AMAZING FOOTAGE - "Jeremy" (Pearl Jam) Live at Borderline, London in Impromptu Pearl Jamm Gig HD

Pearl Jam fans from all around the world have been talking about the gig that the lucky few got to attend while the rest wish they had been able to. And it wasn’t even Pearl Jam playing! Pearl Jam had been due to perform at the O2 Arena in London to 20,000 excited fans on Tuesday night. When lead singer, Eddie Vedder, lost his voice the band were forced to cancel the gig at around 2pm that day. By 4pm, Pearl Jamm, the UK’s leading tribute band, had announced they would be playing that night at the legendary Borderline Club, steeped in Pearl Jam history as the Seattle giants had made their London debut back in 1992. Word spread about the impromptu gig like wildfire, fuelled even more so by the uncertainty over whether Pearl Jamm’s drummer could make the gig whether Matt Cameron might perform in his place (he declined); the show sold out in minutes making it the fastest-selling concert of any tribute band ever. It meant the lucky few had the disappointment of Pearl Jam’s cancellation turned into elation at having their evening saved while many others suffered the double disappointment of not being able to see either band. The queue to get into the gig stretched around the block, even before Pearl Jamm had arrived at the venue. Doors were held back to allow the band a brief sound check which only added to the anticipation of the crowd. Once doors finally opened, the crowd filled the venue. There wasn’t a single person who didn’t show up – unheard of for a ticketed concert – meaning the Borderline had its largest ever concert attendance. Coming on stage to a hero’s welcome, the roar of the crowd drowing out the sound of the band’s intro music, Pearl Jamm put on the performance of their lives. The crowd sang along to every word of the energetic 2-hour set which recalled memories of 1992 with sweat-soaked fans crowd surfing and stage diving. At the end of the set, the crowd begged for more. The curfew had been reached but the venue relented and agreed to one more song. So one more song they got and Pearl Jamm ripped into ‘Alive’, extending it spontaneously to what must have been the longest ever rendition of the PJ anthem! Crowd members poured onto the stage, dancing around with the band as they played, before jumping back on to a sea of raised hands. Once the final chords of the encore rang out, Pearl Jamm invited Tom Pugh on stage to talk about his fundraising efforts for ‘Given to Live’ that Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam had spoken about the previous evening at O2 Arena and had dedicated a song to mark their efforts in walking from Bristol to the O2 to raise money and help people who are not normally fortunate enough to get to gigs to be able to enjoy live music. The best nights are the spontaneous ones. Thanks to the quick thinking of Pearl Jamm, the cooperation of DHP Family and the Borderline staff (who all thought they were having a night off!), a few hundred lucky fans enjoyed a night they will never forget. And you can be sure that the ban