Some Bands Don't Decline

Most famous popular/rock music acts, be they solo or groups, start out with a big breakthrough album/single, consolidate themselves in the profession with a few decent followups, put out a "classic" album or two, and then begin a long decline of successively inferior works. I have no doubt that, if the Beatles had remained together, that would have been the case (just look at their later solo works). But we all know that they broke up with much animosity in 1970. As did Pink Floyd in 1983, but not before the release of their "declining" album The Final Cut. And when they reformed sans creative force Roger Waters, the group was but a pale shadow of its former glory. Led Zeppelin, which many thought broke up prematurely in 1980 due to the tragic death of drummer John Bonham, had already begun to show signs of decline with its last two studio albums Presence (a rush job) and In Through the Out Door. The Who HAD to decline after their torrid succession of masterpiece albums of the early seventies. In the grunge sphere, different bands took different roads. After only three studio albums and their best work apparently ahead of them, Nirvana imploded with the death of singer/songwriter Kurt Cobain. Soundgarden peaked with Superunknown and then immediately broke up just as it became apparent that their follow-up, Down on the Upside, was a step in decline. Alice in Chains "died" with the death of singer Layne Staley and only recently was "resurrected" when they came up with a dude whose voice was a "dead" ringer for Layne. But Pearl Jam has quite a different story. And they remind me a bit of a band I have followed since the early 1960s: the Rolling Stones.

Both Pearl Jam in the 90s and the Rolling Stones in the 60s made big names for themselves with their early albums and singles. They have always been great on stage and seem to thrive around their fans. Both groups have seen periods of decline and resurrection. And, in my opinion, both seem to be producing some of their best material now, at this late date. I remember back in the mid nineties, when people joked that the Stones were about to embark on their "one foot in the grave" tour to promote their then-new album Voodoo Lounge. What would you call a tour of theirs now? The "exhumation" tour?!

In order for a band to last very long and maintain a high quality of product requires a rare, sophisticated mixture of ego and submission among the members. And the ability to shrug off differences for the greater good of the group. It helps to have a good sense of humor, something I have long sensed in both Pearl Jam and the Rolling Stones. I look forward to hearing even better stuff from them in the future.