The Who co-founder Pete Townshend recently spoke about Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder. Townshend spoke with Mojo and he went on to recall meeting Vedder after the former’s solo show back in 1993. The Who member during the conversation disclosed how Vedder wanted to quit his band as he ‘hated’ being ‘famous.’
Eddie Vedder wanted to retire
Townshend recollected doing a show at Berkeley Community Centre which was his solo show Psychoderelict. He remembered it to be a ‘good night’, as he said there were ‘bad nights’ on tour too. He said it was a good night when he came across Vedder. Pearl Jam also dropped hints about an extensive 2022 World Tour.
Here is what he recalled:
“Eddie was in the audience. I recognised him standing up in his sort of German military jacket. And he stood up through the show, while a lot of people were sitting down, so he was very visible. I remember him looking a bit lost. Anyway, after the gig, I had about 30 visitors, because San Francisco is a place where I spent a lot of time over the years. And my manager Bill Curbishley said, ‘Before you see your guests, I want you to meet this young guy, Eddie Vedder, who’s the singer in Pearl Jam.’ And I said, ‘OK.’”
Townshend revealed how he had a word with the Pearl Jam frontman when the latter started ranting:
“So he walked in and sat down and we started to make small talk. And he said, ‘I fucking hate this. I just hate it. I don’t want to be famous. I don’t want to be in a band. I’m feeling like I just want to run away. I grew up on the beach in La Jolla surfing. And that’s really what I want to do for the rest of my life.’ And he said, ‘I’ve heard that you’ve been through similar stuff’ – because, 10 years before, I had left The Who.”
Pete told Eddie it wasn’t as simple as being a politician who lies to get elected and then retires, and that he was in it for the long haul.
