How a rainy Stevie Ray Vaughan concert saved Pearl Jam's lead guitarist from quitting
In short: Before he became a rock icon, Mike McCready almost walked away from music entirely. After a failed attempt to land a record deal in Los Angeles, he returned to Seattle feeling defeated and depressed. Then, a single, rain-soaked performance by Stevie Ray Vaughan changed his trajectory and his life forever.
Born in 1966, Mike McCready spent his youth in Seattle, eventually forming his first band, Shadow, in eighth grade. After a discouraging stint in Los Angeles in 1986, the band returned to Seattle and disbanded. McCready, disillusioned and struggling with his mental health, briefly abandoned the guitar to work at a video store and attend community college. His return to music was sparked by a Stevie Ray Vaughan concert at The Gorge Amphitheatre. McCready describes the moment a sudden downpour began during "Couldn't Stand the Weather" as a religious experience that lifted his negative mindset.
McCready’s career accelerated when he reconnected with childhood friend Stone Gossard. The two formed the core of what would become Pearl Jam, but not before participating in the Temple of the Dog project, a tribute to the late Andrew Wood. During these sessions, McCready cemented his reputation for intense, feel-oriented solos. His playing style, heavily influenced by blues legends like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, became a defining element of the Seattle grunge sound. By 1991, Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten, had propelled the band into the mainstream, leading to a string of multi-platinum records.
Beyond his work with Pearl Jam, McCready has maintained a prolific side-project career, including the band Mad Season, which he formed in 1994 after meeting bassist John Baker Saunders in rehabilitation. He is also known for his distinct approach to gear, favoring a "by ear" method over technical theory. His prized 1960 Fender Stratocaster, once thought to be a 1959 model, serves as the basis for his signature Fender replicas. Whether playing with the Seattle Symphony or collaborating with artists like Duff McKagan, McCready remains a central figure in rock, often entering a meditative state during his live performances.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Mike McCready
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