Interview:Mike McCready Talks Pearl Jam’s Future, Mad Season

[Strat]

Jeff: the band sucks, but it still brings in the money for more skate parks.

Mike: yeah it's great. Maybe. Kinda. Actually they don't really tell me anything. We got a lot of stuff to pay for, so we'll probably tour soon.

Ed: did I mention I met Obama? Yeah we hang out all the time. Best president ever.

Stone: zzz...huh...What? I'm awake I'm awake... zzz

Matt: I love being a part of this band! I'm so rejuvenated! I can't wait to get back in the studio and... oh I thought this was about Soundgarden.

I hate that this is exactly correct. What happened to this band goddammit? Didnt care to age gracefully.

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[Strat]

I do not foresee pearl jam writing music together in their mid 60's.

[E.H. Ruddock]

This is how I picture it going when they present each other with new songs now:

[doug rr]

This is how I picture it going when they present each other with new songs now:

[BurtReynolds]

Jeff: the band sucks, but it still brings in the money for more skate parks.

Mike: yeah it's great. Maybe. Kinda. Actually they don't really tell me anything. We got a lot of stuff to pay for, so we'll probably tour soon.

Ed: did I mention I met Obama? Yeah we hang out all the time. Best president ever.

Stone: zzz...huh...What? I'm awake I'm awake... zzz

Matt: I love being a part of this band! I'm so rejuvenated! I can't wait to get back in the studio and... oh I thought this was about Soundgarden.

I hate that this is exactly correct. What happened to this band goddammit? Didnt care to age gracefully.

I think this is only going to get worse before it eventually gets better. I'm predicting anywhere from 5-15 more years of disappointing fandom, before they all get on the same page and release a great late-career album along the lines of Neil Young's Silver & Gold and Prairie Wind albums, and that Robert Plant/Allison Krauss record. Quieter, but with real warmth and depth...

It just sounds like no one is really into it right now. Bands like Shellac and Radiohead seem to enjoy spending time together, and the simple act of making music with friends. PJ will come back around to this eventually.

Assuming Ed's voice holds out, it's possible. Some new blood might shake things up. I basically think of them as on hiatus. Or like Tool or The Strokes, playing a few shows a year to pay the bills.

[Tuolumne]

Some of the criticisms of the last few albums have some credence, and some don't, but one thing I just do not buy is the narrative that the band half-assed the last 3 records. I've always argued, and will continue to, that if anything, they OVER-cooked the records and spent too much time cutting out parts and editing, aiming for something very immediate and lean and clean. That's why I'm okay with something too concise and lean not being some people's cup of tea. But they labored the hell over those songs. And, sure, BoB appears to be an overbearing jerk these days with no patience to explore a little bit, and on LB they could have handled him by having a little more of a clearer band vision.

But, shit, do we need to pull interviews and comments from the Vitalogy and No Code days? Jeff, Stone, and Mike HATED the making of those albums. Jeff almost left during No Code, and Mike almost burned out altogether, and Stone checkout completely. They were all down in the dumps in those days, and they straight out said it in much nore clear terms then these over-intepreted Mike and Jeff interviews. Do we need to pull up the quotes? I'm too lazy to, but we know they're all out there.

[Strat]

Some of the criticisms of the last few albums have some credence, and some don't, but one thing I just do not buy is the narrative that the band half-assed the last 3 records. I've always argued, and will continue to, that if anything, they OVER-cooked the records and spent too much time cutting out parts and editing, aiming for something very immediate and lean and clean. That's why I'm okay with something too concise and lean not being some people's cup of tea. But they labored the hell over those songs. And, sure, BoB appears to be an overbearing jerk these days with no patience to explore a little bit, and on LB they could have handled him by having a little more of a clearer band vision.

But, shit, do we need to pull interviews and comments from the Vitalogy and No Code days? Jeff, Stone, and Mike HATED the making of those albums. Jeff almost left during No Code, and Mike almost burned out altogether, and Stone checkout completely. They were all down in the dumps in those days, and they straight out said it in much nore clear terms then these over-intepreted Mike and Jeff interviews. Do we need to pull up the quotes? I'm too lazy to, but we know they're all out there.

What's your point? That just backs up the point they are lazy. When they actually worked on their craft and spent time agonizing over the shit, they all lost their mind and didnt want to do it. That is now why we get albums that are pieced together over a 4 year period and a couple weeks of writing together. This works for them because as Mike said " ...but that takes a lot of focus, and a lot of energy that we may not want to put into it"

its unfortunate but they are just old. Its okay to accept that now. i have.

[BurtReynolds]

Honestly if I were in the same position I'd be the same way

[McParadigm]

I don't think the issue is "half-assed" so much as it is "didn't have a creative vision or any substantial artistic drive, and let someone outside the band take charge of that stuff." Which led to the over-concern with simple immediacy.

And there's a big difference between almost walking out because you have deep musical convictions that you feel are being marginalized...and treating that same artistic vehicle with a shrug and an "I guess so..."

[E.H. Ruddock]

This is how I picture it going when they present each other with new songs now:

[Yeddie Yedder]

I don't think the issue is "half-assed" so much as it is "didn't have a creative vision or any substantial artistic drive, and let someone outside the band take charge of that stuff." Which led to the over-concern with simple immediacy.

And there's a big difference between almost walking out because you have deep musical convictions that you feel are being marginalized...and treating that same artistic vehicle with a shrug and an "I guess so..."

Agreed. I think they've done this for so long, it is hard for them to imagine a place where they were not pearl jam. They are "old" and they've been doing this for a long time. This is probably the only way they know how to operate at this point in their lives.

I think I was 13 when Ten came out. That was a LONG time ago.

They probably just want to keep the pot warm, so they don't have to call it a "reunion" when they find a spark down the road.

...and I am sure they money is nice.

[bodysnatcher]

Pearl Jam, Inc. provides them a very comfortable living. And like Mike said, a living for everyone under their wing... fan club, management, touring team, etc. There's no way they are giving that up any time soon. If this band is nothing else, I think it's fair to say that they are caring, especially to the people close to them. Even if they're creative output continues to wane, a couple of 2-week tours every year will continue to provide enough support for everyone involved.

Which isn't to say that's a recipe for good music. That's obvious. But music, nonetheless. At this point in their lives, they aren't gonna kill the cash cow. Who on earth would do that?

[stip]

This is how I picture it going when they present each other with new songs now:

guys, this next record is going to be adorable!

[EJ]

Pearl Jam, Inc. provides them a very comfortable living. And like Mike said, a living for everyone under their wing... fan club, management, touring team, etc. There's no way they are giving that up any time soon. If this band is nothing else, I think it's fair to say that they are caring, especially to the people close to them. Even if they're creative output continues to wane, a couple of 2-week tours every year will continue to provide enough support for everyone involved.

Which isn't to say that's a recipe for good music. That's obvious. But music, nonetheless. At this point in their lives, they aren't gonna kill the cash cow. Who on earth would do that?

Agree with all of this. The only one I could've seen leaving would have been Jeff a few years ago. But, at this point, I don't think he'd even do that.

[BurtReynolds]

Pearl Jam, Inc. provides them a very comfortable living. And like Mike said, a living for everyone under their wing... fan club, management, touring team, etc. There's no way they are giving that up any time soon. If this band is nothing else, I think it's fair to say that they are caring, especially to the people close to them. Even if they're creative output continues to wane, a couple of 2-week tours every year will continue to provide enough support for everyone involved.

Which isn't to say that's a recipe for good music. That's obvious. But music, nonetheless. At this point in their lives, they aren't gonna kill the cash cow. Who on earth would do that?

It would be a lot easier to complain about their lack of drive if they were blowing their money on cars or something. Their philanthropy kinda makes me hate them even more.

[E.H. Ruddock]

What are they saying about this over at the Pit?

[bodysnatcher]

Pearl Jam, Inc. provides them a very comfortable living. And like Mike said, a living for everyone under their wing... fan club, management, touring team, etc. There's no way they are giving that up any time soon. If this band is nothing else, I think it's fair to say that they are caring, especially to the people close to them. Even if they're creative output continues to wane, a couple of 2-week tours every year will continue to provide enough support for everyone involved.

Which isn't to say that's a recipe for good music. That's obvious. But music, nonetheless. At this point in their lives, they aren't gonna kill the cash cow. Who on earth would do that?

It would be a lot easier to complain about their lack of drive if they were blowing their money on cars or something. Their philanthropy kinda makes me hate them even more.

The first time I met Jeff about 15 years ago, he rode up on a bike. That guy could have been driving a Delorean if he wanted to. A DELOREAN.

[bodysnatcher]

What are they saying about this over at the Pit?

I don't know

[BurtReynolds]

Pearl Jam, Inc. provides them a very comfortable living. And like Mike said, a living for everyone under their wing... fan club, management, touring team, etc. There's no way they are giving that up any time soon. If this band is nothing else, I think it's fair to say that they are caring, especially to the people close to them. Even if they're creative output continues to wane, a couple of 2-week tours every year will continue to provide enough support for everyone involved.

Which isn't to say that's a recipe for good music. That's obvious. But music, nonetheless. At this point in their lives, they aren't gonna kill the cash cow. Who on earth would do that?

It would be a lot easier to complain about their lack of drive if they were blowing their money on cars or something. Their philanthropy kinda makes me hate them even more.

The first time I met Jeff about 15 years ago, he rode up on a bike. That guy could have been driving a Delorean if he wanted to. A DELOREAN.

lol He's basically an asshole for not buying a Delorean.