Idolator: Eddie Vedder

Billy Corgan, in his latest attempt to be ...

Maura Johnston — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:45:00 EST

Billy Corgan, in his latest attempt to be seen as a total nutball by pretty much anyone who liked him during the '90s, is saying that Eddie Vedder's song about the Cubs maybe winning the World Series "killed that shit dead... Eddie ain’t living here to write a song about my fuckin’ team." Funny, I thought that Ryan Dempster and an anemic performance by the Cubs' offense were more to blame, but maybe Billy isn't big on reading the boxscores. [Home Run Derby via Vulture]

Eddie Vedder Is Excited About The Chicago Cubs

Maura Johnston — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:45:00 EDT

The Pearl Jam lead singer debuted "Someday We'll Go All The Way" in August (to celebrate the birthday of Cub legend Ernie Banks), but what with the team's magic number to clinch the NL Central being so close to zero, Chicago-area radio stations have picked it up as something of a rallying cry over the past few days. But who will pick up that mantel for the Cubs' crosstown rivals, the White Sox? (No, really, I'm asking.) [Nearly Next Year]

Coachella: Let The Sunscreen Application (And Sean Penn-Related Speculation) Begin!

Maura Johnston — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:45:00 EDT

The 2008 festival glut begins this weekend in the California desert with this year's edition of Coachella, and with a little more than 72 hours to go until the gates open, the festival's organizers have released the weekend's schedule. While I've been mostly focused on my relief over the fact that I'll have something to do during Roger Waters' two and a half hour festival-closing set (thank you, Black Mountain), an eagle-eyed tipster e-mailed to point out that Sean Penn was on Sunday's bill not once, but twice, with a half-hour set in the early afternoon and a 15-minute set in the early evening. What could he be doing during his allotted time—celebrating the 26th anniversary of Fast Times At Ridgemont High? Introducing one of the artists he'd directed a music video for (maybe Jewel)? Thankfully, posters over at Coachella's message board were on the case:

First, the doubters:

I doubt that a surprise band would pop in for a bangin' 15 minute set. I'm guessing it really is Sean Penn and he wants to talk political shit.

People quickly rose up to remind people that in past years, Tenacious D and Beck have done exactly that at the festival.

into the wild. chris went to coachella. sean directed the film. i predict a bus + some musical surprise.

Which led to the only natural conclusion:

into the wild = eddie veddar. makes SO MUCH SENSE AGGGHH!!!!! that'd rock my world.

Ahh, I love the Internet, how a grain of truth can turn into a full-bloomed flower of all-caps excitement. Whether or not it's actually true, of course, is up for debate, but I look forward to the next 23 pages of message-board speculation that will fill attendees' working hours between now and the moment the gates open on Friday.

Set Times [Coachella.com]
What the HELL is Sean Penn doing on Sunday? [Coachella Message Board]

Sure, I have a long-standing affection for ...

mjohnston — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:22:36 EDT

Sure, I have a long-standing affection for Pearl Jam, but Eddie Vedder just sang "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during this afternoon's Mets-Cubs game at Wrigley Field, and he somehow managed to turn the song into a freaking dirge. (Also, he somehow turned the song's final four words into "at the home ballgame.") Classy of him to wear a Kerry Wood jersey, though! [cubs.com]