Pearl Jam rock the O2

The grunge veterans pay tribute to Michael Jackson

19 Aug 2009 - Long-time fans of 90s grunge veterans, Pearl Jam, were out in force last night (August 18) to see the band conclude the European leg of their tour at London's O2 Arena. 

From the outset, every lyric and nuance rang out as if it were 1991 all over again and fans were seeing Pearl Jam at the time their debut, Ten, which propelled them into the hearts and minds of music lovers all over the world.

The tour was in aid of promoting their ninth offering, Backspacer - out 21 September - but the band played only a handful of well-received new tracks, including Supersonic and Got Some.

The record's first single, The Fixer, is already proving a favourite as a fair share of the audience sang along, nodding contentedly to its pop leanings.

However, the bulk of the extensive set list drew from their back catalogue and included Even Flow, Black, Why Go, Alive, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town and Leave Now.

Fans were also treated to a cover of The Who's Love Reign O'er Me, which saw Eddie Vedder give Roger Daltrey's impassioned vocals a run for their money.

"They're still rocking after all these years and I'm so glad we came down." Sarah, Pearl Jam fan

Early on, Vedder recalled their first ever London show, at the Borderline in 1992, where the set list was only eight songs long.

Fans were elated when he said they'd be playing for "much longer" than that, but they probably didn't expect the three hour-long extravaganza of mind-bending rock that ensued.

The band managed to grab the vast and sometimes soulless O2 Arena by its horns and actually make the venue seem - dare I say it - intimate.

Every inch was filled with the band’s radiating energy and onstage chemistry; a mix of furious guitar riffs, driving drums and Vedder's sublime baritone vocals and warm growls.

After over 20 years in the industry, Vedder showed no signs of slowing down, hanging off the microphone and rocking out in front of a fitting backdrop of waves.

Jacko tribute

After a false start, which he admitted messing up, he performed a mini solo of Michael Jackson's Ben.

He then launched head first into the first verse of Rats, off their 1993 sophomore album, Vs.

Vedder said that particular track was dedicated "to a man who was supposed to take to this stage and do what he did," alluding to Jackson's 50-date residency.

"Life is precious and none of it lasts long enough," choked the singer when he paid another tribute, to the late Jeff Johnson.

Pearl Jam once faced criticism from Kurt Cobain, of their early grunge rivals, Nirvana, for being commercial sellouts in the vein of "corporate" rock.

The O2, with its boxes along the central axis, could be seen as an ideal house for the latter but there was nothing "corporate" about this affair.

It was first class, full throttle, classic stadium rock that will not be forgotten in a hurry.

Fans' verdict

With 60 million albums sold, it's no surprise tickets for this show sold out in just 17 minutes and it seems fans went away extremely satisfied.

"We were in the rafters back at the top but the sound was absolutely amazing," said Paul to 6 Music after the show.

"It really felt like you were at a small gig, that you were right at the front, it was very intimate."

Sarah, who got a ticket at the last minute, said: "I just love him [Eddie Vedder], he's amazing. They're still rocking after all these years and I'm so glad we came down."

"Not quite what you would expect from Pearl Jam, which was good," admitted Noel Murphy. "They played Rats, I never expected that - absolutely brilliant."

While Clare told us: "It was raw, it was tight, the best I've ever seen them play. They perform like they care, not because it's a job and that's the best thing."

Georgie Rogers