Pearl Jam are, quite simply, the greatest American rock band of all time. Sorry Metallica and Aerosmith, thanks for coming to the party.

agreed.

Was at all four shows, strongest live band I’ve ever seen.

Absolutely!

agreed x2

I was there Sat. and the night before and what a unbelievable experience!!! Both nights were amazing and absolutely unforgettable. These guys (not spring chickens) rocked out Phili’s Spectrum for 4 sold out shows in 5 days!! I made it to 2 of those shows and I’m hurting still on Monday. Thank you Pearl Jam for an amazing weekend and for being the best band ever!!

Over the 4 night stand in Philly, 2009, Pearl Jam played 104 different songs.

To clarify, Out of My Mind was just an improv they made up at some show, and they put it on as a b-side. So this is even rarer than playing a “real” b-side. But apparently some guy offered to donate a sum of money to charity if they paid it, so it’s not like they would have played it otherwise. Still, pretty cool.

That sounds amazing. Wish I could have been there.

Yeah Death Cab For Cutie did this already in 2006 in Toronto on Halloween.

I don’t see how this is news.

I am glad I made the drive over to Philly from Ohio. Pearl Jam cemented their status as one of the premier live bands in rock history with the performance on Halloween. To be there was something I will never forget. They certainly know how to close down a legendary building. This one will be talked about for quite some time.

Seriously are you comparing Death Cab to Pearl Jam…? Pink Floyd already recorded another Brick in the Wall, does that mean we can’t enjoy a cover by the greatest American rock band ever? The was so epic, I can only imagine that your jealous of not being their and are taking your bitterness out here. I GOT BUGS IN MY BED!!!!!!!

that is classic.

The greatest American rock band of all time???

I only know a couple of Pearl Jam songs, but I know REM complete catalog, you “alternative” boys need to grow up. Grunge die in the 90’s. This is 2009!

Honestly, how do you even put Death Cab in the same sentence as Pearl Jam. Take a hike, a hole

yo, that was dope.

BEST…BAND…EVER

Pearl Jam just delivers!! They are a gaurenteed home run!! Its amazing how many people still dont know Footsteps.. they do now because everyone around me on night 3 was in awe, including my music critic friend. and I quite ” What is this song?!! It is F&^%ing awesome!!”
Fantastic Week of great music..
Thank You Pearl Jam..

Amazing is an understatatement

Did Death Cab for Cutie play 40 songs spread across a main set and two encores in 2006 in Toronto on Halloween?

hahaha…that fool that loves REM…they’re a great band too, no doubt, but just because you don’t know Pearl Jam’s epic catalogue doesn’t mean REM is better.

bugs live!!
and i wasnt there….
*cry*

For those knocking REM or Death Cab, they are both really good bands. Not as good as Pearl Jam in my opinion, but good enough that I can at least understand those who disagree with me on that. That said, man do I wish I was at this show.

Pearl Jam kick some serious posterior. Would kill for a Temple of the Dog renunion though.

Also “Not for you” was played on their 2005/06 north american tour at the Gorge.

I had fan club tickets in row 8-15 all 4 nights. Just amazing to see someone play 104 different songs. Im really glad I was able to get to see them all. Best concerts of my life. Friday was a better pearl jam concert, Saturday was a better event.

This made me cry. I so wish I could have been there!! I thought couldn’t love Pearl Jam more after all these years but they just surpass all my expectations every time.

A 40-song setlist to cap off the 4-night run!! 40 SONGS! It spanned their entire career and they pulled out some very rare tracks….SWEET LEW! These guys are the real thing, and I’m so proud to call them my favorite rock band of all time.

Best American rock band of all time. Nobody does what they do…different set list every night, 2 1/2 to 3 hour shows. Never a “greatest hits jukebox” like Lynyrd Skynyrd or Aerosmith (or even Metallica, actually). Yet they fill every arena they book and headline every festival they want. 18 years after Ten was released…BEST AMERICAN ROCK BAND OF ALL MOTHERFUCKING TIME.

Saw Pearl Jam live and they were great…but Guns N Roses is the greatest American rock band ever

Hey, Reality check! R.E.M. died in the 90’s, too. But I still like their music…and apparently, you do, too. Does that mean we both can’t listen to R.E.M.’s music because they died in the 90’s? (Actually their POPULARITY died in the 90’s.)
Grunge music still lives on in my heart! And it’s a HELL of a lot better than the crap music that’s out there for sale.

what a bunch of nerds!!

WE MUST REPEAT!

Nobody does what they do…different set list every night, 2 1/2 to 3 hour shows. Never a “greatest hits jukebox” like Lynyrd Skynyrd or Aerosmith (or even Metallica, actually). Yet they fill every arena they book…

Hi, we’re Phish we do that too

My buddy and I agreed it was the best love show we’ve ever seen. I honestly felt like I owed the band more money for the show they gave me.

Phish? Surely you jest. I’ve seen both and Pearl Jam’s show blow those pansies out of the building. Not even close. I’m embarrassed to say I even went to a Phish show, but duty calls when it comes to poonanny.

Agreed. GN’R was the last great American hard rock band. PJ is a close second. GN’R was more adventurous with their sound and more dangerous anyday. I miss Axl’s rants.

Pearl Jam has progressed and evolved since the grunge era that launched their unprecedented life as a band. Unlike STP, Alice in Chains, Dino Jr., and a whole host of others. Your right to say grunge died in the 90s, but Pearl Jam is pure rock. Mike McCready is the finest axeman of the last 20 years, Eddie’s lyrics are so much more then hopeless teen angst, and the song craftsmanship and live performances are so more advanced then any other rock band today. 104 songs in 4 nights, love to see Kings of Leon try that. Unlike the Stones who haven’t recorded a new song in twenty something years (or so it feels like), PJ continue to push their own envelope and challenge their fans, new and old, to grow with them. They are not a “best of” band. They are in fact the last vestige of what American rock once was.

GN’R more adventurous then PJ? Your joking right? AXL a better singer or lyricist then EV? Your again joking right? And I will take Mike fing McCready over Slash any day of the week and twice on Saturday! Please don’t compare a band that lasted 5 years to one who is still playing 40-song 3.5 hr. legendary sets! Lastly about your dangerous point Axl scared no-one it was all an act, but if you want take a look at some old footage from the TEN era PJ and tell me EV wasn’t the most intense/scary individual prowling a rock stage! Sorry but there is no comparison between these two bands, hence PJ is the best American band of all time!

Devo was such a huge influence on PJ.

You can hear it all over their music.

“Daughter,” “Black” and that other song.. totally Devo.

I really hate it when bands claim to be influenced by a “Cool” band when it’s obvious they are just pimping them.

Pearl Jam is so authentic. They would never do that.

death cab for cutie are you kidding me. What have they done that could even be remotely compared to pearl jam…..take a hike

I was at 3 of the 4 concerts, and they were absolutely fantastic. Pearl Jam is essentially my favorite band of all time, and I’ve loved them since I was like 11 and Vs. came out. I was seriously in heaven when Eddie brought out the accordion and started playing Bugs.

But I do love my Death Cab and thing they rock pretty hard as well. No insult to put them both in the same sentence.

I love Pearl Jam… But I have to agree that you can’t beet Axl!! And even today, if people can ever get over the fact that it’s a new band, the New GNR does an incredible show!! They have some serious talent in that new band, it’s just that nobody really knows much about them. But that’s Axl…he doesn’t hoar himself around on TV or Radio promoting his music.

REM was an amazing band in the 80s. What have they done since?

Axl’s lyrics were much better than Eddie’s. The UYI albums was poetic. Have you heard Chinese Dem? The new songs are killer too. I’m glad I saw him live in ‘06. All we need is a real GN’R reunion now!

Best American band of all time? They’re in the conversation, but do they really trump REM, or Jane’s Addiction? Aerosmith, Skynyrd? Not sure about that… In fact I don’t think they even trump Soundgarden or Nirvana, but that’s just me…

G&R, don’t even get me started… ONE classic album and a lineup that couldn’t stay together? You like them so you pimp them, I get it. But get real.

i went to see bloc party the other night and they were good. pearl jam are a close second. i also like music!

i was there in the flesh and gotta say it was well worth the 80bucks and hour drive!

I can see there being discussion as to the best American band, but other than Nirvana, the ones you listed don’t have a chance. All great, but come on. If you mentioned the Grateful Dead or The Allman Brothers, you would have an argument. Skynyrd? Seriously?

REM > Pearl Jam >>>>> GNR >>>>>> Death Cab

Uuuuuhhh, hello? Greatest American band ever is Nickelback, hands down. Who cares if they’re from Canada. “Never made it as a wise man……” Gives me chills every time.

So that nickleback comment had to have been a joke? Man im from canada and i take offense to that. There first album was pretty good after that almost every song/album has sounded the same. I don’t even consider them a rock band anymore…..They just try for weak radio jams and put out way to many videos…….Pearl Jam are gods…..nickleback are choir boys at best…..i think im going to puke

Pearl jam is the greatest american band ever…. i think thats a bit far fetched. you can make that case since they have stayed together, are still producing quality material and touring. But seriously if it was not for axl being a nut GNR would be right up there with led zep. Just because someone has more albums does not make them better. theres also tool, NIN, Metallica, Rage Against the Machine, Jane’s addiction, rem, nirvana. Don’t forget Tom petty and the heartbreakers, Fleetwood mac, Skynard, CCR, and Bruce springsteen and the e street band. Before you anoint some one the best remember there are bands with better music and bigger followings. Pearl Jam is a great band but not the best american band

at the show unbelievable…In responce to the post above. I think all of those bands are great American bands, but seriously Pearl Jam certianly trumps NIN, Tool, Jane’s Addiction, Rage and Nirvana. The one’s PJ is in the conversation with are REM, Bruce, & Petty. I go with PJ, but Im bias.

tommystinson:

Jane’s Addiction? AYFKM???? JA is one of the top five WORST bands of the 80s, top ten all time, so you lose all credibility there.

Soundgarden was great, but nowhere near PJ. Nirvana is credited with mainstreaming grunge, but frankly are incredibly overrated. Maybe they would’ve proven themselves as something better if Cobain had lived, but I doubt it. Did you even see a live show of theirs? He couldn’t even remember the words, they were awful.

I never liked Aerosmith, some great moments on drums and guitar, but Tyler sounds like a puppy being strangled. To each his own on that one, but I don’t think they’re remotely near the greatest band ever.

Skynyrd doesn’t even warrant a response.

PJ is definitely up there, with Allman Bros. and REM being serious contenders. Can’t believe no one’s mentioned the Grateful Dead.

Oh, and Petty is good, but definitely doesn’t have the wide appeal necessary to be “the best”.

Bruce is definitely the best to come out of New Jersey. But considering that the competition is mostly whiny new punk, whinier emo and now “scene”, which as far as I can tell is like the glam and hair (read: uber-sell-out) version of emo…well its not saying much.

Very nice but I can’t help but wish that they transitioned from ‘Whip it’ into ‘Whipping’ which is what I was expecting the whole time. Either way pretty, pretty, pretty cool.

Pearl Jam is meh.
R.E.M living legends.

You people keep drinkin’ the Kool-Aid.

Husker Du then The Mats then everything else

I love Eddie’s love for 80’s pop bands! I’m seeing Devo the next two nights in Seattle. Wonder if they’ll also play Bugs.

I went to the 10/27 show at philly, it was amazing. They played an unbelievable rendition of All Those Yesterdays. I think it’s bold to say they are the best American band ever, but I really cannot think of anyone that could touch their live show. I saw U2 and PJ a month apart this year and I enjoyed PJ more because U2 is just pimping out their music at this point. Their $40 million stage was cool but they played every song without really jamming out. When PJ consistently jams out to songs that aren’t well known and gets a good response from the crowd I find it hard to believe there is a better band out there.

Pearl Jam is great. Far better than R.E.M. and any of these other weak bands that do the same show night after night. Phish is by far the greatest band that’s out there. Hands down. They just held their own festival with no other bands on the bill, even we haven’t done that!

devo sucks…bunch of pansies. Pearl Jam Rules. Devo bassist, if you forgot total dissed grunge and said it was an “energy drain”. Yet he made some videos for grunge bands which gave him a start in the music director business. Hyprocrite…so I hate that guy.

Pearl Jam is not made up of condecsending a-holes like Aeroshite, nor do they reek like L.A. Guns-n-poseurs. They simply RAWK! Great article.

The Grateful Dead? Are you kidding me? Maybe if Mr.Jerry-atrics had all his fingers he might be considered a good guitarist! Take a bath & listen to some real music! Pearl Jam rocks!

peter | 11/4/2009, 12:54 pm EST

death cab for cutie are you kidding me. What have they done that could even be remotely compared to pearl jam…..take a hike
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Death Cab opened for Pearl Jam in ‘04….