Pearl Jam members Stone Gossard and Matt Cameron discussed the band’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in a new Seattle Times article.
Jeff Ament’s shirt with a list of bands that should be in the Rock Hall gained widespread media attention. Ament also discussed some of the artists in his Hall of Fame speech.
“It’s an honor and mind-boggling to be part of a club that includes so many of our heroes,” Ament said, naming Neil Young, The Clash, Led Zeppelin, the Stooges and Cheap Trick.
“But the fact is that we were affected — and infected — by bands that aren’t here (in the Rock Hall),” Ament continued. “So many important bands that made us want to pick up our guitars and write songs. Roxy Music, The Jam, Devo, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, Jane’s Addiction.”
Gossard agreed in his brief Seattle Times interview. While the core of his speech “was to honor those who worked so hard for this band, to help it function and grow and flourish” (he cited 59 names), he told the Seattle Times later that one of the best parts of being a Rock Hall member is that he can vote to induct his idols.
“Iron Maiden, AC/DC,” Gossard said. “They’ll be up next. We need to right that wrong. I’m a voter now, and I’m voting for them.”
Matt Cameron also discussed his Hall of Fame experience.
“The fact that Bill Bruford (the drummer for Yes, inducted the same night) was under the same roof was pretty exciting for me,” he told me. “I just thought, ‘I was playing the Ditto Tavern in 1986. And the next thing, I’m at the Rock Hall of Fame?’
“It kinda flew by. But it was crazy hard work.”
