Eddie Vedder has apologised to Pearl Jam’s Australian fans for snubbing the country for a decade.
The American singer and guitarist, 59, has spoken about his band’s long absence from Australia as they gear up to return for the first time in a decade next month.
Pearl Jam – consisting of Eddie, Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready and Matt Cameron – last performed Down Under at the Big Day Out festivals in 2014.
The 90s grunge legends’ last gig in Australia also marked the final year Big Day Out festival would take place, as it was cancelled the following year.
Speaking ahead of their long-awaited return, Eddie addressed joke theories that their gig led to the cancellation and apologised for Pearl Jam’s long Aussie hiatus.
‘I don’t know what killed Big Day Out! I hope we didn’t do that,’ he quipped to the Courier Mail.
‘But my apologies to Australia; we should’ve been back and I don’t wanna p**s you off.’
Eddie went on to reveal the reason why Pearl Jam hasn’t performed in Australia in a decade, describing their touring schedule as ‘sporadic’.
Eddie Vedder has apologised to Pearl Jam’s Australian fans for snubbing the country for a decade as they gear up to return for the first time in a decade next month
‘We’re sporadic and weird about how we tour. We’ll go to Europe and then we’ll do Canada and (America) and now Australia and there’s a method to the madness and sometimes the method takes longer than we all want,’ he said.
He explained that he and his bandmates all need time away from each other before reuniting to perform to keep their music and shows feeling ‘fresh’.
Pearl Jam sent their Aussie fans wild when they confirmed three stadium shows Down Under as part of their Dark Matter world tour.
They have been confirmed to play Heritage Bank Stadium on the Gold Coast on November 13, Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on November 16, and Giants Stadium in Sydney on November 21.
There was speculation the rock group would play an Adelaide 500 Supercars show in November, but the event was not mentioned in the tour announcement.
In an extra treat for ’90s alternative rock lovers, the band will be supported by indie rock legends The Pixies.
Pearl Jam – consisting of Eddie, Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready and Matt Cameron – last performed Down Under at the Big Day Out festivals in 2014 (they are pictured in 1992)
Eddie (pictured in September 2023) revealed the reason why Pearl Jam haven’t performed in Australia in a decade, describing their touring schedule as ‘sporadic’
The tour coincides with the launch of their 12th studio album, Dark Matter, which was released on April 19 – the same day Taylor Swift unveiled The Tortured Poets Department.
Pearl Jam was formed in Seattle, Washington in 1990 and their debut album Ten was released in 1991, featuring classic hard rock hits like Alive and Even Flow.
While their first album was not an immediate success, sales exploded in 1992 as they shot to fame as part of the globally influential grunge music scene that emerged from the area.
Other standout bands included Nirvana, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains, all of whom joined Pearl Jam in finding massive success throughout the 1990s.
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