Eddie Vedder was living in San Diego and was working as a security guard in 1990 when a tape containing three instrumental tracks by members of the defunct Seattle band Mother Love Bone was sent in the mail.
Their frontman, Andrew Wood, died of a heroin overdose earlier that year, and their mutual friend Jack Irons (a former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer) suggested that Eddie could be a good fit for their music.
Vedder played the music, went surfing, and the lyrics to “Alive” came to him. As soon as the band heard his powerful growl and anthemic story of survival in the light of a terrifying personal revelation, they knew they had their man.
Soon after, he traveled to Seattle and more music was recorded. But it all started with “Alive”.