FUSE TV - Pearl Jam Turns 25: Watch The Band's First Show

It was exactly 25 years ago today (Oct. 22) that Pearl Jam played its first-ever show, and we’re celebrating by taking a look back at that special gig. Considered the band’s official birthday by fans, October 22, 1990 found the new band taking the stage at Seattle’s tiny Off Ramp club to see if the San Diego singer/surfer Eddie Vedder they’d first flown in a couple of weeks prior was as impressive live as he had been on tape and in rehearsal. 

That Monday night, Vedder, bassist Jeff Ament, guitarists Stone Gossard and Mike McCready, and drummer Dave Krusen rocked their way through a slew of soon-to-be famous songs that would find their way onto the tracklist of the band’s classic debut Ten less than a year later. At that point going by the name Mookie Blaylock (after the basketball player), the group was so new they hadn’t even found their permanent name yet. 

A least one camcorder-wielding audience member captured the band roar out of the gate with fully formed versions of “Alive,” “Even Flow,” “Black,” “Release” and several other tunes. Step back into the mists of time, and watch it all in the video player above.