Pearl Jam Is No. 1

"We just found out our new album is No. 1," Eddie Vedder told the packed crowd during the Pearl Jam show at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. "We had some No. 1 albums a while ago. We didn't give a shit then." He paused for a moment, gave a crooked laugh, took a sip of red wine, and said, "We don't give a shit now. But some of us are dads. So now, we can say to our kids, 'Hey, just remember, your dad is No. 1.'"

It's been 13 years since Pearl Jam had a No. 1 album. Their new effort, "Backspacer," which has already spawned radio hit "The Fixer," was released under the new, no-label, direct-to-retail model. The band, led by manager Kelly Curtis and former Sony Music President/COO Michele Anthony (Sony is the band's old label), did a deal with Target and indie retailers (so as not to alienate fans) for retail, iTunes for digital, and Verizon more mobile marketing.

Yes, it can be argued, and often is, that it's easy or at least easier for big name bands to do direct deals after having had the massive support of a major label for almost two decades. This is usually the gripe naysayers use against Radiohead's new model success. I agree. Many of these bands made their names thanks to the backs and money of labels. But labels were different two decades ago. They actually did artist development and let bands make their own creative choices. Pearl Jam is probably one of the few bands of this generation who didn't sell out, who didn't say 'how high,' when the label said 'jump.' Who took the unpopular stance against Ticketmaster and other corporate entities. I saw them play at the Greek Theatre in Hollywood about 10 years ago, and Vedder refused to get on stage until the venue took down car promotion banners above the stage. He said his fans came to see Pearl Jam, not buy a car.

What is also different about Pearl Jam is their undying devotion to their fans through the band's Ten Club. No, they haven't had a No. 1 album in 13 years, but their fans have never left them and have continued to buy albums and concert tickets. Even if Pearl Jam hadn't done a direct deal with Target, etc., the Gibson Amphitheatre still would have been sold out. The crowd in that room sang along to all of the hits and all of the new songs, even though "Backspacer" was only officially released Sept 20. And Vedder is still the most unassuming, charismatic, rocker I've seen. He screwed up a bunch of the new songs, since they've only started playing them live recently, and he readily admitted to the audience his "fuck-ups."

The band, with Vedder, bass player Jeff Ament, rhythm guitar Stone Gossard, and lead guitarist Mike McCready, has never sounded better.

Bruce Springsteen and U2 are not selling out their shows - in fact, you can even get tickets to their shows online for under face value. There was not a seat empty at the Pearl Jam show and not a single person in the amphitheater who wasn't cheering.

Congratulations. You guys deserve your success.

Follow Tamara Conniff on Twitter: www.twitter.com/tamarastar

Comments

[Ventoi]

They waited til their Baby was gone..
and
waited
and waited

and they were going to have this big blast of a show

but the Lord...

well...

he won't take her away.

[DocManhattan]

Had the pleasure of catching them in Vancouver last week, and they were amazing. True, the last album of theirs that I really loved was Vitalogy, but the new material sounds good and they do pull off a phenomenal live show.

Incidentally, that gig was a day after I saw the revitalised (and excellent) Alice in Chains in Seattle ... It was like the last 15 years never happened.

[hip dibler]

pearl jam, to a man, are just cool. cool, cool, dudes.

[TigersEye]

I used to watch their shows many years ago when they were unknowns playing small Seattle venues. Good for you, guys!

[Conk]

I like Pearl Jam ok. I did buy their new CD at full retail price just to support a band that I admire. Cool, stand up guys.

[Lisa Quintilian]

peamm,

While I agree A & R is a difficult business, I do not think you can lay the blame for the collapse of the business model at the feet of the 60s counter culture revolution. The result of that was a small group of concert bootleggers.

The labels' lack of vision in handling the change in technology combined with their antagonist view of their customers, is what killed the business model. I believe most experts would agree with this. Attacking Napster, the MP3 formatm and their customers has destroyed the business. The labels' actions should serve as a model of what not to do in working with your customers.

I don't understand your summation. Don't be a stranger?

: )

[peamm]

Dear Tamara,
Thank you for your blog. As you probably know, A&R is one of the most difficult jobs in the business to have. Only the very very few will be successful. Labels back than had more money, time and resources to let Artist turn loose - a gamble which may work or not - depending on whether the consumer is going to buy into the new music. This " I don't care attitude " is a reflection of the counter culture beginning in the 60's which transformed the music business - it also destroyed the business itself as there is not enough money anymore to built up a group like " Pearl Jam ". That's the flip side of the coin -
So to sum it up - I don't care if Pearl Jam is No.1 or not - Don't be a stranger.