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

[bodysnatcher]

Most fans (surpassingly not on this board) don't need the band to give a shit. They probably collect/listen to a fraction of the music you or any of us do. They just want new material that provides the basics and an occasional show to hear the hits. They don't need to give much, because they don't need much.

I probably saw my last Pearl Jam show in San Diego 2013.

That was my last show too. And I won't go again for some time. I let both my fan club memberships lapse last month that I've had since 1997. Feels like I'm watching a cover band. It's odd to see how passionate the fans are when it's clear the band could give a shit. It's all too strange.

I would probably see EV solo again though, maybe.

Agreed. It hit me when I decided not to drive 3 hours to see them again in Vancouver in '13 because I didn't want to sit in the border crossing line. I wouldn't have hesitated in years past.

[BurtReynolds]

I'm pretty sure I read almost all of these above messages, verbatim, between 96-99 on old PJ message boards from Ten/Vs fans who were mad about how the mid-94-98 PJ were going. "They don't even move around on stage anymore" .... "they don't care like they used to" .... "they're phoning it in" .... "what the hell is Who You Are" ... blah blah blah. They hated it. This shit is nothing new, it's just what happens with bands that last this long. Oh, and Backspacer is the shiznit.

That doesn't really mean anything. People always have opinions, usually based on jack shit. But I think there is a strong case based on interviews and actions that they aren't as invested. I mean, they are millionaires with side projects, families, causes, etc; of course they're not as invested! Why would they be!? Saying people were wrong before isn't a good argument.

That said, why be angry about it? They don't owe anybody shit. If they want to play a few shows a year or shit out a few songs every now and then, more power to them I guess. Someone will like it.

[stip]

probably me.

[BurtReynolds]

probably me.

[McParadigm]

Surprise! This was all just laying context for a "most stip posts" event.



Cue the balloons.

[McParadigm]

Good work people. You can all go home, or you can stay for the after party.

That's not an open bar.

[Kevin Davis]

I have decided: I have reached the point, this 15th day of September, in the year of Our Lord 2015, at which I no longer possess the desire to speculate on the future of the rock band Pearl Jam, on what they need to do to be good again, what producers they need to hire, what kinds of songs they need to be writing to capture their current strengths, et cetera et cetera. It's been a good run, the band truly owes me nothing, and the redundant speculation has become more tiresome than simply putting up with the occasional disappointment. So let the Brendan O'Brien-produced chips fall where they may, and let me be held accountable should I ever succumb to such conversational temptation again.

[BurtReynolds]

you'll be back. they always come back.

[Kevin Davis]

I need you to keep me honest, Burt

[Chris_H_2]

who's christian?

[Kevin Davis]

who's christian?

One of Eddie's surfing buddies. Mike is just so out of the loop that he forgets who is and isn't actually part of the Pearl Jam camp.

[BurtReynolds]

We're all getting older. The memory is going. if we don't restate our opinions every couple of weeks, how will we remember them? For instance, I can't remember if people think ST sounds brickwalled or not. I don't think we've talked about that in about 2 weeks.

[Chris_H_2]

who's christian?

One of Eddie's surfing buddies. Mike is just so out of the loop that he forgets who is and isn't actually part of the Pearl Jam camp.

sounds about right -- one of ed's surfing buddies making decisions about re-issues. god i hate this band sometimes.

[bodysnatcher]

a Binaural reissue with BoB doing the remastering would be the nail in the coffin.

[lowlight79]

a Binaural reissue with BoB doing the remastering would be the nail in the coffin.

That's would be the only way. Tchad Blake and the band from what I heard are not on good terms. I'm sorry but someone said they almost hate the band for all the good things they try to do, that has to be the dumbest thing I have heard in a long time.

[given2trade]

I have decided: I have reached the point, this 15th day of September, in the year of Our Lord 2015, at which I no longer possess the desire to speculate on the future of the rock band Pearl Jam, on what they need to do to be good again, what producers they need to hire, what kinds of songs they need to be writing to capture their current strengths, et cetera et cetera. It's been a good run, the band truly owes me nothing, and the redundant speculation has become more tiresome than simply putting up with the occasional disappointment. So let the Brendan O'Brien-produced chips fall where they may, and let me be held accountable should I ever succumb to such conversational temptation again.

Wait, you have been holding out hope that shit might get good again? LOL

[Yeddie Yedder]

a Binaural reissue with BoB doing the remastering would be the nail in the coffin.

...yes, and that coffin would be thrown into mount doom.

[bada]

I have decided: I have reached the point, this 15th day of September, in the year of Our Lord 2015, at which I no longer possess the desire to speculate on the future of the rock band Pearl Jam, on what they need to do to be good again, what producers they need to hire, what kinds of songs they need to be writing to capture their current strengths, et cetera et cetera. It's been a good run, the band truly owes me nothing, and the redundant speculation has become more tiresome than simply putting up with the occasional disappointment. So let the Brendan O'Brien-produced chips fall where they may, and let me be held accountable should I ever succumb to such conversational temptation again.

Wait, you have been holding out hope that shit might get good again? LOL

That's so 2007.

[BurtReynolds]

I hope Mike doesn't read this thread. He seems like a really nice guy.

[Birds in Hell]

I hope Mike doesn't read this thread. He seems like a really nice guy.

He really does.

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?

I think this is spot-on.

I imagine it's a pretty enjoyable way to make a living.