Pearl Jam tribute band change name following 'threatening' legal action
Pearl Jamm say they're 'heartbroken'
Last updated 21st Jan 2021
London based tribute band Pearl Jamm have changed their name after the real Pearl Jam allegedly started "threatening" legal proceedings against them.
Formed through a shared love of Eddie Vedder and co., Pearl Jamm have been touring the UK playing songs by their beloved Pearl Jam since 2016.
However, as the BBC reported last Thursday (14th January), Pearl Jamm were sent a legal letter by their musical heroes saying that ‘their name, domain name and merchandise is damaging the Pearl Jam brand and causing confusion.’
According to Pearl Jamm, Pearl Jam asked them to change their name, hand over their domain and email addresses, and to destroy their merchandise.
One band member said: “No one’s ever come to a show, got to the end of the show, came to us and demanded money back because they were expecting to see Pearl Jam play The Garage in Highbury.”
Commenting on intellectual property rights, a legal correspondent told the BBC: “From a tribute band point of view, it’s important to use a name that’s not too close to that of the original band. It’s important not to use logos that are identical to those used by the original band.”
In a post on social media Monday (18th January), Pearl Jamm published an open letter to Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament and Matt Cameron saying they have “broken our hearts.”
Hitting out at the band, Pearl Jamm wrote: “You have known of our tribute band for years yet have waited until a global pandemic to have threatening legal letters sent. This isn’t the Pearl Jam we know and love, the Pearl Jam that stands up for social issues and against corporate giants. Yet your lawyers tell us it is indeed you, the band, that are behind this.
“We know how Matt Cameron felt about his heroes, Kiss, when they took umbrage to his own tribute band ‘kiss’ (lower case). No one has ever confused us or our merchandise with you or your merchandise, and so to say that is “likely” is clearly nonsense. We have not caused you or your brand any damage whatsoever, in fact we have done quite the opposite.
Watch Miley Cyrus' incredible cover of Pearl Jam's 'Just Breathe'
“Such was the pressure exerted by the aggressive wording of the legal letters we received, we have questioned whether we even want to continue. We know of at least one other tribute band that decided to call it a day over this. It may have been easier, cheaper and more effective for one of you to reach out to us personally. We would have done that for you. But not like this.
“Your actions are out of character and unreasonable yet our love for the music endures. We sincerely hope that, despite confirmation to the contrary, you are blissfully unaware of actions being taken in your name. We invite you to respond either publicly or privately and rescind the legal threats that have been made.”
In an update yesterday (20th January), Pearl Jamm have now confirmed that they have given themselves the highly apt new name… Legal Jam.
Legal Jam wrote: “We appear to have set the internet on fire this week and it’s time to extinguish the flames. A name doesn’t define us. We do what we do out of love and respect for Pearl Jam. We have always been clear that we will ‘Yield’ to Pearl Jam’s demands and equally clear that our disappointment was only ever of the timing and manner in which those demands were made.
“We are proud to announce our new name: ‘LEGAL JAM’ which we thought would be fitting and under which we will continue to perform the music of Pearl Jam in the most heartfelt and authentic way. We look forward to reconnecting with our own fans (and other tributes) who have been so supportive through this as well welcoming the new fans who have joined us over the last week, as soon as we are back on the road.”
The real Pearl Jam are scheduled to play two gargantuan headline shows at American Express presents BST Hyde Park in London on Friday 9th July and Saturday 10th July 2021.
With many more support acts to be announced, Pixies and Idles have been confirmed as the special guests on the Friday and Saturday respectively.