Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder Launches Into Anti-War Plea During England Concert
Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder has always been outspoken, and during the band's July 11 show at the Milton Keynes National Bowl in England, Vedder cried out with a desperate anti-war plea. Apparently referring to the recent Israeli bombings of the Gaza Strip, Vedder actually dropped to his knees onstage while begging for an end to violence.
Pearl Jam plowed through a total of 35 songs for a marathon concert on July 11, playing the classic 'Daughter' in their second encore. During the song, a very emotional Eddie Vedder, with wine bottle in hand, began his anti-war speech.
“What the f---? What the f---?”, Vedder began. “We can have this many people having a peaceful time. We can have modern technology. We can reach our friends. We know what they’re thinking before they’re thinking it. The advertisers know what we’re thinking before we’re thinking it. We have technology – all this in our hands, but the same time that something this positive is happening, at the same f---ing time, not even that far away, [people are] f---ing dropping bombs on each other. What the f---ing f---?".
The musician continued, "I swear to f---ing god, there are people out there who are looking for a reason to kill. They’re looking for a reason to go across borders and take over land that doesn’t belong to them and they should get the f---out, and mind their own f---ing business … everyone's the f---ing same, so why are people at war? Stop the f---ing s--t now! Now! Now! We don’t want to give them our money. They don't our taxes to drop bombs on children,” Vedder said before spitting onstage.
From there, Vedder led the crowd in a improv rendition of the Edwin Starr anthem 'War.'
Vedder has been admonished by some for his speech, being dubbed as anti-Israel. Check out the video of Vedder above and judge for yourselves.
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