Fan recalls time he became enthralled

On Sept. 12, 1992, '80s hair metal became a sham.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Idolatry is a strong and often misunderstood word when it comes to music fans.
Just because someone places a singer or a band on a pedestal doesn't mean he becomes a mindless minion. So don't even bother sending your letters of heretical protest.
Still, there's a certain magic and personal relationship felt when a singer and audience member connect; and the stronger that feeling, the stronger the relationship. For Eddie Vedder and myself, we've been buddies since Sept. 12, 1992. Granted, he has no idea who I am, but I've traveled the States over the past 14 years seeing as many Pearl Jam shows as possible.
Perhaps apropos or entirely pathetic (depending on your viewpoint), I can pinpoint the exact moment Vedder went from average frontman to enthralling singer. Some of you may remember in the summer of '92, Kurt Cobain's angst raged with Nirvana atop the charts and Lollapalooza -- in its second year -- featuring the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ice Cube, Soundgarden and Pearl Jam.
The bond
It was during Pearl Jam's set, which oddly took place during the early afternoon, somewhere between "Porch" and the band's cover of Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World," that Vedder transcended the moment and forever solidified a bond. Already billed as a Jim Morrison-like figure for this unpredictable behavior and stage antics, Vedder was swinging around his microphone stand just as the song's emotional apex required a cathartic slam.
The metal pipe was held firmly behind his back with his arms over his shoulders. It was inevitable that the pain he sung about would manifest itself in a downward smashing motion.
My 23-year-old eyes were glued on the engaging singer who was like no other frontman this Gen Xer had ever seen live. Up to that point, it had been one leopard-skin and make-up wearing singer after another living a fantasy lifestyle that I would never experience.
As Vedder's muscles tensed around the mic stand, the moment was near. But the inevitable didn't happen. The easy, crowd-pleasing gesture wasn't to be. In a single second, a distraught-looking Vedder unwrapped his angry fingers, letting the stand slide down his back to the ground. The moment stood out for what it wasn't -- fake. It was that second when '80s hair metal became a sham.
Just over a year later, the Pearl Jam love would be consummated when I had the opportunity to see three consecutive shows -- one in Indio, Calif. (now home to the Coachella festival) and two in Mesa, Ariz. -- as the band toured its sophomore release, "Vs."
Hot mic
Remember when "MTV News" on the hour would show a clip of Vedder dancing around a microphone stand -- once again with the microphone stand -- that was on fire? This was shot at the Arizona show. The other big news from that concert was it marked the first time "Yellow Ledbetter" was performed live.
Not only did all three shows feature different set lists, but each song was reinterpreted differently from the previous night, with Vedder adding all of his improvisational lyrical genius.
Time has passed since my personal "Woodstock"-like experience with schedules and daily commitments no longer allowing for such travel. However, I've yet to miss a Pearl Jam tour -- even caught the "Vitalogy" bill in New Orleans in 1995 with openers The Ramones. And after waiting a decade, the touring schedule gods have smiled with Pearl Jam playing Friday at Pittsburgh's Mellon Arena and Saturday at Cincinnati's U.S. Bank Arena.
With their new self-titled release finding the band as fiery as ever, you better believe I'll be attending both shows with arms raised in a V -- for Vedder.