
Mike McCready
Actor · b. 1966 · Pensacola, Florida, USA
Michael David McCready (born April 5, 1966) is an American musician who serves as the lead guitarist for the American rock band Pearl Jam, a band he co-founded. He has also been a member of the side project bands Flight to Mars, Temple of the Dog, Mad Season and The Rockfords. McCready was born in Pensacola, Florida, USA, but his family moved to Seattle shortly after his birth. As a child, his parents played Hendrix and Santana, while his friends listened to KISS and Aerosmith; McCready would frequently play bongo drums. At the age of 11, McCready purchased his first guitar and began taking lessons—aiming to imitate Gene Simmons of KISS, by sticking his tongue out. Shadow split up soon afterwards, and McCready lost interest in guitar for some time, before finally joining another band called Love Chile. A high school friend, Stone Gossard, heard the band, appreciated McCready's work, and asked if he wanted to join a band he was forming. The two worked together and recruited bassist Jeff Ament. Together with drummer Dave Krusen (who would later be replaced by Matt Chamberlain, then Dave Abbruzzese, then Jack Irons, and currently Matt Cameron) and Eddie Vedder, the group formed the band Pearl Jam (originally known as Mookie Blaylock). It was during this time that McCready took a central role in the Temple of the Dog project, combining members of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. Mikes first recording studio experience was recording the Temple of the Dog album, including an epic 4-minute-plus solo for "Reach Down." According to drummer Matt Cameron, McCready's headphone monitors flew off halfway through the recording of the solo, and he played the rest without being able to hear the backing track. McCready still considers this track to be his greatest achievement. By the end of 1991, Pearl Jam became one of the most famous modern bands with the release of Ten. McCready frequently soloed, and added a blues touch to the music (influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan). McCready's guitar style is usually an aggressive bluesy nature, and he never plays the same solo twice. His live renditions of songs have slightly different solos due to his fondness of improvization, and sometimes he treats the crowd to a full-on improv. He is extremely energetic live, and is commonly found dashing around the stage, playing to the crowd, throwing plectrums and soloing with the guitar behind his head.
Movies16
Movie4.8MusicOn Saturday, November 8, 2025, rock royalty once again gathered to celebrate the induction of another class of performers, influencers and excellent musicians into the Hallowed Hall of Rock. The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees were Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Soundgarden and The White Stripes in the Performer category.
2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2025 · 4 votes
MovieTV MovieDocumentaryThe Who were honored at the 2008 ceremony from the Pauley Pavilion at UCLA instead of the usual Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Events Center. The concert consisted of an hour-long performance by the band as well as tributes by Incubus, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Flaming Lips, Adam Sandler and Tenacious D.
Movie4.8ComedyMusicThis live stream benefiting the Democratic Party of Wisconsin features with Curry, Barry Bostwick, Wilmer Valderrama, Colleen Ballinger, Lance Bass, Rosario Dawson, Jason George, Nell Campbell, Seth Green, Jason Alexander, David Arquette, and more!
The Rocky Horror Musical Live Stream
2020 · 4 votes
Movie9.0DocumentaryMusicFor the first time ever, the Museum of Pop Culture's highly-anticipated Founders Award annual fundraiser event will be free to the public, streaming online Tuesday, December 1 as MoPOP honors Seattle's own Alice in Chains. The one-night-only benefit will be broadcast virtually beginning at 6 p.m. PT featuring unforgettable performances by Alice in Chains, as well as an acclaimed lineup of musicians who will put their own twist on some of the band's most iconic songs.
MoPOP Founders Award 2020 Honoring Alice in Chains
2020 · 2 votes
MovieDocumentaryMusicVH1 and SPIN magazine teamed up to present 'VH1 News Special: Grunge', an in-depth look at the Seattle-born movement that transformed popular music and the major players who made it happen.
Movie8.8MusicDocumentaryLive at the Showbox captures Pearl Jam playing in the intimate environment of the Showbox Theatre in Seattle, WA. It was released on May 7, 2003. It was recorded on December 6, 2002 at The Showbox in the band's hometown of Seattle, Washington. The show was the second of four warm-up gigs for the band's 2003 Riot Act Tour. The DVD is only available through the band's official website.
Pearl Jam: Live At The Showbox
2003 · 6 votes
Movie8.4DocumentaryAt the age of 34, former New Orleans Saints defensive back Steve Gleason was diagnosed with ALS and given a life expectancy of two to five years. Weeks later, Gleason found out his wife, Michel, was expecting their first child. A video journal that began as a gift for his unborn son expands to chronicle Steve’s determination to get his relationships in order, build a foundation to provide other ALS patients with purpose, and adapt to his declining physical condition—utilizing medical technologies that offer the means to live as fully as possible.
Gleason
2016 · 55 votes
Movie7.7MusicDocumentaryLet’s Play Two is a documentary film that chronicles Pearl Jam’s legendary performances at Wrigley Field during the Chicago Cubs historic 2016 season. With Chicago being a hometown to Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam has forged a relationship with the city, the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field that is unparalleled in the world of sports and music. From Ten to Lightning Bolt, the documentary film shuffles through Pearl Jam’s ever-growing catalog of originals and covers - spanning the band's 25-year career. Through the eyes of renowned director/photographer Danny Clinch and the voice of Pearl Jam, the film showcases the journey of this special relationship.
Pearl Jam: Let's Play Two
2017 · 25 votes
MovieMusicConcert special featuring musicians, actors, athletes, and community leaders who have a deep connection to the state of Washington. Join powerful voices coming together to raise spirits and money to benefit the people of Washington in response to COVID-19.
Movie7.8DocumentaryMusicCarved from over 1,200 hours of footage spanning the band’s career, Pearl Jam: Twenty is the definitive portrait of Pearl Jam. Part concert film, part intimate insider-hang, and part testimonial to the power of music.
Pearl Jam Twenty
2011 · 117 votes
Movie7.6Music28 songs filmed entirely with handheld cameras by Pearl Jam crew members across 19 different cities from the bands' 2000 North American tour. Reflecting the time and composition of an actual concert set list, this video is, in the words of Eddie Vedder, "in some ways the visual equivalent of the bootlegs that have been released in the past year... a basic document of what may occur at any given Pearl Jam concert."
Pearl Jam: Touring Band 2000
2001 · 21 votes
Movie8.4MusicDocumentaryA performance by Pearl Jam on MTV’s Unplugged. The band plays acoustic versions of songs from their debut album Ten, including 'Black' and 'Alive', plus 'State Of Love And Trust', which was not included on the original album.
Pearl Jam: MTV Unplugged
1992 · 27 votes
Movie3.5DocumentaryHistoryEnormous: The Gorge Story carves out the never-before-told story of the world’s most iconic music venue, The Gorge Amphitheatre. This music film investigates the venue’s unlikely evolution from a small winery created by a neurosurgeon to becoming one of the greatest outdoor music destinations in the world. Sign up to our mailing list for updates and original music content.
Enormous: The Gorge Story
2021 · 2 votes
Movie7.5MusicDocumentaryThis video is not your typical collection of music videos. Rather than being simply a straightforward presentation of videos, Single Video Theory also contains footage of the band members recording their album in the studio. The camera captures the actual recording sessions as well as the band members chatting candidly about their concept and ideas for the music. Directed by Mark Pellington and shot in 16mm over 3 days in 1997.
Pearl Jam: Single Video Theory
1998 · 16 votes
Movie7.7MusicPearl Jam perform live at Madison Square Garden on 8 July 2003 as part of the Riot Act Tour, the band's first with organist Boom Gaspar.
Pearl Jam: Live at the Garden
2003 · 11 votes
Movie6.8ComedyMusicAlan Poole McLard, a Film Studies professor, attempts to film a documentary about Alice in Chains to coincide with the release of their new album, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, without any assistance from the actual band.
Alice in Chains: AIC 23
2013 · 3 votes
Series4
TV6.1ComedyTalk ShowStephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology, and more. Featuring bandleader Jon Batiste with his band Stay Human, the Emmy Award-nominated show is broadcast from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
2015 · 364 votes
TV6.4Talk ShowComedyDavid Letterman uses mature humor to appeal to his audience in this weeknight series, which gets its music from a house band led by Paul Shaffer. Among the show's most-famous segments are the Top Ten List and Stupid Pet Tricks, the latter of which subsequently led to an additional recurring segment called Stupid Human Tricks.
Late Show with David Letterman
1993 · 173 votes
TV6.9ComedyNewsA late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.
Saturday Night Live
1975 · 527 votes
TV7.9Talk ShowAn annual award ceremony presented by MTV to honor the best in the music video medium.
MTV Video Music Awards
1984 · 24 votes