Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder will embark on his first solo tour this spring, on the heels of his Monkeywrench/J soundtrack to the acclaimed film "Into the Wild." Dates begin April 2 in Vancouver; Liam Finn will open.
Vedder was uncertain about presenting the material live when he spoke to Billboard late last year. "I like the idea. It'll happen when it happens if it happens," he said with a laugh.
But he has since come around to the idea, perhaps encouraged by a well-received performance of "Into the Wild" music at a private party in Los Angeles in November.
"This will be an amazing opportunity for fans to see Eddie Vedder in such intimate settings," RCA Music Group VP or A&R/marketing Matt Shay tells Billboard.com. "Working with Eddie on the music from 'Into the Wild' has been an honor, and the tour will be a true highlight for all of us."
At present, it hasn't been announced whether Vedder will be playing the shows completely on his own or with help from other musicians. Ticket information, including pre-sale access for members of Pearl Jam's Ten Club fan organization, can be found at PearlJam.com.
Vedder's "Into the Wild" soundtrack has sold 243,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The track "Guaranteed" won the Golden Globe for best original song, while "Hard Sun" enjoyed success at radio, peaking at No. 13 on Billboard's Modern Rock chart.
Before Vedder hits the road, Pearl Jam is expected to regroup and start sketching out material for its next studio album. As previously reported, the band will also assemble to co-headline the Bonnaroo festival in mid-June in Manchester, Tenn.
There's other new Vedder music in the offing as well. His track "No More" will serve as the first single from "Body of War: Songs That Inspired an Iraq War Veteran," due March 18 via Sire.
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/art ... 1003711650
