A California high school student played drums for iconic grunge band Pearl Jam on Friday night after the band’s drummer contracted a coronavirus.
When legendary Pearl Jam and Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron contracted the Wuhan coronavirus, 18-year-old Kai Neukermans of Mill Valley realized the band needed a drummer for the show at Oakland Arena, according to the publication. She contacted her acquaintance, Olivia Vedder, who is the daughter of Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder, to see if she could switch sticks.
“I fell asleep and forgot,” he explained. “The next day I went to school, and in the middle of class, Olivia texted me to send her a video of me playing Pearl Jam because they were accepting applications.”
According to KGO, Neukermans, who had previously played with his friend and younger brother in a band called The Alive, was leaving school that day with his music teacher so the couple could put together a demo for Pearl Jam.
San Francisco Chronicle reported:
He sent Olivia Vedder a video of him playing on the track. Within an hour, she contacted the manager, who told her to go to the stadium. Pearl Jam brought in longtime collaborator Josh Klinghoffer, ex-Red Hot Chili Peppers and Oakland musician Richard Stuwerud to fill Cameron almost all night. Neukermans played a song in the middle of the first set.
“My heart started beating really fast,” he told KGO. “I called my dad and he almost had a heart attack.”
Once the Neukermans arrive at the stadium, it’s time to rehearse and review the band’s sets for the night. chronic.
“They’re very happy,” said the drummer.
Vedder soon introduced him on stage to Pearl Jam fans.
“Please invite Kai Neukermans from Mill Valley!” Vedder said it in a performance video posted on Youtube. User mfc172 smells the moment in amazement as the teenager walks on the stage.
“We’re ready when you’re ready. You lead the group, brother,” said Vedder as the young man counted the kick with his sticks. They played “Mind Your Manners”, the second track from the band’s 2013 album. Lightning, and as soon as the show was over, Vedder took the young man to the stage and there they both bowed.
Source: Breitbart
