Eddie Vedder

Eddie Vedder is the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of Pearl Jam, the rock band with which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017. Born Edward Louis Severson III in Evanston, Illinois, on December 23, 1964, he is also known as Eddie Jerome Vedder. His deep baritone became central to Pearl Jam's sound, and Rolling Stone readers ranked him seventh on the magazine's list of the “Best Lead Singers of All Time.”

Vedder began playing guitar at 12 after his mother gave him the instrument. Before joining Pearl Jam, he played with several bands during his twenties, including Surf and Destroy, the Butts, Indian Style and Bad Radio. In 1990, Jack Irons of Red Hot Chili Peppers gave Vedder a demo from a Seattle group seeking a singer. Vedder wrote and recorded vocals for three songs in response, material that later became Pearl Jam songs “Alive,” “Once” and “Footsteps.” The recordings led to an audition and his place in the band.

Alongside Pearl Jam, Vedder has worked in other settings, including as a guest vocalist with Temple of the Dog, the supergroup formed as a tribute to singer Andrew Wood. His solo work has often connected his songwriting with film and acoustic performance. In 2007, he released his first solo album as the soundtrack to Into the Wild, the film of the same year. He followed it in 2011 with Ukulele Songs and the live DVD Water on the Road.

Vedder released his third solo album, Earthling, in 2022. In late June 2024, he issued a cover of the English Beat’s “Save It for Later” for the television series The Bear. Across his work with Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog and his solo recordings, Vedder has moved between full-band rock, folk-leaning material and stripped-back acoustic songs while remaining closely identified with his voice and lyrics.