Happy Birthday Eddie Vedder: Singing ‘Wild Horses’ With The Rolling Stones In 2005

Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder celebrates his 57th birthday today. The extremely talented singer-songwriter and grunge pioneer was born on December 23, 1964 in Evanston, Illinois. The 1980s saw somewhat of the decline of the classic rock ‘n’ roll frontman until bands like The Black Crowes and Pearl Jam burst onto the scene in the early ‘90s. Nearly all frontmen owe a great deal to the man who epitomizes the role: the one and only Mick Jagger.

While Ed and Mick have different styles when it comes to engaging with their audience, one thing they have in common is the palpable passion they put into each performance. So to see these two towering frontmen join forces in 2005 to sing the Stones classic “Wild Horses” is a special treat.

“Wild Horses” appears on The Rolling Stones’ 1971 album Sticky Fingers. But the Stones recorded the tune two years earlier at the storied Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama in the same session that produced Sticky Fingers opener “Brown Sugar.” Incredibly, the Stones had two of their most iconic songs in the can for almost two years although legal issues came into play around the release. The first version of “Wild Horses” to be released actually came from The Flying Burrito Brothers in 1970 on their album Burrito Deluxe after Keith Richards played “Wild Horses” for his friend Gram Parsons.

Flash forward three and a half decades and The Rolling Stones are on A Bigger Bang Tour in 2005, their first since the ‘02 and ‘03 Licks Tour. The legendary rockers had an impressive list of support acts on A Bigger Band Tour including Buddy Guy, Beck, Metallica, Trey Anastasio, Wilco, John Mayer Trio, Soulive and many more. Pearl Jam opened for the Stones at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park on September 28, 2005.

A little over a month into the tour and the Stones still had not played “Wild Horses.” Eddie Vedder would help the band deliver the tour debut in Pittsburgh six songs into the set. Vedder came onstage with an understandably awed look (even for a rock star of his caliber) on his face after Mick led the band through the first verse. Following a pat on the back from Keith, Ed and Mick proceed to duet on the Stones classic with Keith joining in on the chorus.

To celebrate Eddie Vedder’s birthday, watch him perform “Wild Horses” with The Rolling Stones in 2005 below: