Stone Gossard

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Gossard's musical journey began early in Seattle. He attended The Northwest School, a day and boarding school, where he joined his first band, March of Crimes, which included future Soundgarden bassist Ben Shepherd and novelist Jonathan Evison. Though his time with that band was brief, it introduced him to the emerging Seattle music scene. He formed a close friendship with guitarist Steve Turner (later of Mudhoney), who had also attended The Northwest School, and joined Turner in his band The Ducky Boys. Turner's interest in punk rock had a significant influence on Gossard, and in turn on the ethos of the band. After Green River's dissolution, Gossard established Mother Love Bone in 1988 with former Green River members Jeff Ament and Bruce Fairweather, former Malfunkshun frontman Andrew Wood, and drummer Greg Gilmore. The band signed to PolyGram subsidiary Mercury Records in early 1989 and issued its debut EP, Shine, in March of that year. Only days before the release of their debut album Apple in March 1990, frontman Wood overdosed on heroin and died, effectively ending the band. Gossard later reacquainted himself with childhood acquaintance Mike McCready after watching him jam with a local band called Love Chile. After a few months of practicing together, McCready encouraged Gossard to reconnect with Ament. The trio were attempting to form their own band when they were invited to be part of the Temple of the Dog project founded by Soundgarden's Chris Cornell as a musical tribute to Wood. Gossard described the recording process as a 'non-pressure filled' situation. This project eventually featured vocalist Eddie Vedder, who had arrived in Seattle to audition to be the singer for Ament and Gossard's next band. Vedder sang a duet with Cornell on 'Hunger Strike' and provided background vocals on several other songs. Three of the songs on the final album were musically credited to Gossard, including the single 'Pushin Forward Back'. Gossard asserted that he thought Wood would be 'blown away by the whole thing.'

In Their Own Story

Pearl Jam was formed in 1990 by Ament, Gossard, and McCready, who then recruited Vedder and drummer Dave Krusen. The band originally took the name Mookie Blaylock, but was forced to change it when the band signed to Epic Records in 1991. After the recording sessions for Ten were completed, Krusen left Pearl Jam in May 1991. Krusen was replaced by Matt Chamberlain, who had previously played with Edie Brickell & New Bohemians. After playing only a handful of shows, one of which was filmed for the 'Alive' video, Chamberlain left to join the Saturday Night Live band. As his replacement, Chamberlain suggested Dave Abbruzzese, who joined the group and played the rest of Pearl Jam's live shows supporting Ten. Ten broke the band into the mainstream, and became one of the best selling alternative albums of the 1990s. The single 'Jeremy' received Grammy Award nominations for Best Rock Song and Best Hard Rock Performance in 1993. Pearl Jam received four awards at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards for its music video for 'Jeremy', including Video of the Year and Best Group Video. Following an intense touring schedule, the band released its second studio album, Vs., in 1993. Upon its release, Vs. set at the time the record for most copies of an album sold in a week, and spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard 200. In 1994, the band began a much-publicized boycott of Ticketmaster, which lasted for three years and limited the band's ability to tour in the United States. Gossard took an active role during Pearl Jam's dispute with Ticketmaster in 1994 over prices and surcharges. Along with Ament, Gossard testified before a congressional subcommittee, arguing that Ticketmaster's practices were anti-competitive. Later that same year the band released its third studio album, Vitalogy, which became the band's third straight album to reach multi-platinum status. The lead single 'Spin the Black Circle' won a Grammy Award in 1996 for Best Hard Rock Performance. Although Abbruzzese performed on Vitalogy, he was fired in August 1994, four months before the album was released. The band cited political differences between Abbruzzese and the other members; for example, he disagreed with the Ticketmaster boycott. He was replaced by Jack Irons. The band subsequently released No Code in 1996 and Yield in 1998. In 1998, prior to Pearl Jam's U.S. Yield Tour, Irons left the band due to dissatisfaction with touring. Pearl Jam enlisted former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron as Irons' replacement on an initially temporary basis, but he soon became a permanent replacement. In 1998, Pearl Jam recorded 'Last Kiss', a cover of a 1960s ballad made famous by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers. It was released on the band's 1998 fan club Christmas single; however, by popular demand, the cover was released to the public as a single in 1999. 'Last Kiss' peaked at number two on the Billboard charts and became the band's highest-charting single. In 2000, the band released its sixth studio album, Binaural, and initiated a successful and ongoing series of official bootlegs. The band released seventy-two such live albums.

Reader's Guide

Stone Gossard has been a member of Pearl Jam since its inception in 1990. He plays rhythm guitar and contributes significantly to the band's songwriting process. His tenure spans the entire history of the group, making him one of only two original members remaining alongside Jeff Ament. His playing style is characterized by melodic precision and a supportive rhythmic approach that allows lead elements to shine. Outside of Pearl Jam, Gossard has been involved in various side projects, including Temple of the Dog and Brad, and has released two solo albums: Bayleaf in 2001 and Moonlander in 2013.

Did You Know?

• Stone Gossard was born in Seattle to David W. Gossard Jr. and Mary Carolyn Carpenter. His father was a lawyer and his mother worked in the Seattle city government.
• The first band Gossard joined was March of Crimes, which included future Soundgarden bassist Ben Shepherd and novelist Jonathan Evison.
• Gossard formed a close friendship with guitarist Steve Turner (later of Mudhoney) at the Northwest School, and Turner's interest in punk rock had a significant influence on Gossard.
• Gossard testified before a congressional subcommittee alongside Jeff Ament in 1994 during Pearl Jam's dispute with Ticketmaster over prices and surcharges.
• Gossard was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Pearl Jam in 2017.

Gallery