How did Pearl Jam get their name and what were they called before?

The band was originally called Mookie Blaylock, named after the NBA basketball player. They recorded early demos under this name at London Bridge Studios in Seattle in January 1991. They changed to Pearl Jam before the album’s release, with various stories about the origin — Eddie Vedder claimed it referenced his great-grandmother Pearl and a Native American word for jam, though the band has given different explanations over the years.

Report L000180. Filed.