Eddie Vedder: Discover the history of the three names of the Pearl Jam singer

Immortalized in front of Pearl Jamguitarist and vocalist Eddie Vedder became one of the main references in world rock.

However, the name currently used by the musician is different from the other two he had throughout his life.

Born in 1964 in the US state of Illinois and son of Karen Lee Vedder and Edward Louis Severson Jr.the artist was baptized as Edward Louis Severson IIIcontinuing the names of the paternal grandfather’s lineage.

But the parents of Eddie they separated shortly after birth. So he went to live with his mother and stepfather Peter Mueller. It was at that moment that, without changing his registered name, the boy began to be called Edward Mueller.

How did this whole story happen when Eddie was very young, he spent his entire childhood believing that Peter he was her real father. The biological father had already passed away.

The discovery happened when he was a teenager and was so remarkable that it ended up inspiring part of the song “Alive”one of the greatest hits of Pearl Jam. It was also at this turbulent time that he decided to adopt the name Vedder of the mother.

At that time, Eddie Vedder He was already dedicated to music, but he had to work as a pharmacy attendant, hotel security guard and waiter, among other jobs, to be able to support himself.

Successful career and reunion

In the 1980s, Eddie Vedder took the first important steps in his musical career by participating in bands such as Indian style, Surf and Destroy, The Butts and Bad Radio.

But the key turned in 1990 when he joined the group Mookie Blaylockwhich in the same year became the Pearl Jam.

Right from the debut album, ten — released by Epic Records in 1991 — the group has already started on the path to success, with several Grammy nominations.

To this day, the Pearl Jam sold more than 60 million records worldwide and released 12 albums — the last, Dark Matterpublished in 2024.

Eddie Vedder He also dedicated himself to a solo career, with three albums. The most recent is Earthling (2022) and features voice recordings from the artist’s father that were only given to him in 2014.

At the time, Eddie was asked what he would most like to know about his father (via Igor Miranda) and replied:

The first thing that comes to mind for not having really met him, or not having had the opportunity to meet him, I think deep down I would have just liked to know if he loved me and how much. I think he loved me. But, another thing that would be great would be to have someone of my own blood teaching me what it would be like to grow up and be a man, a good man.

I guess I had to figure these things out on my own and I think some guidance could have helped. And there’s probably no one you trust more than your father. So when adolescence arrived, I didn’t trust any adults. I had difficulties with all adults at that time. I think he could have helped me with some of those things.”

Then, the musician told how he had access to the recordings that allowed him to hear his father’s voice for the first time.

Someone ended up being very kind, and it’s a very long story how it all ended, but it ended with me making 4 songs for him saying that. And I only heard your voice for the first time last month. And, the cool part… I mean, it sounded good, the production was good, his voice sounded great. It was kind of, you know, probably the early ’70s, kind of at the end of the ‘crooners’ and it sounded like he was going more in the folk direction.

But the coolest thing is that he was really f*cking good. So I was very proud of him. And, you know, I wish he was here now and I like to think he’d be proud of me. And now I feel proud of him, which is a really cool thing.”

Eddie Vedder also participated in albums by Temple Of The Dog, Bad Religion, Neil Young, Ramones and The Whobetween others.