Pearl Jam Revises Ted Nugent’s ‘Stranglehold’ With Anti-Gun Lyrics In Baltimore

Pearl Jam debuted a cover of Ted Nugent‘s 1975 hit “Stranglehold” on Thursday during the band’s first concert in Baltimore since 2013. Frontman Eddie Vedder changed the lyrics to the pro-gun rockers’ song to reflect his own anti-gun viewpoint.

The two-minute vamp on “Stranglehold” was played midway through Pearl Jam’s 18-song set at Baltimore’s CFG Bank Arena. The Ted Nugent cover wasn’t the only surprise of the night, as the band kicked off the concert with their first “Can’t Keep” in over a decade. Pearl Jam last trotted out the Riot Act cut on June 25, 2014 — a span of 156 shows.

“Can’t Keep” was followed by a run of classics “Present Tense,” “Given To Fly” and “Corduroy” before the band devoted three of the next songs to tracks from their latest album, Dark Matter. Next came “Unknown Thought” and then “Stranglehold.”

Mike McCready played the iconic riff that starts “Stranglehold” to the delight of fans. The guitarist’s bandmates quickly followed along and Pearl Jam extended the intro with shredding from McCready.

“I don’t own a gun, I don’t ever want to own a gun, I don’t own a gun, never want to own a gun,” Vedder sang over the “Stranglehold” progression.” Eddie Vedder repeated variations of the phrase. Then, the song faded out and “Even Flow” began.

Watch Pearl Jam premiere their take on “Stranglehold” and follow with “Even Flow” in Baltimore below:

Pearl Jam devoted most of the rest of the main set to beloved favorites such as “Daughter,” “Do The Evolution,” “Jeremy” and “Porch.” The fifth “Lukin” of 2024 was the penultimate song of the set.

Opener Glen Hansard emerged to play his Swell Season song “Falling Slowly” with Eddie Vedder to get the encore underway. Next, Pearl Jam paired “Black” and “Spin The Black Circle” and fit their own “Alive” between covers of “Sonic Reducer” and “Baba O’Riley.” A “Yellow Ledbetter” brought the concert to a close.

Check out more fan-shot video of Pearl Jam’s first show in Baltimore in over a decade:

Pearl Jam now heads to Boston to end the North American leg of the Dark Matter Tour. Vedder & Co. will play Fenway Park on Sunday, September 15 and Tuesday, September 17.