Tribute Band In Legal Jam With Pearl Jam

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The UK-based tribute act to Pearl Jam has been forced to change their name after legal action from the Seattle group.

Pearl Jamm – the UK tribute act – received a cease-and-desist letter from the band’s lawyers. Writing an open letter to the band on social media earlier in the week the band said “To Pearl Jam, you have broken our hearts.”

“You have known of our tribute band for years yet have waited until a global pandemic to have threatening legal letters sent. This isn’t the Pearl Jam we know and love, the Pearl Jam that stands up for social issues and against corporate giants. Yet your lawyers tell us it is indeed you, the band, that are behind this.”

“We know how Matt Cameron felt about his heroes, Kiss, when they took umbrage to his own tribute band ‘kiss’ (lower case). No one has ever confused us or our merchandise with you or your merchandise, and so to say that is “likely” is clearly nonsense. We have not caused you or your brand any damage whatsoever, in fact we have done quite the opposite.”

“Such was the pressure exerted by the aggressive wording of the legal letters we received, we have questioned whether we even want to continue. We know of at least one other tribute band that decided to call it a day over this. It may have been easier, cheaper and more effective for one of you to reach out to us personally. We would have done that for you. But not like this. Your actions are out of character and unreasonable yet our love for the music endures. We sincerely hope that, despite confirmation to the contrary, you are blissfully unaware of actions being taken in your name.”

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A post shared by Legal Jam (Pearl Jamm) (@legaljamband)

Now the tribute act has released a statement revealing the band will be changing their name and clearing up the response from the news. Posting to social media the band said “We appear to have set the internet on fire this week and it’s time to extinguish the flames. A name doesn’t define us. We do what we do out of love and respect for Pearl Jam.”

“We have always been clear that we will ‘Yield’ to Pearl Jam’s demands and equally clear that our disappointment was only ever of the timing and manner in which those demands were made.”

“We are proud to announce our new name: ‘LEGAL JAM’ which we thought would be fitting and under which we will continue to perform the music of Pearl Jam in the most heartfelt and authentic way.”

We always said we’d change our name but weren’t sure to what….see our announcement below 🤘 pic.twitter.com/gQgQaoOMBM

— Legal Jam (Formerly Pearl Jamm Tribute) (@Pearljammband) January 20, 2021