I got to thinking what the average of a Pearl Jam fan would be. 30, 35? Or are there a lot more younger fans out there? Also interesting is how this affects what albums and songs you like. When I first started listening I thought No Code and Riot Act were trash records, but as I listened more and as I got older they made more sense to me. And who has grown up with Pearl Jam, being about the same age as the band members? The songs I loved were and i suppose still are some of the more angsty stuff i.e. Animal. Do later records resonate with an older audience?

Ageless

agreed. (wish I was)

as someone just a smidge younger than the band, all their stuff still resonates with me (except self-titled)

even a song like Leash?

38

9

I was not of age when the early ninties "grunge" phenomenon happened. I would have been about 7 years old when Ten was released.

I first got into the band when I was 15 and Binaural had just come out. I had heard the radio hits a few times, such as Alive and Evenflow, but other than that I had no idea who Pearl Jam was.

My first real listen to Pearl Jam was through the Verona 2000 bootleg. So my first listen to many of their songs was from those live recordings and soon after I started collecting all of their studio albums. Binaural was my favorite and still is.

I'm now 25 and I still dig the band but find myself always listening back to 2000 and 2003 bootlegs. I'm not a huge fan of Avocado or Backspacer. Although both albums do have some great songs. Official 1998 bootlegs would be the tits.

This is almost exactly my story. Only difference is I started getting into the band about 2 years before you did.

I always bought PJ albums in my HS/College days, I got Ten probably in 98 when I was 14 and followed with all the rest that had already come out. I got Binaural, Riot Act, and Avocado when they came out, but I didnt really get hardcore into PJ(obsessing over things like obscure live versions, covers, and setlists) until a couple years ago.

27, Vs. was one of the first CD's I remember buying with my own money (may very well have been the first). Since my birthday is in late October, I'm assuming I must've bought it with money I got for my 11th birthday in 1993 or maybe at Christmas shortly after.

Oneupmanship. You Gotta coin it while you can 'cos it's the only currency understood in Pj fandom online.

Pj is beginning to appeal to a lot of younger people it seems. I see Alive t shirts a whole lot more than the last few years.

22

the original recording still works for me...hate what Ed has turned it into live

I also don't like the words he sings on SoLaT live but still love to blast the original.

I'm 23 now.

Ten was the first cd I received, probably as a present, when I was five. loved it and VS., and from there, my folks bought me every release in the week of through Yield or so. The reason I qouted this paragraph, is because what really turned me into a crazy fan was the Verona 00 bootleg. So freaking good, still my favorite of the 30+ 00 bootlegs I own. the version of In Hiding on there is the only one I ever need.

I'm closing in on 33.

I was 15 when i first discovered Ten in 92 and i've been with them ever since.

Almost fittingly Ten, Vs. Vitalogy were during my high school days.

No Code, Yield and Binaural during University.

Riot Act and Self titled during the working years and now Backspacer as a parent.

Pearl Jam is still the only band that i bother looking up (and posting) on message boards, but my fandom is probably at an all time low. I love Backspacer, but i'm not making any attempt to go see a May show even though im within 8 hours (driving) of NYC, Hartfort and Boston...and for the most part i've had my fill of trying to get my hands on all the bootlegs.

I'm 24. I joined the fan club when I was 16. I think that's pretty good.

IM 29.

Jeremey video grabbed me. Why? i dont know...i was 9 years old? 10 maybe....

never really turned back. hearing State of Love and Trust on the singles soundtrack back in 94 (twas when i heard it) really made it concrete i was in for something big.

Never really turned back. no specific favorite album as they change with my mood but yea....

The first two albums I listened two were Vitalogy and Yeild, back to back in an afternoon when I was 16. Mind blown. After I started asking round who Pearl Jam was people would always recommend Ten and in particular Jeremy. I listened to it with all the reverb and thought, how is this the same band? Where's the punk rock opener? And opposed to many people on here S/T was the first PJ record that came out after I had started getting into them, first feeling of exciting over build up for the album so I have a special affinity for it. Vitalogy is by far my favourite album but I'm not quite sure whether it is anything to do with my age (18) or simply a taste in music. I suppose time will tell, No Code has been sneaking up on me for a while now.



Would albums like Ten and Vs. be more appealing to this generation? Would Binaural or Riot Act grab attention outside of the hardcore fanbase? I can't help but think that if Riot Act was the first album I picked up I wouldnt be on here posting or in fact listening to PJ at all.

I'm 22. Started listening to Pearl Jam the first month of sixth grade, September of 1999, hence the name. Became obsessed quickly. Favorite band ever since. Funny thing is, I only listened to them for "enemy research." My older sis was super into Nirvana, and I got into them trying to impress her and her cool older friends. I read about Kurt not liking Pearl Jam, so I didn't like them. I thought it would be a good idea to know my enemy though. Ha. Turned out well.

Almost the same story for me. I'm 32, and Pearl jam basically formed my musical world. Had Ten in '92 but was also into Metallica, GNR, etc. But I bought Vs. the day it came out and instantly knew they were my favorite band. Must like Vitalogy94 they are the only band I still follow religiously... difference being I don't have kids so I do have the luxury/obsession to drive the 8 hours to see them. Apparently not this time however!