NEWS
Eddie Vedder
Photo by Danny ClinchPearl Jam‘s Eddie Vedder, who’s back on the road after positive COVID-19 cases postponed dates on his solo tour earlier in February, says his own bout with the coronavirus was “pretty serious.”
As Ultimate Classic Rock first reported on Sunday (Feb. 27), Vedder shared his experience in front of a live audience in Los Angeles Friday night. The moment was captured on video by a fan at the show.
“I just wanted to take a quick second to look at this, because it’s very rare,” Vedder said, looking out at the crowd after his daughter Olivia performed her own song “My Father’s Daughter” onstage at L.A.’s YouTube Theater. “It’s incredible. I got the COVID right before we were supposed to start practicing, probably five, six weeks ago, and literally saw my life flash in front of my eyes.”
Vedder continued, “I wasn’t quite sure… because I’ve done some very good things for my body, and I’ve also had a lot of fun. I’ve done some things that could be … some kind of abuse, I mean, nothing really clinical,” he joked. “I won’t get into the details. Just use your imagination!”
“But it was, it felt pretty serious,” said Vedder of his illness. “And to get through that and then be back in a room like this, facing this many people facing this way, listening to us play music for you is really, truly, it’s been a gift and an honor. Thanks for listening. We’re so grateful.”
Vedder and his band the Earthlings — Chad Smith, Josh Klinghoffer, Chris Chaney, Glen Hansard and Andrew Watt — launched the tour support of Vedder’s new album, Earthling.
Listen to Vedder talk about returning to the stage after having COVID-19 in the concert clip below, and watch Olivia perform “My Father’s Daughter,” a ballad co-written by her dad and Hansard.
Taylor Swift believes Nashville has a music scene that stands apart from anywhere else.
The 36 year old singer moved to Nashville, Tennessee, when she was young to chase her dream of becoming a country music star. After being inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame on Monday (26.10.26), Taylor took the opportunity to recognise the city and the talented writers who have helped shape its music scene.
In her acceptance speech, Taylor said: "I believe you really get to master a craft by doing it again and again. That's exactly what the incredible songwriters in this wonderful town do every day."
Taylor also spoke about what makes Nashville such a special place for musicians.
The award winning singer, who ranks among the best selling music artists of all time, said: "You won't find another music community quite like this one. Trust me, I've checked them all."
Taylor also shared how being part of Nashville's songwriting scene had taught her valuable lessons about life and working with others.
She joked: "I've learned to be flexible when your co writer turns up with a hangover, or when they need to spend ages talking about their divorce before we can even get started on a song."
Taylor previously spoke about how Faith Hill and Shania Twain inspired her decision to move to Nashville.
Speaking to Time magazine, the singer said: "I couldn't get enough of watching TV biographies about Faith Hill and Shania Twain, and I realised they had both moved to Nashville to get their careers started. After that, I kept asking, pleading and begging my parents to take me there.
"When I was 11, my mum took my brother and me to Nashville during spring break, and we spent the trip driving around Music Row. She stayed in the car while I rushed into record companies one after another, giving my demo CD to the receptionists. I found it fascinating that so many major record labels were gathered along a single street, often inside little buildings and old houses.
"What really stayed with me was how welcoming people were to newcomers and complete strangers like us. We started visiting Nashville more often, and when I was 13, I received an offer for a development deal from a major record label. That was when my parents finally agreed to leave Pennsylvania and move with me."
