PEARL JAM's EDDIE VEDDER Writes About His Love For THE WHO

According to The Pulse Of Radio, PEARL JAM frontman Eddie Vedder wrote about his well-documented love for THE WHO in a new article for Rolling Stone, penned in honor of the band as it celebrates its 50th year with a new tour. Vedder wrote: "THE WHO began as spectacle. They became spectacular. Early on, the band was in pure demolition mode; later, on albums like 'Tommy' and 'Quadrophenia', it coupled that raw energy with precision and desire to complete musical experiments on a grand scale… Pete Townshend demanded that there be spiritual value in music."

Vedder added: "Presumptuously, I speak for all WHO fans when I say being a fan of THE WHO has incalculably enriched my life. What disturbs me about THE WHO is the way they smashed through every door of rock & roll, leaving rubble and not much else for the rest of us to lay claim to."

The singer also recalled how he first heard THE WHO's music, saying: "I was around nine when a babysitter snuck 'Who's Next' onto the turntable. The parents were gone. The windows shook. The shelves were rattling. Rock & roll. That began an exploration into music that had soul, rebellion, aggression, affection. Destruction. And this was all WHO music."

Vedder also wrote that THE WHO "quite possibly remain the greatest live band ever."

PEARL JAM will begin its North American run on April 8 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The band released its last album, "Lightning Bolt", in 2013 and PEARL JAM bassist Jeff Ament recently told Rolling Stone that their thoughts are starting to turn toward an 11th studio effort.