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Why Pearl Jam Refused to Make Music Videos at the Height of Their Fame

Following their successful debut album in 1991, Pearl Jam refused to make music videos, claiming they ruin the listeners’ experience.

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In 1991, members of Soundgarden and future members of Pearl Jam came together to honor their friend, Andrew Wood. He was the frontman of the Seattle-pioneering grunge band Mother Love Bone. In March 1990, Wood tragically died of an overdose. His roommate, Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, penned songs in tribute to and inspired by his friend. Under the name Temple Of The Dog, Cornell brought together guitarists Mike McCready and Stone Gossard, and bassist Jeff Ament.

Around the same time, they received a demo tape of a singer from Southern California named Eddie Vedder. Impressed with his vocals, they flew Vedder to Seattle to audition for the band. While there, Vedder lent vocals to the Temple Of The Dog track “Hunger Strike”, as the band was in the middle of recording the tribute album.

Soon after the recording sessions, Vedder, McCready,........

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