Synopsis
The 1980s rise of one of the most influential bands of the grunge era, Seattle's Pearl Jam, paralleled the resurgence of that city's music scene. The band's phenomenally successful combination of elements of grunge with a commercial sheen, first heard on their debut album, TEN (1991), was seen as something of a sellout by some of their contemporaries, including a censorious Kurt Cobain. However the band later commendably made a principled, if ultimately unsuccessful stand against the conglomerate Ticketmaster's monopoly on concert ticket sales; it also consistently avoided playing giant stadiums in favor of smaller, more intimate venues. Pearl Jam's music and career is entertainingly and informatively examined in FIVE AGAINST ONE, Rolling Stone writer Kim Neely's well-researched biography, which recounts the origins and growing pains of one of the most successful rock acts of the 1990s, including its members' often rocky transitions from popular local heroes to internationally successful rock stars. Her breezily readable prose expertly navigates the complex twists and turns of the band's story, from its punk rock origins to its 1994 testimony before a congressional committee.
| Details | | Publication Date: | 1998-05-01 | | Edition Description: | Illustrated |
| Size | | Length: | 364 pages | | Height: | 8.5 in | | Width: | 5.8 in | | Thickness: | 1.0 in | | Weight: | 13.6 oz |
Publisher's Note
From a veteran Rolling Stone writer comes the definitive biography of one of the world's most popular and enigmatic bands--from their early days as fame-ducking grunge pioneers, to their headline-making battle with Ticketmaster, to their current status as self-assured survivors. At the core of the book is a compelling portrait of the band's reclusive leader Eddie Vedder, including family photos never seen before by the public.
More than any other band, Pearl Jam embodies the alternative style that dominates rock today. From their early days as fame-ducking grunge pioneers, through their headline-making battle with Ticketmaster, to their current status as self-assured survivors, Five Against One brings to life Pearl Jam's tumultuous ascent to superstardom in rich detail. A compelling portrait of the band's elusive leader Eddie Vedder and family photos never seen before by the public make this a must-have for every Pearl Jam fan.
Industry Reviews
"The singer dominates this book as he dominates his band. "Intense is a word that invariably surfaces when people talk about Eddie," notes Neely. Bitter, paranoid and self-obsessed spring to mind, too. Much of the bitterness stemmed from Vedder's upbringing, to which he'd allude obliquely in interviews as hellishly dysfunctional--Neely, a Rolling Stone journalist, investigates it thoroughly in this sympathetic but far from sycophantic book, down to interviewing his estranged stepfather and examining divorce papers....An insightful, excellently written biography."
Mojo - Sylvie Simmons (05/01/1999)
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