Why Pearl Jam still belong in the present tense

A new unauthorised biography of grunge's great survivors argues for a critical reappraisal of the band.

Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, performing at Big Day Out 2014. A new book argues the band is still relevant not only for its music, especially its adventurous and communal live show, but for political activism never stymied by commercial imperative. Matthew Tompsett

Michael BaileyArts & Culture editor

Nov 20, 2020 – 1.01pm

Email LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Subscribe now

Already a subscriber?

No matter what Joe Biden says, the US will probably always have its "red states" and its "blue states".

But it also has, once mass gatherings are allowed again, a state of being known as a Pearl Jam concert.

Email LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Subscribe now

Already a subscriber?

License article

Introducing your Newsfeed

Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.

Find out more

Michael BaileyArts & Culture editorMichael Bailey writes on arts and culture, and edits Weekend Fin. He is a former editor of the Financial Review Rich List. He is based in Sydney.