Vedder / Pollard Story
 

I went to the Robert Pollard / Pearl Jam show in Cincinnati over the weekend. Great show BTW, finishing with Pollard joining PJ on stage for a rousing rendition of Baba (Bobby) O'Reily.

Anyway, after the show I joined up with a couple of friends (Dayton folks with GbV connections) for a couple of beers at a downtown hotel bar. Lo and behold, sitting on a couch in the main bar was Eddie Vedder, Bob Pollard and about 4 or 5 other Dayton folks.

I didn't make an effort to join the crowd even though one of my buddies was sitting directly across from Pollard and Eddie. I did get to overhear some of the conversation...Eddie toasting Bob...Bob talking songwriting...psycophants backslapping and congratulating.

But the fucked up thing from the night was at 2:30am some douche-rag pearl jam fan slipped from their fifth floor balcony and nearly fell 50 feet to the floor and tables below. This fuckstick is dangling by his arms from the balcony while his two buddies are standing next to him yelling "EDDIE!! EDDIE!!" They eventually pull him back up, but by that time one of Cincinnati's Finest is on his way up and the Pollard / Vedder table is cleared and everyone is heading back to their rooms.

Got to finally shake Eddie's hand by the elevator. That guy is always smiling and has about the best demeanor you could ask for in a high and mighty rock star, totally approachable. I don't think anyone handles their success better than Vedder. Pollard on the other hand was drunk as a skunk, difficult to approach and seemed more bothered to be around fans. I'm sure he's a good guy. He has lots of cool friends and a cool girlfriend (she was very nice, and cute...as pictured sitting on Pollard's lap on the back of From a Compound Eye cd).

Anyways, fun night with a near-terrifying ending.

I've heard that Robert Pollard is ALWAYS drunk. Cool story though.

Yeah Eddie rules....I don't understand why everyone hates him here.

while i don't like pearl jam at all (except for one song), one of the things i find most irritating about this board is the way people get flamed just for talking about liking pearl jam.

i met eddie last time they were in aus, and i ask him if i could buy him a drink and he wouldnt let me and bought me one instead

Says it all.

You said it, Krastian! ;)

Heh, he's just fun to make fun of. I have absolutely no problem with him. Nor any of the other people I make fun of. I think people should be proud of the music they listen to. Scenesters ruin everything.

Unless I make fun of Simple Plan. Then I'm dead serious.

I think Eddie was almost taking Pollard under his wing the way Neil Young did it for Pearl Jam...although I think Neil was doing it more for his own benefit than that of PJ's.

Anyways, Eddie's a real benevolent guy. Nice to see someone like him.

Drifting awaaaaay
Drifting awaaaaay

They are just maybe too benevalent. They need a good band fued or a drug / alcohol problem to steer things in the right direction. I think Vedder's drinking during shows is a put-on. Makes things a little too contrived.