Essay on Favorite Music Band: Pearl Jam

In the 1990's, plenty of music which had been considered underground, punk, or unordinary in the 80´s could all of the sudden be found everywhere: Whether it was on television, the radio, in stores, and stadiums. Bands were springing up with new sounds the public had never heard before. Many were captivated by the protrusive energy that was produced by these new songs. With the spotlight on a new era of rock music and its other denominations, bands were able to spark a heavy influence on listeners. Bands like Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden from the late 80's into the 90's had an influential role in the foundations of other sounds, social issues, and shaped the music scene in their cities and beyond.

Kicking things off with a Band formed in 1987 out of Seattle, Alice in Chains had a plethora of influence on the sound and foundations of other bands. In a research document on the range of influence bands of this time had, Alice in Chains is said to have ¨contributed the melodic, mid-tempo in vocals and instrumentation, mixing blues, sludge, heavy metal, and grunge altogether in one sound. Because of that, grunge became popular, and it influenced young musicians¨ (Engelbert). Their songs ¨Man in the Box¨ and ¨Would¨ were considered their most influential because of their intensity and emotion. Layne Staley, the original lead singer of Alice in chains was known for his distinctive vocal style, combining the voice of guitarist Jerry Cantrell to harmonize vocals. With all of these elements working together, the band was able to sell over 14 million records in the United States and over 30 million worldwide (“About: Alice in Chains). Needless to say that the band made tremendous strides in the 90’s, paving the way for similar musicians and providing for many fans.

Pearl Jam is another band of the 90’s era that is a favorite of many. Though they had much influence on sound similar to Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam focused also on social issues and continue to do so to this day. Songs on their debut studio album Ten like “Black” showcase lyrics that highlight the importance of mental health (“How Pearl Jam Turned Angst Into Activism”). There was also an MTV unplugged performance in 1992 where Eddie Vedder (frontman) proceeded to write pro choice down the length of his arm while performing the song “Porch”. The song became widely associated with abortion though it is not clear whether or not the song aims toward the subject. Moving forward to 2010 Eddie Vedder is still working with communities to create change, in this year he founded the Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Partnership (EBRP). EB is a genetic disorder which causes the skin to blister or tear easily. “The Vedders have a personal connection to EB; Jill’s childhood friend has a son with the condition. As soon as the couple learned about the devastating disease, they knew they had to get involved and help find a cure.” (Demarco) stated in an article about WE day in California. Pearl Jam is still alive and performing today surprisingly, and are still using their voice as social representation.

Soundgarden, the earliest formed band of these three in 1984 made their debut in Seattle, Washington. Starting off playing for maybe 20 people in run down bars, Soundgarden would eventually consume Seattle with their hard-hitting sound. “...the Ditto Tavern, one of their homes. Seeing them there early on, you had the sense they truly had something, but there honestly would be only a dozen people in the audience.” (Cross). This was a personal encounter that Cross had written about so it is no doubt that Soundgarden was a diamond in the rough in their early years. Chris Cornell, Soundgarden’s frontman, had unmatched musical talent and a sort of magnetism which would set him up to make friends in the grunge scene. Future stars like Mother Love Bone’s Andrew Wood and Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam were elevated and mentored in a sense just through his presence (“How Chris Cornell Shaped Seattle Music”).Without an influence such as Cornell, it would have been near impossible for some of the stars to be where they are now.

Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, along with others not mentioned influenced many different types of people. It’s evident that these bands, a favorite among many around the world, set the ball in motion for new sounds, the awareness and aid for social issues, and the progression of the music scene within their own city limits and beyond. It is important to have figures like this in society in order to move forward into new ideologies and practices.