Pearl Jam’s got something new going on (but you can’t hear it)
I’ve reached my limit, and I’m breaking up with Pearl Jam.
Their New York City lawyers contacted me today, telling me to remove the fan-recorded file of a new song below, which was captured outside the venue door at a recent secret show. This is the third time during the lifespan of this blog that I have been contacted by Pearl Jam or their representatives to remove something from my site that they feel is objectionable — always a live fan recording of something we’re all stoked to hear, and always a post that has come from a place of earnest and enthusiastic fandom. Well, I’m tired of fandom.
Even more disturbing than the crackdown on the live recordings that Pearl Jam has long embraced is the fact that, according to multiple sources, the internet is being vigorously scoured of all forms of even TALK about this new song and the recording session that happened on Thursday. This post vanished, leaving only the Google cache to remember it. This girl deleted hers. Threads on the message board are vaporized. And holy mackerel, I just went to reference the Rolling Stone post and the entire thing from this morning has vanished. 404 error. File not found.
This type of suppression of information seems to be their chosen mode of operating as a band over the last few years, and it is leaving me with a bitter taste in my mouth. I’m not sure what has changed with them. I can’t defend them anymore. I also must say that as one of the few voices in the independent blogosphere that even seems to care about what Pearl Jam is doing with any urgency, their kindness and support for genuine fandom would be most consistent with what I always understood their punk-inspired ethos to be.
The new song is out there, the horse is through the gate, Elvis has left the building — and in 2009 it is futile to undo it. Seize the buzz, Pearl Jam. Acknowledge the fans that have stuck with you for over fifteen years. In ten hours everyone’s gonna have heard the new song on Conan anyways, if you perform it. The only people interested in the fan recording are the passionate uberfans who will follow everything you do anyways. I would stoke those fires if I were you, not run around trying to smother to death everyone who dares talk about it. So few of my generation care passionately about what you are doing these days, and think that you are relevant and potent.
I’m saddened to say it ain’t gonna be me anymore.
[UPDATE]
Pearl Jam took to the stage Thursday at Seattle’s famed Showbox to rock a brand new song, while Cameron Crowe (Cameron Crowe!) filmed it. Stealth audio from one of the extras sounds like this:
Something’s Going On – Pearl Jam
(we’re guessing on the title — could also be “The Fixer”)
Soaring, melodic, tightly-wound, and fiercely rocking — color me pleased. Read more details here. Now maybe we know what they will play tomorrow night on the Conan Tonight Show premiere!
Name: Heather Browne
“Pearl Jam has the right to distribute music as it pleases. Did you know, Heather, that the band gave away the tickets to that show to 300 unemployed Seattle residents who got paid to be there? Someone on the PJ forum summed it up beautifully, to the effect of (paraphrasing) “those folks probably felt honored to be there and get money to buy food and make rent or mortgage payments as opposed to entitled PJ fans.” Sounds as if PJ still gives a sh-t about working outside traditional boundaries.”
—
This summarizes the bullshit of the typical Pearl Jam fan. “honored”? HONORED? OMFG. overinflated importance much? the one account i read was someone saying that they wished it had been 10c members.
The only reason PJ probably hired extras was because they didn’t want to deal with fan reaction once they realized they were filming a commercial for Target.
But you are all so brainwashed and have the band so desperately tied into your identities you can’t see straight so you probably would have spun it until it was gold coming straight from Eddie’s ass.
The problem isn’t the deal; the problem is the obfuscation. The problem is that this band claims to be straight with you, but they have never been.
Heather, remember that for every handful of nasty comments, there are hundreds if not more people who love what you do. Do not let the fascist PJ fans take you down.
stupid pj post patrol — June 2, 2009 @ 9:18 am
As a blogger myself I know how easy it is to overstate our own importance 🙂 Now – that is not to say that Heather’s take is irrelevant, but really in the grand scheme of things it probably is. The Internet is tailor made for mountain making of molehill temper tantrums (see angrier comments above), but if someone feels wronged, no amount of defending her choice of words or reflexive accusations spitting betrayal make a difference, probably. You can feel wronged even when you shouldn’t be. People have the right to feel however they do.
That all said, and back to my original point, the music blogging world can be self-serving, elitist, and entitled, sometimes those same traits are self-defeating gunshots to each foot. Its always easy to make a black/white, good/evil, polarizing argument when it comes to stuff like this (corporate influence, “censorship”, etc.), but at the end of the day it’s all bullshit and if you like Pearl Jam you’ll probably still like them and if you don’t you still won’t. This trivial crap is just fodder for whatever side you find yourself on – but it doesn’t stop being trivial crap.
You can respect her opinion or you may not, either way threats of “I’m not reading your blog anymore” or “right on I’m off the PJ wagon too!” mean very little to anyone other than the few self-righteous people leading a revolution with nobody following. It’s all about perspective and 90% of people out there have no idea about any of this stuff.
The same stuff happened when Oink! was shut down – arguments about “the man” shutting freedom down and all this ridiculous nonsense of the music industry needing to embrace file sharing thievery because it was helping people hear music was just that – nonsense. Do we all do it? You bet. Does that make it right? Probably not.
For better or worse the nature of the Internet means it is practically impossible to control media. It might appear fruitless for a band’s handlers to try, and the PR image can come off opposite our expectations of said band’s image, but no matter – they win the battle of being more in their right to ask for us to play by the rules than we are in asking for a break from them.
Sebastian — June 2, 2009 @ 9:55 am
the music hasn’t been released yet who the hell are you to decide to release it it’s not your music your not in the band your why the internet ruins the anticipation of everything!
lowlightkelly — June 2, 2009 @ 10:44 am
Heather, I love what you do and fully support your right to speak up. Like you, I am a PJ fan (you actually fired my passion for them) and I agree with everything you have said and how you said it–very eloquently.
Good luck to you.
I check your blog every day and always will…
Robin
Robin — June 2, 2009 @ 10:58 am
“Be a music fan, go to jail.”
Being a music fan is now an inherently criminal activity. Please limit yourself to being a passive consumer. Thank you.
🙂
wallow-T — June 2, 2009 @ 11:04 am
Wow, can’t wait to see the new name for the blog. Pearl Jam made me mad with the dozens of e-mails I received about the TEN reissue/remaster. They weren’t offering me a discount for being a loyal fan club member, just the opportunity to pay for it before everyone else did. When I sent an e-mail complaining, I got a very snotty response.
I imagine it is tough being an idealistic rock star or rock group, but they seem to have defaulted on it. Either that or the line between establishment and anti-establishment is no longer visible to them. Perhaps because it is so far in their rearview mirror.
Patrick — June 2, 2009 @ 12:47 pm
Question – was the song performed last night on Conan (called ‘Got Some’) the same song (The Fixer) they recorded at Showbox for Target? Or is it a different new song?
Kerry — June 2, 2009 @ 12:51 pm
Heather, I am not surprised by the comments here just the harshness of them. No one needs to defend Pearl Jam. They have their cart of lawyers to do that. I respect your choice and your voice, whether or not I agree or disagree has no relevance. The name calling is over the top and unncessary. Keep on truckin’ lady, even those who say they won’t read you again are just putting on a blanket that the wind will blow away soon.
XOXO
MISS KELLI DOUGLAS
Kelli Douglas — June 2, 2009 @ 1:07 pm
I disagree with your opinion on this, Heather. I’m pretty disappointed actually.
Dugan — June 2, 2009 @ 1:32 pm
Forgive me if this is posted already in one of the bazillion comments, but here they are from last night’s Conan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHTvoOdC9I8
Mat Luschek — June 2, 2009 @ 1:59 pm
Are you kidding, you baby?
No band has been more fan friendly than Pearl Jam…none.
To be upset because you’ve been asked to remove something 3 times in the life of your blog (3 out of how many by the way?) is ridiculous.
You’re talking about a song that hasn’t even been mastered yet. Thing this through like an adult. Take a stand on something where you’re actually right.
Shawn — June 2, 2009 @ 2:17 pm
I admit it, I dig PJ, give it the benefit of the doubt, it seems they are trying to align something special. And it seems most of you do care, or you would never be so fucking passionate!
PJ still matter, obviously opening the first Tonight Show/ w Conan. I believe this is going to be special “record”. Before we throw them off the cliff, let’s just wait and see.
I recall they gave away there last single, and they have everything up on I Tunes.
The internet is good for 3 things… Comments (Bitching), Leaks, and Porn.
Just because you have a Mac and a I Phone does not mean you are fucking ENTITLED to fucking everything. Go stalk someone of FACEBOOK until 9/22 when Backspacer comes out!
Wes — June 2, 2009 @ 2:28 pm
It is great to have different points of view…Pearl Jam have been very emphatic about this, you should know it very good, Heather. Besides once i read this post i really got that sensation of you waiting for any excuse to “break up” (as you metaphorically said) with Pearl Jam (i might be wrong about it)… but anyway, it wouldn’t mean a BIG TROUBLE, it is just what you decided to do (or stop doing), and your blog (which is fantastic) became that space to release that anger, which seems quite visible. What came up along this post is the result of freedom of SPEECH and freedom of CHOICE…you WROTE….and you CHOOSE…
I sincerely don’t know what to think about this but, just for putting off a rip of a recorded song that is not yours you’re “breakin’ up” with them ? tell me about it…
Good Luck and Rock On…
Regards
GL
Guillermo Lacure — June 2, 2009 @ 5:50 pm
I, too, am profoundly disappointed in Pearl Jam lately, as what they’re doing is so completely in contradiction toward everything they’ve stood for and fought for in the last 20 years. I deeply respected them, looked up to them and am inspired by them to be true to myself, stand up for what I believe in, and take care of other people. They’ve broken their own sense of selves with the latest hypocrisy over the latest album, censoring everything they can, and the control – whoah – is comparable to corporate actions. I’m stunned, and can’t look at the same way I once did.
They’re nothing now but conforming sell-outs. What a sad day it is for the real fans, that they claim to care so much about.
And for those who disagree, I’ve seen other bands, in this recession, give so much to their fans; their thanks, free music, their love. I’m not feeling any love from Pearl Jam, just their need for control, privacy and more profits. A re-release of an album with expensive packages during difficult economic times? Is this taking care of us — or using us for more income for them??
Jeannie — June 2, 2009 @ 7:02 pm
Well said. The only reason I keep Pearl Jam on rotation on my ipod is beccause of your blog. I grew up in a flanell wearing generation. I’ve watched singles, but it was your blog that made me apperciate them for the band I thought they were. Now it’s not so much.
Magui — June 2, 2009 @ 9:02 pm
Heather,
You of all people should be able to distinguish between THE BAND and their MANAGEMENT. They are also, not one and the same entity. They believe they are working on the band’s best interest and they make mistakes as well. Legal issues are preventing from anything of the target shoot being public before the new album promo has aired. You must be able to respect that, and just take it as it is.
I am a a great fan myself and have been enjoying your blog for years now. Thankful for you pushing the boundries so I and many music enthusiasts out there can keep our ears to the ‘street’. You have acknowledged this conflict of interests on this space, now, see how you deal and resolve it! Pearl Jam are not the bad guys in this story, and neither are you, on a macro level this is a wrld-wide issue that will take time resolving in the business hub and legal hub. Everyone is trying to make their way through as best – everyone makes mistakes.
Einat — June 3, 2009 @ 3:12 am
I love Pearl Jam but i agree with every single word you wrote. They (or their manager) are wrong on that.
daniel — June 3, 2009 @ 11:42 am
I don’t buy into this idea that “it’s not them, it’s their management.” The management works for Pearl Jam, and should have a passing familiarity with Pearl Jam’s long standing image as a band who put its fans ahead of profits. The band has some responsibility to be aware when their management violates Pearl Jam’s stated “fan friendly” principles. They can’t live in a bubble and then pretend they’re in touch with their fans.
I really can see their management’s point about not wanting a low-quality version of the song distributed ahead of time. But they didn’t have to act like douche bags, having their lawyers demand you to take it down. Heather, I’m confident that if they asked you politely — even informally — you’d have honored their request immediately. Instead, they behave like you’re some kind of massive threat to the organization, or a petulant child to be chastised and berated in public, and then they call your blog “shitty.” It’s overkill, and it goes against everything PJ wants us to believe about them.
Grace — June 3, 2009 @ 5:22 pm
Well, it’s like you are driving somebody else’s car without a permission then making a huge deal out of it when s/he says don’t. Whose songs are these? Who wrote then? Who is going to publish them? If you say me one of these questions then go to court but if you say them, then please stop complaining about it. Whatever the reason they say don’t I think you have to respect the decision. They can be sell outs, they can be greedy and maybe they do not want you to be fandom!!! But at least they do not publish something stolen!!!!
Dave — June 3, 2009 @ 5:58 pm
[…] amongst fans, were none too pleased. Heather Browne over at I am Fuel, You Are Friends has a very personal, more complete story than I do, but suffice it to say, Pearl Jam’s reps worked tirelessly to […]
Pearl Jam Place A Target Sign on Their Next Album « ¡Viva La Mainstream! — June 3, 2009 @ 7:41 pm
“She gave him away when she couldnt hold…no…she folded…”
No longer a dissident, Ed’s now being called out for treason. Ha! Good for you, Heather!!
Bart Twang — June 4, 2009 @ 6:01 am
I am by no means the biggest fan of Pearl Jam, but I must say, this is just ridiculous. Between this sort of fiasco and the mediocre-at-best performance on the first night of Conan’s taking over for Leno…well, I’d be surprised if the band retained half of its followers.
Tyler — June 4, 2009 @ 1:50 pm
p.j. blows
bobby — June 4, 2009 @ 4:10 pm
I feel the same way you do. it seems like every time I turn around they are doing something to make me go – wtf? I thought I knew what this band was about. I can’t stomach any more hypocrisy, so count me as one of the former fans.
Eric — June 4, 2009 @ 5:47 pm
[…] to say, the news has caused quite a stir in the Pearl Jam community. Labels: 2009 Releases, New Music, News, Panther Picks, […]
Pearl Jam Debuts “Got Some” on Tonight Show, Inks Target Deal | Stranger Dance — June 4, 2009 @ 7:05 pm
Wow, I go on vacation for a few days and come back to this! I can’t claim to be a Pearl Jam fan, but I am fascinated by some of the anonymous comments this Pearl Jam post generated. In particular, the rather insidious sexism directed against Heather. Sad.
Side A Track 1 — June 4, 2009 @ 10:54 pm
This crap is the last straw. I’ve made excuses for the band for years now regarding hypocritical moves(verizon sponsoring tour, outrageous super deluxe edition of ten, etc….) It has become apparent that they are just sellouts like the other 99.99 percent of the world. It’s a shame cuz they inspired me at one time to stick to my principles, don’t compromise solely for money, and practice things I believe in. Apparently that was their angle and I fell for it with millions of other people. When their new album comes out I will be sure to pirate it and share with other people who are interested (all 5 of them)
joe blow — June 5, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
I never read this person’s blog but I listened to three seconds of The Fixer and turned it off, the quality was unlistenable at best. I don’t understand how people could actually want to be aquainted with a new song like that. If I was in the PJ camp I would of done the same thing. Be it as it may, there has always been that sense of entitlement with some fans.
The real question is: should that recording be considered a typical fan recording like the thousands commonly shared throughout the world, or did the band take specific efforts in making sure nobody would hear the song after that night? If it was the later case, that should be considered thievery, a thievery even more troublesome than all the internet stealing going on of Copyrighted music.
For all of you who choose not to like PJ for their music or ethics, here is an excerpt (reminder) from an Eddie Vedder interview in 1998:
“It really did happen,” he muses. “We really did turn a corner. Now it’s just movin’ on and bein’ a band and just doin’ what we do. We’ve kind of established what we do, and we’re not gonna defend what we do. If someone doesn’t like it, fuck off. I don’t really have time to hear it. I’m doin’ something pretty good with my life, and I challenge them to do the same.”
L123 — June 7, 2009 @ 9:26 am
[…] how groups like Pearl Jam have become corporate douches after spending many years fighting for the common man. Nick Hornby favorite & Pearl Jam […]
Music News – Jay Z (D.O.A.), Lemonheads, Pearl Jam « The De Mello Theory — June 8, 2009 @ 12:47 pm
So they make records and go on tour and all of the sudden they get to dictate what is moral, right, wrong and in the best interest of everyone? These celebrities think WAY too much of themselves, and at the expense of everyone else! To those in the crowd who buy everything they sell without thinking, it just feeds into their ENORMOUS EGOS!
PEARL JAM = MEGALOMANIA — June 8, 2009 @ 5:51 pm
I think the real issue is censorship and getting legal with it. Every concert you go to 75% of the kids recording songs on their cell phones, point and shoot cameras and the like. The quality is shit, but it’s a memory they take away and share with there friends and help fuel the fire of fanDUMB. Most of the time the band is cool about this type of stuff it’s their management (who is stealing money from them) that clamps down on the fans.
Soren — June 8, 2009 @ 7:06 pm
[…] weren’t the only ones confused by that […]
Britney Spears Topless Pictures @ Antiquiet — June 9, 2009 @ 11:57 am
Sure you can – get out to a show or buy the album. Buy the album? Heresy!
Pete — June 10, 2009 @ 12:44 am
Meet the new boss … same as the old boss.
Christo — June 10, 2009 @ 9:38 pm
I am a HUGE fan of Pearl Jam’s music and I can definitely understand the excitement of getting to hear a new song and I share in the enthusiasm. I like your comment about sampling like the cheese at Costco, but unfortunately people these days don’t sample a piece they just take the whole album. An artist’s only true ammunition for getting people to buy their albums is to keep it locked up until they choose to release it.
You are dabbling in hypocrisy, as you’re complaining that you’ve been asked to remove a file of a brand new song illegally recorded when your blog clearly states that “If you represent an artist or a label and would prefer that I remove a link to an mp3, please email me at browneheather@gmail.com and I will immediately remove the file.”
Whatever happened to the days before the internet when we waited for radio stations to give us that first taste of new music and we went to the store on release day and bought the album and drove for hours in our car just to take it all in, or ran home to put on headphones and be swept away but the new sound?
Jason Kentros — June 29, 2009 @ 4:12 pm
All these so called “super fans” are the only ones crying about this. Everyone one else is going to pick up the album when it drops and be happy…or disappointed. Does you hearing an album or song before its released make the music sound any better? I admit if I could have the album right now I would take it. Hell, I want the music before they write it. Waiting for it adds to my superfan craziness. When you are sitting in the confines of your home listening to the sweet melodic nectar I call PJ, are you really going to care about this? Probably not, since the music you’ll experience will take you on a journey no boat, plane or car can even come close to bringing you to. I respect your opinion and completely see how this is a travesty in some eyes. I love the music and the band, and will support them always. A band this big is always connected to “THE MAN” in some way. The man is the one who wants the music removed. I don’t think PJ came out and said remove this song immediately. Once again fuck the man, not the band…The End.
chuch — July 23, 2009 @ 6:49 pm
Wow, I don’t check in on this blog often because, as many of you have also stated, my love for PJ has waned over they years. This is really, really disappointing. There is no possible way that these things are going on without the knowledge or consent of at least some of the band members, I would imagine Ed in particular. To think of how much things have changed since the mid to late 90s when they were railing against TM and their ticket prices were kept at an incredibly affordable price. I guess that they were a big band then, but they are a HUGE band now and all of this corporate bullshit must come with the territory.
PcHsAmBa — August 13, 2009 @ 8:22 am
[…] the album’s availability at the big-box retailer. After the news sent the blogosphere into an NDA-violating tizzy, Pearl Jam’s manger Kelly Curtis gave Billboard the scoop on Backspacer, which will come out […]
A New Pearl Jam Song Gets Unscoured From The Internet « Idolator: Music News, Reviews, And Gossip — December 16, 2009 @ 9:53 pm
[…] 7:18 pm // Monday, June 1, 2009 Posted by jjbjjbjjb in postchildren. trackback Pearl Jam sending lawyers after leakers, deleting criticisms on band’s messageboard, and thusly providing excuses for indie bloggers to jump ship. […]
Hipsters United — February 23, 2010 @ 12:05 am
Don’t like it when people tell you not to steal their work, or maybe not to release something that’s not finished?
Breaking up with PJ?
Good.
Change the name of your website and fade off into internet-whiney-babble-purgatory.
Loyal PJ Fan Since 1991 — September 10, 2011 @ 12:07 am