Pearl Jam

In April 1994, Pearl Jam was riding a wave of massive success with their third studio album, "Vitalogy," which was released just a few months later in November of the same year. By this point, they had already solidified their place in the grunge scene, following up their groundbreaking albums "Ten" and "Vs." What’s particularly fascinating about this rehearsal for "Saturday Night Live" is that it marked a pivotal moment for the band—juggling their rapid rise to fame while grappling with the pressures of public life and commercial expectations. During this period, Pearl Jam also began to push back against the music industry’s corporate pressures, famously resisting ticket price inflation and focusing on connecting with their fanbase. So, while rehearsing for an iconic show, they were not just performers, but activists in their own right, laying the groundwork for a legacy that prioritizes authenticity over artifice. It’s a vibrant snapshot of a band that was at once mainstream and defiantly countercultural.

Watch on YouTube