Today in Music History: 25 years of Pearl Jam
October 22, 2015
History Highlight:
Today in 1990, Pearl Jam played their first-ever concert, held at the Off Ramp Café in Seattle. At the time, the band operated under the name Mookie Blaylock, named for an NBA player; they signed to Epic Records and changed their name to Pearl Jam shortly thereafter. Except for then-drummer Dave Krusen, the rest of the band's lineup is the same as it is today: Eddie Vedder (lead vocals), Mike McCready (lead guitar), Stone Gossard (rhythm guitar) and Jeff Ament (bass). A blocky VHS video of the band's very first gig can be viewed on YouTube.
Also, Today In:
1966 - "Good Vibrations" by The Beach Boys made its debut in the U.S. singles chart. It would reach No. 1 by December.
1966 - The Supremes had their first U.S. No.1 album with The Supremes a Go Go, knocking The Beatles Revolver from the top of the charts. It was the first No. 1 album by an all-women group.
1988 - Phil Collins started a two-week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with his cover of "A Groovy Kind Of Love," his sixth U.S. No. 1. The song was originally released by the Mindbenders in 1965, reaching No. 2 in the Billboard charts in May and July of 1966.
1998 - For the first time since the 1960s, Bob Dylan performed in his hometown of Duluth. The gig, held at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center, sold out in five hours.
2000 - Pearl Jam appeared at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, celebrating the 10th anniversary of their first live performance as a band.
Birthdays:
Bassist Cris Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets is 55.
Shaggy (born Orville Richard Burrell) is 47.