Echo of Pearl Jam's First Online Chat at Lycos, May 15, 2000
LycosHost welcomes everyone and the chat begins...
AskPearlJam: Devious1-guest says: Eddie, with the New Year and decade upon us. How do you feel about where you fit in to the music scene today?
Eddie: Let's start off with an easy one.
AskPearlJam: Sigmagirl says: What is The West Memphis 3?
Eddie: There was an interesting case concerning the death penalty that took place in West Memphis, Arkansas. It was a documentary made for HBO. They made a second one as well. Basically it comes down to 3 teenagers who were accused, perhaps falsely, of a tragic crime against some younger kids. Basically 3 little kids about 7 or 8 were all murdered in a really ugly fashion. But what is interesting about it is it seems the teenagers were chosen from the town that the suspects based on their dress and the fact that they were the only 3 in town that wore T-shirts with rockbands on them, like Metallica. In New York they would not be picked out of a crowd but they stood out in West Memphis. It's a long story. A lot of people think these teenagers who were ultimately convicted--two were given life and one the death penalty--there is a lot of evidence to suggest that they weren't involved and it's worth saying that there was no real evidence to support the fact that they were involved or guilty. I believe there is a website that people can look at that has tons and tons of information and perhaps places where you can write letters or show support for them at
http://www.wm3.org/ now that I am thinking about it. It's an interesting and scary situation. It seems like a case of discrimination, not necessarily against color or sexual preference. It's more like against adolescence and ones that may look a little different. Thanks for asking!
AskPearlJam: Angelfish says: What books have you all been reading lately?
Stone: I just read a book called Running Mate by Joe Klein. It was written by the same man who wrote Primary Colors, but it was no Primary Colors.
Mike: I'm reading Please Kill Me. A punk rock book about what was going on in New York in the late 70's. It's a killer book.
Eddie: I'm reading A Promise of Justice. It's about a death penalty case in Chicago. Another one where 3 guys were found to be innocent after being in jail for about 10 years or so. It was interesting because it was journalism students from a college in Chicago called Northwestern. Investigative journalism students did the investigative research to get them out.
AskPearlJam: bubberand says: How's the weather in Seattle tonight?
Mike: Awesome, and I'm amazed that it's awesome. It's really nice. About 70.
Eddie: One nice night in Seattle and we are in a chat room :-)
AskPearlJam: Smirks-guest says: This summer you guys are playing a lot of outdoor arenas..is this something you like better than say the large indoor arenas?
Stone: Yeah, in general, if we can play outdoors, we generally prefer it, especially in the summer.
AskPearlJam: hovercraft-guest says: how does it feel, after 2 years, to get back together and travel around the world like a "couple"... who is more tourist in the band =)?
Stone: I look the most like a tourist. Eddie smells the most like a tourist.
Mike: Since we haven't traveled around the world yet, it's going to be great.
AskPearlJam: aliveguy324-guest says: does any of the band members have any pre-concert rituals that you do.
Stone: We use to kind of stand around and give each other a lot of hugs, but lately, we haven't done that, so no.
AskPearlJam: Rooodle says: How do you guys use the internet?
Mike: I never do, until today. This is the first time I ever have.
Stone: Just emails periodically
Eddie: I respect the internet. I prefer the typewriter.
AskPearlJam: toeman10-guest says: what plans, if any, do you have regarding distributing music over the 'net?
Stone: Certainly distributing music over the net is pretty interesting concept and we think that some way that might be a great way to get music to our fans but we are definitely taking it slow.
AskPearlJam: Big_Train-guest says: How do you decide what songs you are going to play at a given show and is there a chance we might be hearing Dirty Frank this time around?
Eddie: There's a slight chance. Probably play some of the new songs or some of our favorite songs right now so we will play those. The set list that we come up with is kind of like a map for your evening, how it will make us feel and how it is going to make the listener feel so we put a lot of thought into it right before we go on.
AskPearlJam: ArmlessDrifter-guest says: What do you guys think was the best show you guys have ever played?
Eddie: Two nights ago in Bellingham.
Mike: There was one in Chicago that we played for 3 hours one time that I thought was pretty great.
Stone: Maybe Madison Square Garden, second show tour.
AskPearlJam: Beatles333-guest says: What's in your CD player right now?
Stone: The new Elliot Smith is in mine.
Mike: the new Blink and Social Distortion
Eddie: The new Sleater-Kinney and the second Wellwater Conspiracy that has Matt Cameron on it.
Stone: And also the new Neil Young.
Eddie: I've got that one too.
AskPearlJam: PearlJama101-guest says: Who's idea was it for Eddie to play banjo on "Soon Forget"?
Eddie: I don't know whose idea it was but it was turned down.
Stone: Actually Eddie played a ukelele on it.
AskPearlJam: jcckjh-guest says: If you could pick one song which was the most challenging to finish, which would it be?
Eddie: I'd say Insignificance. We also worked and wrestled in order to come up with a song called Light Years. It took a couple of drastic turns. We were working on a different song for a few weeks and then felt Light Years was written from that in about 30 minutes.
AskPearlJam: Ed_vacuation-guest sayst: what do you guys enjoy the most about being in the studio together, creating quite possible the BEST MUSIC EVER!!!!!!!?
Eddie: The free fruit. There is a good fruit bowl in the studio.
AskPearlJam: Obi_Wan_Corduroy guest says: Because of the huge popularity of Pearl Jam bootleg shows, were any of you afraid to put out "Live on Two Legs"?
Stone: Why would we be afraid?
Mike: I would say no. We weren't afraid. I thought it was a great representation of the tour that we did with Matt Cameron being in the mix now, it was a good thing to put out.
Eddie: I think it could have been better and I think it would have been better if it would have been more like a bootleg--longer and just like a real show, which we will do next time.
AskPearlJam: prajalem-guest says: any truth to the myth that the song "Parting Ways" indicates the end of this band after this tour?? (Sure hope not!!)
Eddie: Anything is possible.
AskPearlJam: gardenofstone24-guest says: hey guys, I was just wondering during this tour you guys will be mixing some of the older songs into the set lists that have not been played in a while as well as many new ones?
Stone: Yes, we will.
AskPearlJam: FiftyFree says: How would you describe "Binaural" to longtime fans that haven't heard it yet?
Eddie: I wouldn't dare try. It's interesting that you asked that, gardenofstone24, because that song might be one of them.
AskPearlJam: hrek-guest says: What do you guys like to do in your free time?
Eddie: Cyber chats.
Mike: Play a little tennis. Give money to the homeless occasionally.
AskPearlJam: jblagg-guest says: How are you guys enjoying the chat? Do you think you'll be doing any more of this kind of thing in the future?
Stone: I would say in general that it is stupid. I think regular conversation is so much more satisfying.
Eddie: I think everyone is doing a great job and I feel a little handicapped not having my fingers on the keyboard because someone else is typing.
Stone: I said it was stilted, not stupid. Sorry about that!
Mike: It's way more exciting to talk to people. It's still very strange talking to this ambiguous thing, but whatever. It's one of those things.
AskPearlJam: mean5150-guest says: What inspired the soul-searching lyrics of "Sleight of Hand"?
Eddie: Stuck in traffic.
AskPearlJam: empty_stares-guest says: Hey guys, first and foremost, a heartfelt thank you for all your music and all you do for your fans. My "question," if you're willing to discuss, is there a story behind hey foxymophandlemama?
Eddie: Yeah, I had taped something off the tv when I was maybe 17 or something and I think it was people who had mental problems who were being let out of the hospitals early because the states were taking away funding for mental hospitals so they were setting these folks out without the necessary care but it was still very intriguing the way their mind worked and what they would say and we experimented and tried to incorporate it into what to date is our most emotional and moving song.
Stone: We incorporated it by using snippets of the audio tape.