Eddie Vedder

Eddie Vedder is an American musician and lead singer and guitarist for the grunge band Pearl Jam. His name is often associated with deceased rocker Kurt Cobain, whose band Nirvana, like Pearl Jam, has been recognized for spearheading the grunge and alternative rock movements in Seattle, Washington in the early 1990s. Eddie Vedder released his first solo album in 2007, the soundtrack for Sean Penn's film Into the Wild, and followed up with a short tour in the Spring.

Fast Facts

1. Full Name: Edward Louis Severson III
2. Birth Date: December 23, 1964
3. Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois
4. Lead Singer of Pearl Jam
5. Grew up outside of Chicago and in San Diego, California
6. Is open about his liberal views and political activism
7. Plays the ukulele, harmonica, accordian, and electric sitar
8. Wrote the Pearl Jam song "Better Man" while in high school
9. Is a vegetarian

Background

Eddie Vedder grew up in the suburbs outside of Chicago, Illinois, then moved to San Diego, California with his family in the mid 1970s. When he turned 12, his mother gave him a guitar, thus altering the course of musical history. Music became his outlet, and during and after high school he began recording demo tapes and playing in local bands. He sites The Who's Quadrophenia as a major influence.

Pearl Jam

In 1990 Seattle musicians Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament of Mother Love Bone were putting together a new band and looking for a singer. Eddie Vedder's friend and former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons gave Vedder their demo tape, which he listened to before going out to surf. While surfing he came up with lyrics for three of the songs, which he sent to Gossard and Ament, who were impressed enough to ask him to Seattle to audition.

Eddie Vedder got the job, and along with Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, and Dave Krusen formed Pearl Jam, releasing their first studio album Ten in 1991. Since its inception over eighteen years ago, Pearl Jam has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide.

Political Activist

Eddie Vedder has always been outspoken about his liberal views, often incorporating his social commentary into his lyrics. He is not shy about vocalizing his ideas and concerns during Pearl Jam concerts either, which he did during the 2000 election when he announced his support for Ralph Nader. An animal rights activist and avid surfer, he is an advocate for the Surfrider Foundation, which focuses on surfing-related conservation.

In 2000, Eddie Vedder joined another cause alongside such musicians as Henry Rollins, Jello Biafra, the Superuckers and Marilyn Manson in an effort to free the West Memphis Three. In 1994 three teenagers in Arkansas were convicted of murdering three ten-year-old boys, but many believe they are innocent and were not given a fair trial. Even without physical DNA evidence, one of the teenagers, Damian Echols, was given the death penalty. Musicians like Eddie Vedder have joined forces to raise money for their defense funds by staging benefit concerts, auctioning off instruments and front row tickets to their shows, and recording benefit albums.

Into the Wild

Having previously collaborated with Sean Penn for songs on the soundtrack for Dead Man Walking and I Am Sam, Eddie Vedder was excited to pen the Into the Wild Soundtrack, his first solo album. He went on to win the 2007 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for "Guaranteed."

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