I learn stuff from making music every time I go in the studio. I’m continuing to try to find new ways to play in a song or be in a song and have a positive impact on a song. – Stone Gossard
You can say what you think music is, but the only way it really is, is how people experience it. – Stone Gossard
I like to write music. And I think exploring with lyrics and figuring out how to make complete songs is fun. I think I have a take on it. I don’t know if it’s great, but it’s an interesting take. It’s original. – Stone Gossard
I like myself. I think I’m cool. But I think when you’re in a band you take on a role within the band, and I think people over the course of years can identify those roles as almost being bigger than just the individual. I don’t know. It’s kind of hard to talk about. – Stone Gossard
And I look forward to the time when I can become more indulgent with my songwriting. But this band is a family, and it’s a process that we have to grow with together. – Stone Gossard
It’s really comforting for me and Jeff, at least, that after 12 years we finally feel we’ve reached a place where we can be more honest, real and loving with each other. And we’re finally in a band that we know is good, and deserves the credit it’s getting. – Stone Gossard
It’s a very complex scenario, and certainly Dave was, and is, not the only person in Pearl Jam with personality flaws. Everybody in this band exhibits some form of neurotic behavior. And we couldn’t find a balance, a mutual respect for each other. – Stone Gossard
A significant event for me was learning Hank Williams, reconnecting with his music’s simplicity, which inspired me to inhabit the same territory. It’s different, because I grew up on Led Zeppelin, The Stooges and punk, so in that sense I’m mutating country and folk more than a few degrees. – Stone Gossard
We may take breaks and do other things, but we feel we’ll ultimately have Pearl Jam as a family. – Stone Gossard
I think if you exercise, your state of mind – my state of mind – is usually more at ease, ready for more mental challenges. Once I get the physical stuff out of the way it always seems like I have more calmness and better self-esteem. – Stone Gossard
I think people will always love a heavy Sabbath riff because it’s fundamental to rock. – Stone Gossard
I think I have my own sort of distinctive swing, for sure. I think that’s something that comes really natural to me, to push against the beat and kind of explore a triplet feel behind everything just to see what that feels like. – Stone Gossard
I walked to Seward School first through fourth grade. It’s just amazing to me now that we’d walk down 10th Avenue on Capitol Hill. – Stone Gossard
I love making music. I love being involved in arranging music. It’s very natural to know what I want to hear next and come up with ideas that are variations of what might be good. – Stone Gossard
A lot of fun stuff happens when you go out on a bike compared to when you’re in a car. You’re more in the environment. It’s enjoyable. Even when It’s raining It’s still fun. – Stone Gossard
Call it holistic or holographic thinking, it’s been quite effective imagining the world’s problems are all right in front of you on a smaller scale with your band. You deal with those relationships, and that’s where real major change begins. – Stone Gossard
It may take me a long time before I feel ‘ready’ to tour as a lead singer. I may never be ready… we’ll just have to see. – Stone Gossard
Every year is filled with good times and fights and struggles and misunderstandings. All of it adds up to being in a band over a long time. – Stone Gossard
That’s not to say Eddie’s never done anything malicious. But he never grabbed power for power’s sake. His position was gained only because he has that energy, and that’s naturally where he ended up. – Stone Gossard
Raising awareness, changing the marketplace, effecting spiritual change – whatever it is that you decide is your thing, go for it. – Stone Gossard
