring Mark Anderson, Giselle Castro, Andre "Add-2” Daniels, Jeremiah Fristoe, Mason Harris, Michael "Myskie” Hightower, Cassidy Lee, Naomi Owens, Isabella Santillan, Ayden Smith, Joy Viltz"

 

artist: Eddie Vedder, Guitars Over Guns

 

songwriters:  

Eddie Vedder

Giselle Castro

Andre “Add-2” Daniels

Jeremiah Fristoe

Mason Harris

Michael “Myskie” Hightower

Naomi Owens

Joy Viltz

Iya Waters

 

producers: Andrew Watt, Andre “Add-2” Daniels, Paul LaMalfa & Eddie Vedder

 

engineered by: Anthony Abruzzo - Lead Engineer, Jacob Araiza - Lead Engineer, Joey Fraider, Grace Kay, Kathrynn Vettas, John Burton 

mastered by Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound

 

recorded at Columbia College, Chicago

 

performers: 

Eddie Vedder - Vocalist, Guitar, background vocals

Joy Viltz - Vocalist

Giselle Castro - Vocalist

Naomi Owens - Vocalist

Michael "Myskie" Hightower - Vocalist

Mason Harris - Vocalist 

Jeremiah Fristoe - Background Vocalist

Andre "Add-2" Daniels - Background Vocalist 

Mark Anderson - Background Vocalist

Isabella Santillan - Guitar 

Ayden Smith - Bass 

Cassidy Lee - Drums

Josh Klinghoffer - Keyboard




Post edited by Sea on
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Comments

  • demetrios
    demetrios Posts: 102,283
    Neat!
  • PJ_Soul
    PJ_Soul Vancouver, BC Posts: 51,791
    edited June 18
    @Sea I'm getting a 404 error page when I try to go and listen. 
    With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
  • Sea
    Sea Posts: 3,208
    edited June 18
    Please try again. Thanks!
  • Smellyman
    Smellyman Asia Posts: 4,534
    that was so bad
  • DL136722
    DL136722 Posts: 924
    Smellyman said:
    that was so bad
     :D 
    Tweeter Center - Aug 29, 2000;Tweeter Center - Aug 30, 2000;Allstate Arena - Oct 09, 2000;Pepsi Arena - Apr 29, 2003;Bryce-Jordan Center - May 03, 2003;Bell Center - Jun 29, 2003;Tweeter Center - Jul 02, 2003;Tweeter Center - Jul 03, 2003;Tweeter Center - Jul 11, 2003;Tweeter Center at the Waterfront - Jul 05, 2003;Tweeter Center at the Waterfront - Jul 06, 2003;Madison Square Garden - Jul 08, 2003;Madison Square Garden - Jul 09, 2003;TD Banknorth Garden - May 24, 2006;TD Banknorth Garden - May 25, 2006;Fleet Center - Sept 28, 2004;Fleet Center - Sept 29, 2004;Pepsi Arena - May 12, 2006 New England Dodge Music Arena - May 13, 2006;Grant Park - Aug 05, 2007;Bonnaroo - Jun 14, 2008;Dodge Music Center - Jun 27, 2008;Tweeter Center - Jun 28, 2008;Tweeter Center - Jun 30, 2008; XL Arena - May 15, 2010;TD Garden - May 17, 2010;Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Sept 03, 2011;Alpine Valley Music Theatre - Sep 04, 2011 Corel Centre - Sep 16, 2005;Colisee Pepsi Arena - Sep 20, 2005; Wrigley Field - July 19, 2013; DCU Center - Oct 15, 2013; DCU Center - Oct 16, 2013; Fenway Park - August 5, 2016; Fenway Park - August 7, 2016;  NOS Alive Festival - July 14, 2018; Boston - September 02, 2018; Boston - September 04, 2018;  Boston - September 15, 2024; Boston - September 17, 2024

    Oh Dude!
  • Jason P
    Jason P Posts: 19,814
    Guitars over guns.  Message received!


    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • PJINFLA
    PJINFLA Posts: 880
    Yikes!

    4/22/92 St. Petersburg, 8/23/92 Orlando, 3/29/94 St. Petersburg, 10/7/96 Ft. Lauderdale, 9/8/98 East Rutherford, 9/22/98 West Palm Beach, 9/23/98 West Palm Beach, 8/9/00 West Palm Beach, 8/10/00 West Palm Beach, 8/12/00 Tampa, 4/11/03 West Palm Beach, 4/13/03 Tampa, 6/2/03 Irvine, 6/3/03 Irvine, 9/28/04 Boston, 9/29/04 Boston, 9/1/05 George WA, 9/11/05 Kitchener, 9/12/05 London, 9/13/05 Hamilton, 10/03/05 Philadelphia, 5/16/06 Chicago, 5/17/06 Chicago, 6/23/06 Pittsburgh, 6/24/06 Cincinnati, 6/11/08, West Palm Beach, 6/12/08 Tampa, 6/19/08 Camden, 6/20/08 Camden, 8/23/09 Chicago, 8/24/09 Chicago, 10/27/09 Philadelphia, 10/28/09 Philadelphia, 10/30/09 Philadelphia, 10/31/09 Philadelphia, 5/18/10 New Jersey, 5/20/10 New York, 5/21/10 New York, 9/3/11 East Troy, 9/4/11 East Troy, 9/11/11 Toronto, 9/12/11 Toronto, 9/02/12 Philadelphia, 9/21/12 Pensacola, 7/19/13 Chicago, 10/18/13 Brooklyn, 10/19/13 Brooklyn, 11/23/13 LA, 10/24/13 LA, 11/16/13 Oklahoma City, 10/1/14 Cincinnati, 10/20/14 Milwaukee, 10/22/14 Denver, 4/8/16 Ft. Lauderdale, 4/9/16 Miami, 4/11/16 Tampa, 5/1/16 New York, 5/2/16 New York, 8/5/16 Boston, 8/7/16 Boston, 8/20/16 Chicago, 8/22/16 Chicago, 4/07/17 New York, 8/08/18 Seattle, 8/10/18 Seattle, 8/20/18 Chicago
    9/02/18 Boston, 9/04/18 Boston, 9/11/22 New York, 9/16/22 Nashville, 9/22/22 Denver, 8/31/23, St. Paul, 9/2/23 St. Paul, 9/18/23 Austin, 9/19/23 Austin
  • Jason P
    Jason P Posts: 19,814
    Song started off decent ... ended not so decent.  Everything after the 3 minute 40 second mark should be sealed in a cave.  
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • pjhawks
    pjhawks Posts: 13,380
    Jason P said:
    Song started off decent ... ended not so decent.  Everything after the 3 minute 40 second mark should be sealed in a cave.  
    yea wasn't a fan of the rap part but still not bad.  I'd give it 5.5 out of 10
  • iOnlyownMymind
    iOnlyownMymind Posts: 3,049
    Jason P said:
    Song started off decent ... ended not so decent.  Everything after the 3 minute 40 second mark should be sealed in a cave.  
    That 3:15 to 3:42 bass is great
  • Get_Right
    Get_Right Posts: 14,908
    edited June 18
    Cool project. Cool message. Not sure it is appropriately named as a new Eddie Vedder original song.  I guess it does say collaboration.
  • Renfield
    Renfield NYC NY Posts: 1,057
    Does it truly have to be a great song?  Ed supporting a youth charity organization for a very important event, the impact outweighs perfection. And to give all the kids songwriting credits is really cool. 

  • mca47
    mca47 Posts: 13,398
    Just listened to it.  Not a great song, but great purpose and intent.  I guess what you could expect for a bunch of teenagers.  Oh well.
  • Reissy
    Reissy St. Louis Posts: 576
    Better than the songs I wrote when I was 13!
    2014: St. Louis
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  • GrievanceGirl
    GrievanceGirl Worcester, MA Posts: 3,553

    #Grievance2025 
  • bb4packers
    bb4packers Posts: 206
    Great message and collaboration - a much needed shot of hope 
  • TenDays
    TenDays Utah, USA Posts: 281
    I liked it a lot! So cool to see Eddie working with these kids in the news story 😍
    https://youtu.be/FvcVjqSASFs

    Especially the kid wearing the Pearl Jam shirt! They seemed so nervous. My hands would be shaking so bad I wouldn't even be able to get a guitar lesson from Eddie! 

    What a great, uplifting song! 
  • pjhawks
    pjhawks Posts: 13,380
    TenDays said:
    I liked it a lot! So cool to see Eddie working with these kids in the news story 😍
    https://youtu.be/FvcVjqSASFs

    Especially the kid wearing the Pearl Jam shirt! They seemed so nervous. My hands would be shaking so bad I wouldn't even be able to get a guitar lesson from Eddie! 

    What a great, uplifting song! 
    ok when I heard the studio version i thought it was just ok but damn gotta give those kids credit, they killed it live.  most are 13 and 14 years old playing in front of an audience of ex-Presidents and rock stars?  crazy.  when i was 13 or 14.... Damn good job by all.  that had to be a hell of a lot of work on Ed's part but you could tell from the video he had a passion for it.  Well done Ed!
  • Pap
    Pap Serres, Greece Posts: 31,255
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w58oPuXXJdo
    Athens 2006 / Milton Keynes 2014 / London 1&2 2022 / Seattle 1&2 2024 / Dublin 2024 / Manchester 2024 / New Orleans 2025 / Tokyo 2026
  • Pap
    Pap Serres, Greece Posts: 31,255
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhoPjr3F4xo
    Athens 2006 / Milton Keynes 2014 / London 1&2 2022 / Seattle 1&2 2024 / Dublin 2024 / Manchester 2024 / New Orleans 2025 / Tokyo 2026

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