Pearl Jam-ming out Politically!

     The American rock band, Pearl Jam was formed in Seattle, Washington in the year of 1990.  The band currently has five members including: lead vocalist and guitar - Eddie Vedder, bass guitar - Jeff Arment, rhythm guitar - Stone Gossard, lead guitar - Mike McCready, and on the drums - Matt Cameron.  The band is known for the impact that it had on the grunge rock scene in the early 1990's as well as their consistent will to not become involved with traditional music industry practices. 
     The band as a whole has been politically active since their start in the early 1990's.  As well as working together as a group, individuals in the band have participated in and have been involved in many events that strike a personal note with themselves.  Pearl Jam supports many things ranging from pro-choice protests to opposing President Bush's run for Presidency. 
     The band and especially lead singer Eddie Vedder have been involved with many organizations that support the pro-choice movement. Many believe that the Pearl Jam Song, Porch, was written about a women and her right to her body.  Although it is hard to see from the lyrics, Eddie Vedder has been quoted saying that this song was written to any women who have ever felt that they were not in control of their body.
     As the lead guitarist Mike McCready suffers from Crohns disease, the band has raised generous amounts of money over the years for research purposes helping discover more about the disease. 
     Each member of the band supports different issues that overall make the band very politically and socially active with causes that differ from each other in many ways.  As one member may be raising money for Crohns disease, another may be working at a Green event the same weekend.  Guitarist Stone Gossard is known for his work with environmental issues and advocates a Carbon Neutral Policy for Pearl Jam, which offsets the band's environmental impact.  In 2009, the band went on their Backspacer Tour which ended up emitting tons of horrible toxins into the earth and the atmosphere.  In 2010, the band donated $210,000 towards planting trees in the area of Puget Sound, Washington.  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Jam#Campaigning_and_activism) 
     The band has done many concerts and tours to promote their feelings towards their political beliefs.  In 2001, Pearl Jam performed in Seattle to support the United Nations and the effort to eliminate world hunger.  In 2004, the band played a series of concerts on the Vote for Change Tour, supporting Presidential Candidate John Kerry.  The band is also known for what happens during a set in between songs, when lead singer Eddie Vedder is almost always saying something about how he feels about American politics. 
     It is very clear to see in the lyrics of most Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam songs that there is a larger political message that is trying to be portrayed.  In the song Society, Eddie Vedder discusses the greed that lies within out society.
                    "Its a mystery to me, we have a greed with which we have a greed. You think you have to want more than you need, until you have it all you won't be free. Society, your a crazy breed, I hope your not lonely without out me."
                                                      - Eddie Vedder
     Eddie Vedder discusses the impact that greed has on society, and how we have become a world that thrives off of consumerism and always wanting and 'needing' more.  The lyrics to Vedder's song almost always have a larger message that states something about society, the people within a society, and the government that runs a society.  In the song, No More War, Eddie Vedder writes about a man coming home from war, begging his fellow citizens to stop the terrible fighting.
                     "What he has seen is hard to believe.  And it does not good to just pray.  He asks of us to stand. And we must end this war today.  With his mind, he's saying, 'No more!', with his heart, he is saying, 'No more!', with his life, he is saying, 'No more war!'."
                                                     - Eddie Vedder
     It is clear to see that Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam consistently make statements to the public regarding their personal beliefs, and in this case, when the beliefs of a band are the same as my own, I could not be happier to listen to them and to support their music.  It is hard to be as honest and as committed to making a change within our society as Pearl Jam does through lyrics and social activism and with that and the amazing, sexy, voice of Eddie Vedder - what could be better?


To find out more about Eddie Vedder and the band Pearl Jam, check out these websites!

Wikipedia - Pearl Jam

The Rock Radio

No More War Lyrics

Society Lyrics

Wikipedia - Eddie Vedder

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