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By Lorenzo Giusti
Chances are, you already know who Eddie Vedder is. Facts are, if you do, you will agree with me that this guy deserves a whole post; if you don't, you will be thanking the Panda and it's headphones by the end of it.
This once troubled child wandered around southern California music scene on the late 80's. That is until one day his friend Jack Irons, former RHCP drummer, told him about a band in Seattle who was looking for a singer. Eddie recored his demos and sent to the band "Temple of Dog" what later would be Pearl Jam's "Alive", "Once" and "Footsteps". Again, if you know these songs you will agree with me he was pretty bright right from the start, if you don't, stop whatever you are doing and go listen to them.
Also in the early 90's Eddie Vedder would be recruited to be the lead singer of this band Ament, Gossard, and McCread were putting up together: Pearl Jam.
The success from their first album "Ten" together with their intense live performances, that included Eddie hanging from the light rigs, skyrocketed band popularity.
With the loads of media attention they were getting (and Eddies issue with that) the band decreased the promotion of its albums and refused to record music videos.
In 1994 they went on tour with the goal that no fan should pay more than U$20,00 to see a show on what came to be their "boycott of Ticketmaster" tour.
On the years to come Pearl Jam would keep making quality material that helped Eddie to be seen as an icon of Alternative Rock.
Being a Seattle band with Grunge naturally flowing through it's veins PJ has songs that are a bit heavy and fast paced like "Even Flow" and "Hail Hail' but also more melodic songs like the 1960's ballad cover "Last Kiss" and "Just breath".
Loaded with many other great songs, take you time to listen to PJ, you won't regret. I also recommend watching the bands documentary PJ 20, it will give you the chills if you are already a fan.
As if all that wasn't enough Eddie Vedder also has a solo career, he recently released the album "Ukelele songs", has participated with a number of contributions to soundtracks and that includes a whole album to the movie "Into the wild". And I am going to say this one last time, if you've seen the movie, well, no words. If you haven't, stop whatever you are doing and go rent it or get it by any other ways we may not legally encourage. Have a little taste of it here while you are at it:
Panda on the Radio
is a platform of different medias designed to offer you, in the simplest way possible, suggestions of the best of what we've seen (and what we'll see) regarding alternative and indie rock.
Get to know new artists and songs, videos, curiosities and anything else the panda may thinks it's kinda cool.
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Awkward I
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Young The Giant
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Panda Playlist #3 by Panda On The Radio on Grooveshark