Bigger in the US than Guns 'n Roses, more popular than Nirvana - both of whom they outsold in 1992 - Seattle grunge-pioneers Pearl Jam have now broken out of the hard rock strait-jacket. The reasons for their astounding success are simple. Pearl Jam are a socially aware, riff-laden monstermash, busy redesigning the embarrassment of heavy metal. Their debut 1992 album, "Ten" was named as one of the Top 10 Albums of the Nineties in both "Spin" and "Rolling Stone". It did not hurt their burgeoning household name status when lead singer Eddie Vedder and the hand appeared in the huge international hit film, "Singles", set against the Seattle grunge scene. Pearl Jam contributed two new songs to the soundtrack, and also made cameo appearances in the movie, playing Matt Dillon's "band", "Citizen Dick". This biography of Pearl Jam, tells their story as objectively as possible, detailing the lows of losing their first lead vocalist to a heroin overdose as well as the highs and attached pressures of the success. Incorporating a wide range of interviews with the band and several of their contemporaries, including friends from the early days, record company officials, rival musicians and journalists, this is an authoritative and colourful story of "the" 1990s band for years to come.