Here’s something you don’t see every day: a band from the ’90s teaming up with a guitar legend from the ’70s. And yet, that’s exactly what happened Thursday night in Nashville. Pearl Jam, known for their electric performances, invited Peter Frampton on stage for a memorable moment that had the whole crowd singing along.
This wasn’t just a random guest appearance. Midway through their second show at Bridgestone Arena which is part of their 2024 Dark Matter tour, Eddie Vedder introduced Frampton, now a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member. Together, they performed “Black,” one of Pearl Jam’s most beloved songs. Vedder even joked that the song was named after the color of Frampton’s famous Les Paul guitar. As Frampton shredded on the track, the band smoothly worked in a section of his own classic, “Do You Feel Like We Do.”
Eddie Vedder and Peter Frampton are long-term friends
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This surprise collaboration may seem unexpected, but the connection between Pearl Jam and Peter Frampton runs deeper than most fans know. Guitarist Mike McCready and drummer Matt Cameron both played on Frampton’s 2006 Grammy-winning instrumental album Fingerprints. More than that, they’re longtime friends. Onstage, Vedder praised Frampton, calling him one of their early guitar heroes alongside names like Jimmy Page and Pete Townshend. He even gave credit to Frampton for inspiring Pearl Jam’s decision to release official live bootlegs.
“Before the Ramones, he was one of the reasons you loved live records,” Vedder said. “He’s such an incredible human being on top of it.”
Fans were excited to witness both legends on stage
Frampton’s appearance carried even more emotional weight given his ongoing battle with inclusion body myositis, a rare degenerative muscle condition that has affected his ability to tour.
The crowd in Nashville didn’t hold back. As the band played, fans sang every word. Fans even captured footage of the show, letting those who weren’t there witness the magic. It’s not every night you see Pearl Jam and Peter Frampton share a stage. But for Nashville, that night felt like something truly special.