Pearl Jam send cease and desist letter to cover act Pearl Jamm

In news that feels like the antithesis of Pearl Jam ethos, the Seattle grunge legends have sent a cease and desist letter to London-based tribute act Pearl Jamm.

Pearl Jamm took to Facebook earlier this week to reveal that Pearl Jam’s lawyers had contacted them, threatening legal action unless they adhered to a number of demands.

“They’ve asked us to change the name of the band,” Pearl Jamm guitarist Tim Love revealed to the BBC. “They’ve asked us to hand over … e-mail addresses, domain names and they’ve also asked us to destroy merchandise.”

“No one’s ever come to a show,” he continued, “got to the end of the show and came up to us demanding their money back because they were expecting to see Pearl Jam play at the Garage in Highbury.”

The covers act have been kicking around since 2016, and acquired a meaty following of near 10,000. Naturally, the band are anxious that if they’re forced to change their name they will have to build go through the motions of building up a fanbase all over again.

In a lengthy open letter addressed to Pearl Jam, the cover’s act highlighted the contradictory nature of the lawyer’s threatening a small-time cover act, and the social justice veneer that Pearl Jam has embodied over the course of their career. Pearl Jamm particularly take umbrage in the fact they’re being targetted in the midst of a global pandemic, where musicians have suffered a devastating loss of touring income.

“You have known of our tribute band for years yet have waited until a global pandemic to have threatening legal letters sent,” they wrote. “This isn’t the Pearl Jam we know and love, the Pearl Jam that stands up for social issues and against corporate giants. Yet your lawyers tell us it is indeed you, the band, that are behind this.”

The letter went on to highlight an instance where Pearl Jam’s drummer Matt Cameron’s KISS tribute band was once threatened with legal action.

“Such was the pressure exerted by the aggressive wording of the legal letters we received, we have questioned whether we even want to continue,” the letter continued. “We know of at least one other tribute band that decided to call it a day over this. It may have been easier, cheaper and more effective for one of you to reach out to us personally. We would have done that for you. But not like this.

“Your actions are out of character and unreasonable yet our love for the music endures,” Pearl Jamm continued. “We sincerely hope that, despite confirmation to the contrary, you are blissfully unaware of actions being taken in your name. We invite you to respond either publicly or privately and rescind the legal threats that have been made.”

You can read the full letter below:

Get unlimited access to the coverage that shapes our culture.

Subscribe to Rolling Stone magazine

Subscribe to Rolling Stone magazine