With Pearl Jam Destination Weekend, September 3-4 at Alpine Valley, now just days away, Pearl Jam will be returning to the stage after a 314-day break – their last live performance being October 24, 2010 at the Bridge School Benefit.

314 days! That’s a lot of time, but this begs the question: “Is this the longest they’ve ever gone without playing a show?” The answer, believe it or not, is no; and, it’s not even in the top 5! We’ve calculated the longest breaks between studio albums; now Andrew Brenner takes a look at the five longest breaks in Pearl Jam history.

• 409 days: October 22, 2001 -> December 5, 2002
• 403 days: July 1, 2008 – August 8, 2009
• 385 days: October 10, 1998 -> October 30, 1999
• 352 days: November 25, 1996 – November 12, 1997
• 347 days: November 6, 2000 – October 20, 2001
• 314 days: October 14, 2010 – September 3, 2011 – current!

A quick note. In order for a performance to be considered a “show,” we’re using the criteria of at least a 30-minute set where the entire band is present. Therefore, most TV appearances do not qualify, but Bridge School sets do.

409 days: October 22, 2001 -> December 5, 2002

After Pearl Jam’s 11th anniversary show, a benefit for hunger October 22, 2001, “Groundwork 2001″, the band embarked on what would be the longest break from live shows in their history. October 22, 2001, would be one of the most unique sets of Pearl Jam’s career, a 50 minute smorgasboard notable for the electric debut of “I Am Mine” and the only time “Long Road” has ever closed a set, guested by Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. With the exception of the band (sans Stone) opening for the Who at the House of Blues in Chicago on September 23, 2002, and a rare back-to-back performance on Letterman November 14-15, Pearl Jam would go 409 days between shows.

So what did they do with their break? Well, there was a small Brad tour at the end of November of ’01, some Brad promo shows in August of ’02, and a full out Brad tour in October. Ed was busy playing the random solo gigs here and there, and Matt was working on what would become Wellwater Conspiracy’s 4th and final album. In all of this, Pearl Jam was able to find the time to get together and record Riot Act, which would feature the most songs on any Pearl Jam album to date. The band returned to the stage with a pair of club shows at the legendary Showbox in Seattle. Arguably the toughest ticket in Pearl Jam history, at the Showbox, Seattle, WA, December 5, 2002 would be a little sloppy, with Ed by the end of the show apologizing to fans for paying $36 to watch the band rehearse. The show is notable, however, for the live debut of seven songs off of Riot Act, as well as eventual fan favorite “Down.” It also showed the band had thought about polishing off some of its older material during their break, as “Blood” was played for the first time since March 15, 1998 Brisbane, Australia (a 131 show gap).

403 days: July 1, 2008 -> August 8, 2009

Much like the 2001-2002 break, the last show before this one was a benefit show, a gig for the Robin Hood Foundation at New York’s legendary Beacon Theatre, July 1, 2008. The Beacon show is unique in many ways, including being the only show to open with “Low Light,” the fourth playing of “Undone”, and the last full version of “W.M.A.” “Harvest Moon” was played for the first time without “the Sleater-Kinney chorus” and it has not appeared on a setlist since. “Who You Are” and “Masters of War” have also disappeared from Pearl Jam setlists since this show, so clearly the end of the 2008 tour represents a turning of the page.

The break period represents a rather quiet time for the band, in terms of public appearances. Pearl Jam would appear on July 12, 2008, for the taping of “VH1′s Rock Honors: the Who”, playing “Love, Reign O’er Me,” and their first full cover of “The Real Me.” The band spend considerable time in the studio during the break, coming back with Backspacer, released on September 20th. Backspacer would go on to become the band’s most critically-acclaimed album of the decade, and earned the band two Grammy nominations, their first since “Grievance” in 2001.

August 8, 2009, Calgary, AB, marks the kickoff of one of Pearl Jam’s more interesting years, and it’s also got a notable setlist. “The Fixer” and “Got Some”, soon to become live staples, make their live debuts, and “Brother” is played for the first confirmed time since February 7, 1991 (as Mookie Blaylock) – FAR AND AWAY the longest gap between renditions of any song in the Pearl Jam catalog. “The Real Me” was played for the first time at a Pearl Jam show, but there were few other notable aspects to this show.

385 days: October 10, 1998 -> October 30, 1999

Like the two predecessors on this list, Pearl Jam capped off their 1998 tour with an unscheduled performance. In this case, repaying a favor with an unannounced opening gig for Cheap Trick at Seattle’s Crocodile Café, October 10, 1998. Despite a nearly 3 week layoff, Pearl Jam plays a super-tight 50 minute set to cap off one of their most successful years, and the show would turn out to be their last electric show of the decade. Most notable is that after this show, it will be 150 shows until the return of “All Those Yesterdays” on July 11, 2003, Mansfield, MA.

The break would be used well, as most of the songs for Binaural would be written during this time. Jeff took a chance to do a two month club tour with Three Fish, following the release of their second album, Quiet Table. Stone spent a little time with Brad, working on some of the songs that would appear on Welcome to Discovery Park; he was also working on some of the material that would later appear on his solo album Bayleaf during this period. Mike took a break from the band to deal with some personal issues, while Matt was in the studio working on Wellwater Conspiracy’s second album, Brotherhood of Electric: Operational Directives.

Ed was, as always, a busy bee. At some point during the break, Ed began toying around with a ukulele, though it’s unclear how many of the songs on the Uke demos he recorded in 2000 were written during this time. He played 5 shows with local band C-Average, the biggest of which was as at the Tibetan Freedom Concert, marking the 3rd straight year that he had appeared at the festival. The highlight of Ed’s “summer break,” however, was a show with C-Average on July 14th, 1999, where they played a set entirely of Who covers. He would also finally make a dream come true by appearing as a special guest at two intimate Pete Townshend solo shows, as well as offering backing vocals on Pete’s July 28, 1999, Letterman appearance.

Pearl Jam returned to the stage for the 1999 Bridge School Benefit, October 30-31, playing both nights. The first night saw the debut of “Thin Air,” in an otherwise standard Bridge set; however, the true highlight of the night came when the full band returned to the stage for the final jam, a cover of Dylan’s classic “I Shall Be Released.” The second night opens with the debut of “Nothing As It Seems,” still unique in the Pearl Jam catalog for its slow, bluesy opening. Mike wears a silver mask, and Ed dedicates a special version of “Last Kiss” to his friend Maricor. While not an incredible set of shows by any means, they mark a band in transition as the new millennium nears, and 2000 will be a very important year in the band’s history.

If you take out these two acoustic shows, between October 10, 1998 and May 10, 2000, Bellingham, WA, Pearl Jam would not play a non-acoustic show for 578 days.

352 days: November 25, 1996 -> November 12, 1997

The 1996 tour ended with a huge bang November 25, 1996, Cascais, Portugal, with Pearl Jam putting on an epic show. “Who You Are” opened for the only time in its history; after this show it would be played only twice on the Australian leg of the 1998 tour before disappearing for over a decade until June 11, 2008. “Hunger Strike” appears; it would only do so again twice in the next 7 years. “Sometimes” is played in the middle of the set, the last time it has done so at a regular show. “Tremor Christ” makes its last appearance as a setlist regular, never returning to its 1996 frequency after this show. “Yellow Ledbetter” is played 2nd to last, something that has happened only a handful of times since.

Here is where you’ll see a pattern develop. During Pearl Jam’s break from the road, Stone would play two months of shows with Brad, Ed would make a few solo appearances here and there, and Pearl Jam would record an album; in this case, Yield. 1997 would be a quiet touring year for Pearl Jam, until they were asked to open four shows for the mighty Rolling Stones at Oakland Stadium in November. As a warmup, the band plays a “surprise” show, billed as the Honking Seals at the Catalyst, a club in Santa Cruz, November 12, 1997. The show kicks off the Yield era, with “Given to Fly,” “Wishlist,” and “Do the Evolution” making their live debuts; all three songs would go on to become arena sing-alongs and standards of the Pearl Jam catalog. “Brain of J” returns reborn after its November 1995 appearances as “Brain of JFK.” Originally a standard in ’98, the song has appeared less and less with each successive tour. Still, this warmup show gives fans a good gauge of where the band is headed in their monster 1998 tour.

347 days: November 6, 2000 -> October 20, 2001

2000 was arguably the most difficult year in Pearl Jam’s history, and in terms of actual touring, it would be followed by the longest break in the group’s career; there would be no real tour again til 2003. As such, what a way to end it. November 6, 2000, Key Arena, Seattle, WA, sits in the pantheon of all-time Pearl Jam shows. The clear highlight of this show was the triumphant return of “Alive,” which returned after a 47-show gap, the longest in the song’s history. As the song that was next on the setlist when the Roskilde tragedy occurred, the song had been put into storage, and its emergence signaled the band turning the page; it was a cathartic moment for both band and fans perhaps unmatched in Pearl Jam’s live career. Many of the Binaural songs would fade into obscurity after this show, most notably “Light Years,” which was played at 46 of the 74 2000 shows, and has only been played 28 times since. “Evacuation” and “Parting Ways” were never setlist regulars, but both have been played only 8 times since. This show marked the definitive end of an era.

The break was pretty quiet for much of the band, and they didn’t spend much time in the studio. Ed, as always, was most active, showing up at a Who show on November 27, 2000 in London, guesting on five songs. In April of 2001, he joined Neil Finn’s all-star band for a 4-night stand at the St. James Theatre in Auckland, New Zealand, highlights of which would later be released on DVD and CD as Seven Worlds Collide. He also made a stop at a Ben Harper show to guest on “Indifference” while he made the rounds down under.

Matt took to the road with Wellwater Conspiracy in the summer of 2001, and Ed guested at two of their shows. Stone, per usual, got in a few Brad shows, and Mike even showed up on his own at the San Diego Street Scene Festival in September. There’s no need to rehash the horrible tragedy of 9/11, but Ed, Mike, and guest Neil Young offered up one of the more haunting performances of “Long Road” on the Tribute to Heroes special on September 21, 2001.

As we’ve seen throughout Pearl Jam’s career, however, all roads lead to Bridge. October 20-21, 2001 was the band’s fifth Bridge School appearance, and the band has since returned three more times, plus an Ed solo appearance in 2004. “Gimme Some Truth,” “Driftin’,” and the Mike McCready-penned “Last Soldier” all debut on October 20, and Ben Harper guests with Pearl Jam on “Indifference” for the first time since September 11, 1998. Ed’s 9/11 inspired song “I Am Mine” would debut at the October 21 show, as would “Low Light”, becoming the last Yield song to be played live (“Red Dot” and the hidden track don’t count, nitpickers). After playing for a 3rd straight day on October 22 at the aforementioned Groundwork Benefit, Pearl Jam would again take a long breather from the road, taking a 409 day break between shows. In all, between November 6, 2000 and December 5, 2002, Pearl Jam would play only 3 short sets in 756 days (only one of them electric, and an abbreviated set at that). Luckily for us, a break of that length has never been repeated, and our boys will be back on stage September 3rd after only 314 days off.

Concert Chronology

For more live Pearl Jam concert history, check out the Pearl Jam Concert Chronology.

Neil Young + Kate Bush – Grandma Pearl = Pearl Jam

The New Name is…

Pearl Jam's first artwork

The band that formed around the nucleus of Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready and Eddie Vedder may have come together and played its first show in October of 1990, but “Pearl Jam” was officially born on the same day that Jeff celebrated his 28th birthday — exactly 20 years ago today: March 10, 1991.

It was on that chilly pre-Spring day back at the tail end of the Gulf War that the guys told the world they’d shed the moniker “Mookie Blaylock” and donned the name “Pearl Jam”, announcing it on that day on DJ Damon Stewart’s “New Music Hour” radio show on KISW.  Around the same time (possibly giving the interview the next day), they also announced it in the Seattle music alt-monthly paper, The Rocket.

And no, it didn’t have anything to do with that made-up old tall tale Ed loved telling the press in the early days about his  “Grandma Pearl” and her hallucinogenic jam.

Use the player below to hear Eddie, Stone and Jeff with KISW’s Damon Stewart, March 10, 1991 or you can read the full transcript below.

Damon Stewart: New music guru Damon Stewart and some special guests here in the studio. A few months back we tried a “name the band” contest and well … let’s just go with this right now. (Break) Alright, here we are in the studio, they’re known as “Mookie Blaylock” but uh …

Jeff Ament: Not any more, we had some legal problems.

Damon Stewart: Some legal problems. Alright, Jeff, you wanna speak up and tell us what’s going on as far as “Mookie Blaylock”?

Jeff Ament: Well, we have a new name, and uh, maybe somebody else can let these people know about our new name.

Damon Stewart: Eddie, they’re looking at you.

Jeff Ament: I’ll be the transition guy

Eddie Vedder: Well, it actually wasn’t a legal (issue) … Mookie tried to take on all five of us at once (Jeff Ament: Meadowlands?) and kicked our butts. So the new name is … (pause) … Pearl Jam

Damon Stewart: Ok, so “Pearl Jam” the new name and you guys have a lot other stuff going on almost as we speak just getting underway. Correct?

Jeff Ament: Yeah, we’re going into the studio tomorrow to make our first album and we’ll have a single out in about six weeks, that will just be given out to everybody who wants it.

Damon Remembers

Click the Rhino above for more of TFT's articles celebrating 20 Years of Pearl Jam.

We caught up with Damon Stewart recently, to get his reflections on the moment 20 years ago when the band announced its name on his show.

TFT: Did you  think much about the name announcement at the time?

Damon Stewart: Yes…it doesn’t seem like it here, in this segment, but Ed explained the origins later in the interview. Plus, the new name had a ring to it. It’s funny to heat how I pronounced/enunciated “Pearl JAM.”

TFT: I know you had a lot of artists over the years come in and out, but was it unique to have Mookie Blayock / Pearl Jam come on air almost as they were being formed and blossom into this huge band?

Damon Stewart: For most of the bands I had in, yes, of course. But these guys had already established themselves with me and KISW via Mother Love Bone. It was a no brainer for both parties. It was unique in the sense that we all just knew this was something special. I’m lucky to have been a part of this amazing story, that continues to blossom, that is known as “Pearl Jam.” To do it on the airwaves of KISW, which was so influential to me growing up, made it that much more special. Thank You.

But why ‘Pearl Jam’?

Pearl Jam in The Rocket, April 1991

“We never really intended to keep Mookie Blaylock as a name. It wasn’t representative of the kind of music we play or of the vibe of the band” Jeff told writer Veronika Kalmar in the April 1991 issue of the Rocket, which hit the newsstands on March 25, just a couple of weeks after the interview took place at Seattle’s London Bridge studios, literally right as the TEN sessions began. Amusingly, the band’s first print interview as Pearl Jam finds the new players so fresh to the paper that Vedder’s name is spelled “Eddy” and drummer Dave gets his last name misspelled, “Crusin.”

It may have been Eddie Vedder who first said the name “Pearl Jam” publicly when he uttered it on Stewart’s radio show, but it was Ament — fittingly considering the date it was announced — who ultimately came up with PJ, partially inspired by a rock legend that would figure prominently in the band’s career.

“The first time I mentioned Pearl Jam [as a band name] was when Ed, Stone, and I were watching Sonic Youth play with Crazy Horse,” Jeff told Spin in 2001 about the February 22, 1991 Neil Young/Sonic Youth gig at New York’s Nassau Coliseum that the trio attended when in town to sign the new band’s record contract with Epic Records. “In the middle of Crazy Horse, Jeff continued, “I turned to Stone and said, ‘what about Pearl Jam?’”

As of their March 1, 1991 gig at the Off Ramp [see the handbill here], they were definitely still “Mookie Blaylock,” named after the New Jersey Nets basketball player whose name they adopted back in Oct. 1990 when they had to choose some kind of name to play their first show. A little more than a week later, they had entered London Bridge Studio to begin recording “Ten,” and they had decided on “Pearl Jam.”

“We had a list of words on a piece of paper that were around forever and ‘pearl’ was the word that I brought,” Jeff told Rolling Stone’s Brian Hiatt in an audio addenda to a 2006 feature. “And then I got it in my head that the name of the band had to be ‘Pearl Gaffa‘ because it was a word in a Kate Bush song ["Suspended in Gaffa"]. I didn’t know what it meant, but it sounded Germanic to me or something. It made ‘pearl’ sounded harder and sound weirder. It didn’t fly. So we were at a stalemate for a really long time. [Then] Stone and Ed and I came to New York to sign the contracts with Epic, and we found out that Neil Young was playing a show that night, and Social Distortion and Sonic Youth were opening that show. Social Distortion were on Epic at that point, so we asked if we could go see the show. It was during the ‘Arc’ tour. Us three went out to Nassau, and [Neil] played like three hours, nine songs. Every song a 15 or 20 minute jam, so that’s how ‘Jam’ got added on to it. It’s pretty cool that Neil Young had something to do with it.”

“Everybody loved ‘pearl,’” Jeff continued. “I think I got caught up in the idea that we had to have [two words]. I remember Andy [Wood, lead singer of Mother Love Bone] saying, at one point, that you couldn’t have a single word name. All the great bands had two words in the name.”

Thank You

A big thanks to former KISW DJ Damon Stewart! We’ll have more 1991 audio in the upcoming months.

Full Transcript: 3/10/91 KISW

Damon Stewart: New music guru Damon Stewart and some special guests here in the studio. A few months back we tried a “name the band” contest and well … let’s just go with this right now. (Break) Alright, here we are in the studio, they’re known as “Mookie Blaylock” but uh …

Jeff Ament: Not any more, we had some legal problems.

Damon Stewart: Some legal problems. Alright, Jeff, you wanna speak up and tell us what’s going on as far as “Mookie Blaylock”?

Jeff Ament: Well, we have a new name, and uh, maybe somebody else can let these people know about our new name.

Damon Stewart: Eddie, they’re looking at you.

Jeff Ament: I’ll be the transition guy

Eddie Vedder: Well, it actually wasn’t a legal (issue) … Mookie tried to take on all five of us at once (Jeff Ament: Meadowlands?) and kicked our butts. So the new name is … (pause) … Pearl Jam

Damon Stewart: Ok, so “Pearl Jam” the new name and you guys have a lot other stuff going on almost as we speak just getting underway. Correct?

Jeff Ament: Yeah, we’re going into the studio tomorrow to make our first album and we’ll have a single out in about six weeks, that will just be given out to everybody who wants it.

Damon Stewart: OK.

Jeff Ament: Containing three songs, “Alive”, new song called “Wash” and a cover of The Beatles’ “I’ve Got A Feeling” which was kind of a spontaneous …

Damon Stewart: In about a month, month and and a half, two months we’ll see that? (Jeff: Yeah, 6-8 weeks) Yeah, OK. We had an interesting letter come in here, Somebody requesting Mookie Blaylock, a girl named Patty Berger. You don’t know her do ya? Did you make her write this letter?

Jeff Ament: No, What’d she say?

Damon Stewart: Well, here’s how it goes, “Dear Damon Stewart, it seems that many of us out here in the listening world has (sic) suddenly become very attached to a band named “Mookie Blaylock”. Unfortunately as of yet they don’t have anything released that the general public can get a hold of and it doesn’t look like they have any upcoming shows, so I’m asking out of the kindness of your heart, that you play play play them. Take care, Patty Berger.” By the way guys, do you have any upcoming shows?

Jeff Ament: Not for a probably month and a half or so

Damon Stewart: Ok, so the next month and a half, two months we’ll see an EP released and some possible Pearl Jam shows.

Stone Gossard: Not an EP it’s just gonna be a cassette.

Damon Stewart: Just a cassette

Stone Gossard: A three-song cassette thing that you can get through the Love Bone fan club or …

Jeff Ament: … at shows. At the next show we play we’ll probably have copies to give to people.

Damon Stewart: That’d be cool. So, Patti and her friends can come out and hassle you guys for a tape

Jeff Ament: In april, early May …

Damon Stewart: OK. Late April or Early May, be on the lookout for Pearl Jam to do another live show and be on the lookout for their forthcoming cassingle release. This one’s called “Release”, It’s Pearl Jam on the KISW New Music Hour…

“Buy me some peanuts and crack…
I don’t care if I never get back”
- Eddie Vedder, May 14, 2006

Opening Day of the 2010 Major League Baseball Season in the US/Canada is underway, and hardcore baseball fans will now sweat over every pitch and hit for the next eight months.  While we’ve covered many Pearl Jam baseball connections before, we thought we’d focus this Seeker on the listing of those Major League players who use Pearl Jam for their “Walk-Up” or “Entrance” music, i.e. the music played when a better comes to bat.

Jason Bay

New York Mets – OF

This New York Mets Outfielder is using “The Fixer” as his walk-up music.  Does the name sound familiar? At the June 23, 2006 Pearl Jam show at Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA, Eddie implored the fans to vote for Jason – then with the Pittsburgh Pirates – onto that year’s All-Star team roster.  Special thanks to Metsgrrl!

Lyle Overbay

Toronto Blue Jays – 1B

This Toronto Blue Jays First Baseman has used many Pearl Jam songs for his entrance over the last few years, including “Alive”, “Jeremy” and “Even Flow”

Are you reading this in your seat on opening day or sitting on your couch enjoying the game? Use the comment field below to send additions and we’ll add them to this article!

Super Sonics

The Seattle Supersonics were an NBA Basketball team from 1967 to 2008, before they relocated to Oklahoma as the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Oooooh … “Thunder” … scary!

What’s scarier is how easily Seattle was left without a Basketball team. In the American sports world, Seattle is considered a small-market city; so when a sports franchise leaves your city, it is especially hard for fans to swallow.  In Seattle’s case, it now leaves them with only a few professional sports teams – Seattle Mariners (baseball) and Seattle Seahawks (football) and the Seattle Sounders (soccer) – no Hockey, and of course, no Basketball.

Now when arguably the biggest Seattle rock band loved the Supersonics, you can imagine the opportunity Pearl Jam had to voice their opinion. Thus, on September 21-22, 2009, Pearl Jam played the two nights at Seattle’s Key Arena – the former home of the Supersonics. Backspacer was released earlier in the week, and the synonymous track “Supersonic” was left off the setlist the first night, but was played as the first song of the Second Encore on night two. Ed introduced the song, segueing from a discussion about the absence of beer (the horror!) at Key Arena.

I’m reminded (that) you’re not allowed to buy beer in this place or bring it in here? (What’s) the deal? (Crowd boos). I came here to a Paul McCartney concert and … you couldn’t drink beer at a Paul McCartney concert?  Is there gonna be a riot?  Is he singing “all you need is love” and all you can think of is “all I need is a fucking beer”? I mean, why can’t you drink a beer at a Paul McCartney concert, but you can come here and drink beer at a Sonics game or something – oh no you can’t, sorry (crowd boos). More on that later, but I tell ya, I think the people here have spoken.  You gotta allow some beerdrinking in this room if they’re gonna go to an entertainment kinda event. (crowd cheers) The people have spoken and they have said “we – want – beer … and healthcare!”.  And ya know it’s one thing the Sonics left but they had to take their fucking banners with them?  They couldn’t leave us their banners?  I think we earned the banners….  So we have a song on this last record and it’s called “Supersonic” but tonight it’s gonna be “OTOTO” – one time one time only – tonight it’s gonna be called “Supersonics” with the lyrics specifically designed for the occasion.

The song was played note-for-note and here are Ed’s modified lyrics:

Yeah, my heart’s breaking – bought and sold
Feel like a virgin (that) got turned into a whore, yeah
You took the flags but I must let go
How deep you thinking about the love that you sold?

Supersonics going to my soul
I bought my ticket but the game was gone, yeah
Supersonics, truth be told
I don’t care about this to ever let this go

I’ve been bleeding the yellow and green
For years now you’re pissing all over me
Solidarity or so I thought
And now you’re telling me to just get fucked, yeah

Supersonics going to my soul
I bought my ticket but the game was gone, yeah
Supersonics, truth be told
I don’t care about this to wanna let you go, yeah
Supersonics how I hear it now
Won’t drink your coffee ’til you give back the ball, yeah

Thanks to YouTube’s mfc172 for the HD video complete with SBD audio:

Here’s some more Seattle Supersonics related minutia:

A 1994 VHS Home Video “NBA Superstars” featured Pearl Jam’s “Go” accompanying Supersonics’ legend Sean Kemp

A 2009 Seattle poster also featured Sean Kemp:

In a 2009 Interview with Gregg LaGambina from Shockhound, Jeff had some nice words about the relocated Oklahoma City Thunder team, but harsh words on the politics around the Supersonics move

SHOCKHOUND: As a fan of basketball, do you feel a certain karmic satisfaction that the Oklahoma City Thunder are currently in last place? [The Seattle Supersonics were sold last year and moved to Oklahoma.]

AMENT: Nah. I think, for me, I have a little bit of an attachment to those guys because I saw them play some games last year, but I’m mostly just down on pro sports. In particular, I’m down on the NBA. I just think pro sports in general, everything’s caught up to it, whether it’s steroids or the price of tickets or leagues holding cities hostage over building new stadiums and all the under-the-table deals that go along with that crap. I’m a sports fan, but everybody shouldn’t be taxed to build a stadium. Not everybody is using it and not everybody is getting benefits out of it. It’s just crazy that billionaires are holding cities hostage. In some ways it’s probably good that Seattle doesn’t have to deal with that now because those teams are just money pits right now. And it’s probably not the best time now to have a whole bunch of those.

Believe it or not, Michael Jackson, who the world is mourning after his sudden death yesterday, played a formative roll in both Eddie Vedder and Jeff Ament’s music life.

“At an early age, I realized music was a very powerful thing,” Jeff told Bass Player in 1994. “I’d hear Michael Jackson singing [1972's] “Ben” and it would make me cry and I’d have to go hide.”

While nine-year-old Jeff was reacting to MJ’s first solo No. 1 in Montana, seven-year-old Eddie over near Chicago counted the Jackson Five as one of his favorite groups. Eddie told Circus in 1992 that singing along to 12-year-old Michael Jackson was some of the first singing he ever attempted. “We had moved north of Chicago,” Eddie said. “And my parents became the new foster parents for seven kids in this group home. they were mostly African-American kids and some Irish kids. Most of these kids were around 11, and they were all full on Motown. That’s when I got into Smokey Robinson, James Brown, Otis Redding and the Jackson Five. I started singing to Michael Jackson records.” In the same article, Eddie notes that his first album was Michael Jackson’s 1972 album “Got To Be There.”

As all PJ fans know, these two unlikely fans paid homage to Michael Jackson twenty years later in the 1993 Pearl Jam song, “Rats.” The song is dominated by Jeff’s bass-heavy groove and it swings into a massive key shift at the end so that Eddie can repeatedly sing the chorus of “Ben.”

Just What is Pearl Jam’s Record Chart History? The re-visiting of the Pearl Jam back catalog starting with the re-issue of “Ten” on March 24^th, 2009, and the newsworthy entrance of 18-year-old song “Brother” into the Billboard charts got us wondering – just what is Pearl Jam’s record chart history?  What songs and albums charted, on what charts, and what were the peak positions? How many Number Ones does Pearl Jam really have?   Let’s explore!  We’re passionate about Pearl Jam here at TwoFeetThick.com, and we’re happy to let our PJ Geekdom flag fly high -and we loves us some stats.  So here’s a look at Pearl Jam’s relationship with the record-buying and radio-programming public, as documented by Billboard magazine over the years.

What does “having a song on the charts” mean, anyway? Yeah yeah, we know – it’s all about the music and the art and who cares about all this, really? Well, we care.  Selling records and getting them played on the radio is a huge measure of acceptance when you make music for a living – and besides playing live shows, it’s what helps a band be able to continue to create.  And we most surely want Pearl Jam to keep making music!  When a band starts out, having people buy and listen to the music created is one of the main motivators to making the art.   That Pearl Jam has been, and will continue to be recognized as the brilliant artists and musicians we think they are is kind of a big deal in our world! So that’s why we care.

Unquestionably the most accurate and respected recorded music chart in the industry, Billboard Magazine has been tracking and reporting U.S. sales and radio airplay of recorded music since 1936.  The “Hot 100″ chart debuted in 1958, and is the cross-genre music chart that is referenced when a song is reported to be a “Top Ten Hit”.  As a kid, I listened religiously to “America’s Top 40″ with Casey Kasem, which counted down the top 40 songs in America based on the Hot 100, so it holds a lot of weight in my world and has for many, many years. Our PJ boys have a long and rich history of charting on various Billboard charts – and there are many types of them!  All genres, all recording types…Billboard tracks it all. Their charts measure a mix of music distribution, and have evolved to include radio airplay, streaming, digital sales as well as physical sales.  So let’s have a look at how Pearl Jam figures into all of that.

In The Beginning:  When Did Pearl Jam debut on the Billboard charts? “Ten” was first detected by Billboard magazine’s radar on the “Heatseekers” chart published Nov. 2, 1991.  ”Heatseekers” are “the best-selling albums by new and developing acts”.  PJ debuted at No. 38 on that chart, right between 2nd II None and Electronic [a short-lived collaboration between Johnny Marr & Bernard Sumner of New Order]. That week, Gerald Levert’s “Private Line” was No. 1 on “Heatseekers”.  So from Ten’s release August 27, 1991, it took a bit over two months to enter the charts (charts are typically published a week prior to the date on the chart).   ”Ten” debuted on the Billboard 200 album chart on January 4, 1992 at Number 155, right above Travis Tritt.  The Billboard 200 is based on album sales only, and is the chart to which people refer when they say that an album is Top Ten or Number One.

Pearl Jam’s first single to chart was “Alive” on Jan. 11, 1992, reaching the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks, which tracks airplay. It entered at #32. U2 was No. 1 that week with “Mysterious Ways.”  Good company!  Ironically, “Alive” never entered the big singles chart, the Hot 100.

What is “Ten”‘s Chart History? “Ten” had a fascinating ride on the Billboard 200, remaining on the chart continuously for over four and a half years! When it last charted,  leaving the chart at #186 the week of October 12, 1996, “No Code” was at #10 on the same chart.  The album entered the Top Ten, jumping from #16 to #8, the week of May 20, 1992 – which seems to directly reflect the band’s appearance on MTV Unplugged May 13 of that year.  ”Ten”  peaked at #2 the week of August 22, 1992 – right smack dab in the middle of the band’s performance run at Lollapalooza, and around the same time the “Jeremy” video debuted and rocketed into heavy rotation on MTV. (#1 that week? Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Some Gave All”).  ”Ten” remained at #2 until the week of September 26, 1992, slipping to #3 (behind Eric Clapton at #2 and Billy Ray at #1).

Songs from “Ten” – how did they fare? “Alive” peaked at #16 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, #18 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart. “Evenflow” peaked at #3 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, #21 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.  ”Jeremy” peaked at #5 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, #5 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.

So how many Number Ones does Pearl Jam have? Our band topped the Billboard 200 album chart a few times:  ”Vs.” reached #1 November 6, 1993 – the week it debuted.  The album sales at that time were record-breaking, shifting 950,000-plus units the first week of release.  (Incidentally, “Vs.” sprinted ahead of Rush and Meatloaf, and knocked Nirvana’s “In Utero” down to #4 that week).  ”Vitalogy” peaked at #1 December 24, 1994, and “No Code” was #1 September 14, 1996.  Though Pearl Jam are always #1 to us,  the Billboard charts show a couple of  peaks in the #2 chart positions with “Yield” (February1998) and “Pearl Jam” (June 2007)

Songs that reached #1 (and the chart type):

1993   Daughter/Yellow Ledbetter  - Mainstream Rock Tracks

1994   Daughter – Mainstream Rock Tracks

1994   Daughter – Modern Rock Tracks

1995   Better Man – Mainstream Rock Tracks

1996   Who You Are – Modern Rock Tracks

1998   Given To Fly – Mainstream Rock Tracks

2006   World Wide Suicide – Modern Rock Track

2009   Brother – Hot Modern Rock Tracks

To date, Pearl Jam have appeared in the Top Ten of various Billboard charts 36 times. And counting!

Finally , here is Pearl Jam’s entire chart history in reverse order, culled into one handy little list (Courtesy Billboard.com)

Year Song Chart Peak

2009 Alive Hot Digital Songs 66

2009 Brother Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 8

2009 Brother Hot Modern Rock Tracks 1

2009 Evenflow Hot Digital Songs 62

2006 Gone Hot Modern Rock Tracks 40

2006 Life Wasted Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks 13

2006 Life Wasted Hot Modern Rock Tracks 10

2006 World Wide Suicide Hot Digital Songs 29

2006 World Wide Suicide Mainstream Rock 2

2006 World Wide Suicide Modern Rock 1

2006 World Wide Suicide Pop 100 47

2006 World Wide Suicide The Billboard Hot 100 41

2003 Save You Mainstream Rock Tracks 23

2003 Save You Modern Rock Tracks 6

2002 I Am Mine Mainstream Rock Tracks 7

2002 I Am Mine Modern Rock Tracks 6

2002 I Am Mine The Billboard Hot 100 43

2000 Light Years Mainstream Rock Tracks 17

2000 Light Years Modern Rock Tracks 26

2000 Nothing As It Seems Mainstream Rock Tracks 3

2000 Nothing As It Seems The Billboard Hot 100 49

1999 Last Kiss Mainstream Rock Tracks 5

1999 Last Kiss Modern Rock Tracks 2

1999 Last Kiss The Billboard Hot 100 2

1998 Do The Evolution Mainstream Rock Tracks 40

1998 Do The Evolution Modern Rock Tracks 33

1998 Elderly Woman Behind the Counter In A Small Town (live)

Mainstream Rock Tracks 21

1998 Given To Fly Mainstream Rock Tracks 1

1998 Given To Fly Modern Rock Tracks 3

1998 Given To Fly The Billboard Hot 100 21

1998 In Hiding Mainstream Rock Tracks 14

1998 In Hiding Modern Rock Tracks 13

1998 Wishlist Mainstream Rock Tracks 6

1998 Wishlist Modern Rock Tracks 6

1998 Wishlist The Billboard Hot 100 47

1997 Off He Goes Mainstream Rock Tracks 34

1997 Off He Goes Modern Rock Tracks 31

1996 Daughter The Billboard Hot 100 97

/Yellow Ledbetter

1996 Hail Hail Mainstream Rock Tracks 9

1996 Hail Hail Modern Rock Tracks 9

1996 I Got Id Mainstream Rock Tracks 2

1996 Leaving Here Mainstream Rock Tracks 24

1996 Leaving Here Modern Rock Tracks 31

1996 Red Mosquito Mainstream Rock Tracks 37

1996 Who You Are Mainstream Rock Tracks 5

1996 Who You Are Modern Rock Tracks 1

1996 Who You Are The Billboard Hot 100 31

1995 Better Man Mainstream Rock Tracks 1

1995 Better Man Modern Rock Tracks 2

1995 Corduroy Mainstream Rock Tracks 22

1995 Corduroy Modern Rock Tracks 13

1995 I Got Id Modern Rock Tracks 3

1995 I Got Id/Long Road The Billboard Hot 100 7

1995 Immortality Mainstream Rock Tracks 10

1995 Immortality Modern Rock Tracks 31

1995 Jeremy/Yellow Led. The Billboard Hot 100 79

1995 Not For You Mainstream Rock Tracks 12

1995 Not For You Modern Rock Tracks 38

1994 Animal Mainstream Rock Tracks 21

1994 Daughter Mainstream Rock Tracks 1

1994 Daughter Modern Rock Tracks 1

1994 Dissident Mainstream Rock Tracks 3

1994 Elderly Woman (Live)Modern Rock Tracks 17

1994 Glorified G Mainstream Rock Tracks 3

1994 Spin The Black Circle Mainstream Rock Tracks 16

1994 Spin The Black Circle Modern Rock Tracks 11

1994 Tremor Christ Mainstream Rock Tracks 16

1994 Tremor Christ Modern Rock Tracks 16

1994 Tremor Christ/Spin The Billboard Hot 100 18

The Black Circle

1994 Yellow Ledbetter Mainstream Rock Tracks 21

1994 Yellow Ledbetter Modern Rock Tracks 26

1993 Black Mainstream Rock Tracks 3

1993 Black Modern Rock Tracks 20

1993 Crazy Mary Mainstream Rock Tracks 26

1993 Crazy Mary Modern Rock Tracks 8

1993 Daughter Mainstream Rock Tracks 1

/Yellow Ledbetter

1993 Go Mainstream Rock Tracks 3

1993 Go Modern Rock Tracks 8

1992 Alive Mainstream Rock Tracks 16

1992 Alive Modern Rock Tracks 18

1992 Evenflow Mainstream Rock Tracks 3

1992 Evenflow Modern Rock Tracks 21

1992 Jeremy Mainstream Rock Tracks 5

1992 Jeremy Modern Rock Tracks 5

A Gift For Mr. Vedder

Prior to the second encore, Ed came back on stage with a smoke and something behind his back, indicating he wanted to show the crowd some of his early Christmas presents. “One of the most random gifts I’ve ever received was tonight. Someone brought this to the show with no note, no nothing, and I have to say: I appreciate that. Just giving unconditionally, he gave me this [holds up pedal]. It is a giant-sized Morley pedal, and I didn’t have one. I’m very hard to buy for. Thank you, whoever you are.”

Well, Ed, this fan’s name was Homero, and his reply is “You’re welcome.” The only problem that night was Homero never made it into the show.

In the fall of 2002, deep into Riot Act new album hysteria, Pearl Jam played four hometown shows in Seattle: a deuce each at the Showbox and Key Arena. Obtaining tickets to the former was as difficult as any post-1992 club show. Homero, like many other fans, was ticket-less, but showed up at the Showbox in the hopes of scoring admission.

In an email to TwoFeetThick.com, Homero told us that his lack of a ticket forced him to use desperate measures. He wrote that he began walking around the Showbox holding up the pedal and yelling “Mike McCready’s guitar pedal for your ticket!” Homero admitted, “Back and forth I crazily kept yelling and of course [I got] no takers. First off, people [were] thinking ‘this guy is nuts’ and, secondly, ‘who would ever give their ticket up for some piece-of-so-called PJ gear?’”

The result of this pretend pedal-pushing? “Getting tired of carrying this pedal around I finally gave up” claims Homero, “I went to the back door of the Showbox and said to the dude ‘Give this [pedal] to the band.’” Returning to the front door for some last-minute hope, Homero still could not get in to the show so he returned to his hotel room.

“Two nights later, I’m walking the concourse of Key Arena and some friends I met from Boston tell me ‘Homero, your pedal was at the show.’ Honestly, I thought the guy who opened the back door to recieve the pedal just threw it in the dumpster. I was floored some how I made it to the show anyway, not in physical form but through the pedal.”

You can see Homero’s Christmas 2002 present to Eddie in the DVD Live At The Showbox available from the Ten Club.

The movie The Number 23, starring Jim Carrey and Virginia Madsen, opens in theaters in the U.S. on February 23. We wouldn’t arbitrarily plug a movie, but this movie’s title does lead to an interesting conversation on Pearl Jam numerology.

A recurring theme for Eddie Vedder is the number 23. In the movie “The Number 23″, the main character becomes obsessed with the number. Maybe “obsessed” is too strong a word, but Eddie definitely has a “fondness” for the number 23 for many reasons. Let’s inspect.

They say it’s your birthday!

Ed was born on December 23, 1964. Ed has never played a concert with Pearl Jam on his birthday. Notable events on December 23:

• 1888, Vincent Van Gogh cuts off left ear
• 1943, Harry Shearer born (Spinal Tap, voice of Simpsons characters)
• 1949, Adrian Belew of King Crimson born
• 1954, The first human kidney transplant performed
• 1958, Singer-songwriter Victoria Williams (writer of popular PJ cover song Crazy Mary) born
• Fictitious Seinfeld holiday “Festivus” celebrated

Pick a number

Ed’s recent black guitar picks feature the number 23 printed on them

Number 23 is Number 1

Ed’s “hometown” basketball hero is probably the greatest basketball player of all time, the Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan, who wore jersey number 23. Ed can be seen wearing a Bulls’ 23 Jordan jersey in the video for “Alive”

Ed also pays homage to Jordan en español in “Black, Red, Yellow” with the line “Black magic viente y tres” meaning “Black magic #23“. Read article.

‘Got tickets for the 23rd

Pearl Jam have played on the 23rd of the month well over 23 times

• 08/23/91 – Seattle, WA Mural Amphitheatre
• 10/23/91 – East Landing, MI
• 04/23/92 – Miami Cameo Theatre
• 08/23/92 – Orlando, FL
• 01/23/93 – Hollywood,CA Rock for Choice (ed solo)
• 11/23/93 – Oklahoma City, OK
• 02/23/94 – New York, NY Carnegie Hall (ed Solo)
• 08/23/95 – Caesaria, Israel-(NeilJam show)
• 06/23/98 – Englewood, CO
• 08/23/98 – Auburn Hill, MI
• 09/23/98 – West Palm Beach, FL
• 05/23/00 – Lisbon, Portugal
• 06/23/00 – Zurich, Switzerland
• 08/23/00 – Jones Beach, (Wantaugh) NY
• 09/23/00 – Seattle, WA (Ed- Nader Rally)
• 10/23/01 – Seattle, WA (Ed w/REM @ The Croc)
• 09/23/02 – Chicago, IL (Marysville Academy Benefit)
• 02/23/03 – Perth, Australia
• 04/23/03 – Chicago, IL
• 10/23/04 – Mountain View, CA (Ed solo Bridge School)
• 11/23/05 – Santiago, Chile
• 06/23/06 – Pittsburgh, PA
• 07/23/06 – George, WA
• 08/23/06 – Dublin, Ireland
• 09/23/06 – Berlin, Germany
• 06/23/07 – Neuhausn ob Eck, Germany (Southside Festival)

Separated at birth

Ed and Adam Sandler converse about numbers at the April 16, 1994 Saturday Night Live Rehearsal

Ed: “What date where you born?”

Adam: “9-9-66. But my family’s always been … 23, my Dad gambles with 23, he, uh … Everything’s 2 or 3. Like he buys 2 things or 3 things at a store. He’s sick with it. And I’m like it too, now I am… I knock 2 or 3 times. Eddie, where have you seen 23 lately?”

Ed: (pointing off to the right) There’s a thing right back over there it says “23” (unintelligible). Orange juice on the plane today – expiration date May 23rd.”

Know Code

The numbers 2 & 3 are printed in red around the center circle of the No Code CD artwork. All the other numbers are in black

Untitled

“Untitled” – the pre-”MFC” improv staple of the 2000 tour, often featured a reference to the number: “I could be there (or “I could pick you up”) in 23 minutes or so”.

Location, location, location

The Tropic of Capricorn (Ed’s astrological sign) is 23.5 degrees latitude north of the equator. The Tropic of Cancer (Stone’s astrological sign) is 23.5 degrees latitude south of the equator.

The “Given To Fly” statue, name still unknow

The photos in the liner notes of Yield don’t ask “what are those pictures?” They ask “where are those pictures?” Along with roadside pictures of Montana and other landscapes (including a famous European cemetary), fans have always been struck by the photo of a statue against the blue sky that accompanies the lyrics to Yield‘s first single “Given To Fly.” The picture shows the upper torso of a statue shot from the ground looking up towards the sky, and the angle prevents the eye from gauging how big or small the statue is, or where in the world it is.

A popular message board topic, the location of this statue has usually been touched upon as being “in Italy” and “near the Coliseum.” Canadian PJ fan Angelina Tarantello recently went to Italy, providing a narrative with pictures of her search for this mysterious statue.

August 2006

It’s late summer in 2006 and I find myself in Italy on a family vacation to celebrate my parents’ 30th wedding anniversary. Although it technically is my parents’ vacation, I had to insist on making a stop in Rome to try to find the statue in the Yield liner notes alongside the lyrics for “Given to Fly.” I heard that it was on the main road to the Coliseum and visible from most tourist buses, so I figured it would be easy to spot.

I’m with my dad (who despises when I ecstatically announce any upcoming tour and worries about how much more I plan on spending on this band) and my mom (who believes Pearl Jam is good for nothing more than the banana bread recipe in the first issue of Deep). Luckily my brother and sister came along. Although not huge fans, they still support the band and me.

After a long eight-hour flight landed in Rome, I patiently waited while the plane parked on the tarmac. I took out my phone and played a “Given To Fly” ringtone for all the passengers to hear. Although I received a rolling-of-the-eyes from my family, I couldn’t resist playing it. I didn’t care how corny it seemed, it was officially the theme song for the day.

Maps and Legends Click below for a Google Map of where the statue is. The Via in Miranda is the small side street just off the main Via dei Fori Imperiali. [ Map! ]

Once on foot, it was pouring rain in Rome and of course we are without an umbrella. We first stopped at a couple of popular tourist sights, then finally from the Trevi Fountain we somehow made our way down Via dei Fori Imperiali toward the Coliseum.

Heading this way, I looked and found the statue to my right. It was hard to notice at first. It is set back from the road and it looks so different from the picture in the liner notes. It’s unmistakable, however, when you’re actually standing underneath it.

We turned right down a short, narrow road called Via in Miranda. The statue is on this street at the base of the stairs of Basilica Santi Cosma e Damiano, a church that we decided not to go into since someone was getting married at the time (though we did get some weird looks when the bride and her crew were coming out as we were there drenched in the pouring rain taking pictures with what I’m sure they thought was some random statue)

The artist’s name, P.A. Martini (i.e. Arturo Martini), is engraved on the base of the statue but no year is indicated. As we walked away from the main street toward the Coliseum, I noticed a Yield sign. How fitting it was to see at the end of Via in Miranda near the statue. In the end I achieved my goal. I must say though, I think I have rubbed off on my family and deep down they must truly be Pearl Jam fans because that day, to my surprise and despite the dreary circumstances and fatigue, we all united and completed our mission to find the “Given To Fly statue”.

Good luck to those who also wish to find the statue and tread where a Pearl Jam member once did.

~Angelina

From Jeff’s Camera Eye Our first glimpse of fresh new artwork for 1998′s Yield came in 1997 when the first single “Given To Fly” was released. The photo appeared to show a large statue with arms outstretched from front to back. In reality, the statue is only about ten feet tall and the hands are actually outstretched up (right hand) and down (left hand) The color photo (top) shows the statue from the base of the statue looking up at the partly sunny sky. The “letterbox” style artwork continued for each lyric page for Yield, this time with each photo in black and white. The photo for “Given To Fly” (middle) is slightly different as you can see from the different clouds, or it’s the same picture of the statue but just Photoshopped over a different sky. It’s also well documented that a faint “Yield” sign was blended in the statue’s body. When in Rome, Angelina did her best (bottom) to strike Jeff’s pose, coming as close as you can get to same angle. Click to see the enlarged version, showing a plane in the sky (maybe PJ flying to Italy?) (Click to enlarge each photo)

Here are pictures of the statue:

Approaching the basilica	The statue at the basilica’s doors
Another view of the front	The statue and nearby construction
The artist’s signature	Church sign
The statue again …	… and the statue again
The alley towards the statue	All the rusted signs…

Co-written with Rob Yasinsac

Scan of photo originally published in The Lure of the Litchfield Hills Magazine, December, 1952

Scarborough is a hamlet of the town of Ossining, New York, which is about 30 miles north of New York City located on the Hudson River. Not quite as regal as the two or three old mansions it’s best known for – but just as significant and interesting – is the Sparta Cemetery, just off Route 9, yards from the famous Scarborough Presbyterian Church. There, five feet from the road behind a gate pillar, is the grave of “The Leather Man.”

My interest in the real Leather Man was sparked in early 1998 when I discovered that the b-side of the newly released first single from Yield, “Given to Fly,” was a song called “Leatherman.” I was only vaguely familiar with story about this man of the land, but I looked in my copy of History of the Tarrytowns and sure enough, Eddie Vedder’s description of the Leatherman exactly matched the story as told by author Wally Buxton. My question to Synergy’s Rumor Pit in the summer of 1998, and the resulting answer, confirmed it.

Q: Ever since “Leatherman” was released, I’ve wondered if it was written about a certain Jules Bourglay – “The Leather Man” – who wandered Westchester County, NY in the late 19th century. Was it?

A: Yes.

Shortly thereafter, at Madison Square Garden in New York (just 26 miles downstate from the Leather Man’s grave) on September 11, 1998, Ed explained the songs origins to the local crowd: “So two Christmases ago, I was staying with a good friend somewhere on the outskirts; outside of the city, outside of the trains, outside of the traffic. And this next song’s written about this guy we learned about on on this hike that we took. We took this hike and out on these back trails and this guy used to set up these little caves – ya know, rock caves – and he had them all spread around like for ten miles. And he would, just every night, go to a different cave – each one just a few miles away from each other. So the next song’s written about him. So this is ‘Leatherman.’”

Side by side, Eddie’s lyrics match up directly to the facts from excerpts of History of the Tarrytowns

So that’s it? The Leather Man is Jules Bourglay? End of story? Apparently not.

Historian Dan DeLuca of Meriden, CT has found through research that the Leatherman was not named “Jules Bourglay” and that the story of his origins in France and failed love affair are a myth. In other words, there was a Leatherman – and only one – but his true name and origins remain unknown to us today. “I have been researching the ‘Old Leather Man’ for about 20 years now and have been collecting many articles on him” writes DeLuca. “The first ‘Jules Bourglay story’ was printed by the Waterbury Daily American, August 16, 1884. And four denials were printed in 1889. Historian Allison Albee of Rye, N.Y., who was an authority on the history of the well-known character, spent endless years to keep historical facts from legends. He did research in France, to try to confirm the Jules Bourglay story – No names in the story were able to be confirmed. Research was done on the person who penned the story, and there was no person of that name from that town – the story was made up. The ‘Old Leather Man’ was not ‘Joules Bourglay.’”

The weaving of fact and fiction about this curious character has meant that his story has taken on the dimensions of a minor myth. And the Pearl Jam song, “Leatherman” has gathered it’s own mystery. Why was “Leatherman” the only one of two original studio Pearl Jam b-sides that weren’t included on Lost Dogs? Only Pearl Jam knows for sure.

Bibliography and Further Reading

• History of the Tarrytowns, Canning and Buxton. Harbor Hill Books, 1975.
• “The Old Leather Man”, The Lure of the Litchfield Hills (Magazine), December, 1952
• “Story of Fabulous Leather Man Who Roamed State 88 Years Ago Related.” Waterbury Republican, Page 4, October 14, 1944
• “Old Leather Man”, compiled by Dan Deluca from various sources
• www.HudsonValleyRuins.org

About the Author

Rob Yasinsac has been documenting historic and distinctive architecture in the Hudson Valley since 1994, showcased at www.HudsonValleyRuins.org. A resident of Tarrytown, New York, Rob has focused his work on ruins and abandoned buildings. Since graduating from college, Rob has worked as a Museum Associate at Philipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow, NY, a property of Historic Hudson Valley. He serves as a Trustee on the Boards of the Westchester County and Irvington Historical Societies. The author of Briarcliff Lodge, published in 2004 by Arcadia, and Rob is currently co-authoring another book, Hudson Valley Ruins. Rob is also among four photographers documenting the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery for a book on the famed resting place of Washington Irving, Walter Chrysler, William Rockefeller, Samuel Gompers and other luminaries.

This is Rob’s first article for TwoFeetThick.com