Pearl Jam

It reads like a screenplay to a film: guitarist and bass player pick up the pieces after the charismatic singer of their Seattle band dies from a drug overdose just before their debut album is released. They hook up with a young wailing blues lead guitarist and are recommended an unknown singer residing in San Diego. They send him a tape of instrumental songs to sing over. One becomes Alive. Now, 27 years later, Pearl Jam are a rock institution. Here’s your highlights of the story so far.