Charles Peterson Releases Pearl Jam “Drop In The Park” Editions Through 1xRUN

Back when Sub Pop founder, Bruce Pavitt, published his book, Experiencing Nirvana: Grunge In Europe, 1989, five years ago, there was a special release and signing for he project held at the Fantagraphics books in the Georgetown district of Seattle.  It was a really cool event to attend and incredibly casual.  I’d recently arranged an interview for my friend Jesse to conduct with Bruce on a radio show that he had at the time, and found myself having an increased interest and respect for Pavitt‘s work.  Most importantly, I believed in his passion and authenticity — Bruce actually split with his business partner and walked away from SUB POP in the mid-1990s, due to conflicts that he had with the direction of the company, as 49% of the “independent” label was being sold over to Warner Bros.  When I met the author at the signing, I discovered that he’d read my review of his book and he thanked me for what I’d written with so much conviction that it was uncomfortable.  I’d later snap a photo of him and Tad Doyle (aka TAD), another lovely individual and indispensable figure in Seattle music history who was featured in his book.  Mark Arm (Mudhoney, Green River) was also among the crowd at the shop, and there was a very warm feeling in the room.  This era had meant so much to so many that were on the ground floor of everything.  Unfortunately, as is commonly the case, it was co-opted and corporatized, blowing up and absorbing so much commercial success that it’s roots had been watered down and, eventually, abandoned like disco, once the life had been sucked out of it.  I was just old enough to devour some of the music, during that time, but not old enough to frequent the bars where these harbingers of the culture forged that legacy, to really live among that environment that birthed it.  That night at Fantagraphics was an incredible reminder of the spirit, and the origins behind the whole “grunge” phenomenon, filled not only with nostalgia, but an indescribable comfort welcoming everyone in attendance.  All the shit had been stripped away and all that was left were people that cared about community, art, and how the two intertwined.  Among those in attendance was another important figure by the name of Charles Peterson.

A now legendary NW photographer, Peterson captured Seattle‘s grunge era better than anyone with his iconic black and white live images, and extensive work with Sub Pop records.  Sometimes blurry and/or grainy, often wide angled compositions with the flash blowing out the middle, the photographs of Charles Peterson showcased the work of someone who prioritized capturing as much of the tangible feeling of the concerts that he shot, documenting the crowd and overall environment of those raucous clubs over simply snapping a glossy, clean portrait of a frontman.  His shots are iconic, even if the average person may not be aware that he’s the man who took them.  The action packed cover of Mudhoney‘s Superfuzz Bigmuff.  That’s ones from Charles.  The image of Mark Lanegan in the side-view mirror from his anthology boxset, Has God Seen My Shadow?  Charles.  The covers to Soundgarden‘s Louder Than Love album and the Screaming Life EP, which helped launch the label.  Also, Charles.  Those photos of Kurt Cobain falling back into the drum kit on Bleach, or the one where he’s defying gravity by playing guitar, while completely upside down like a top.  Those are Charles, too.  Peterson not only defined the aesthetic for SUB POP records, but for an entire scene, movement, and era.  On that night at Fantagraphics, he brought no attention to himself; he was just another guy with a camera, who loves snapping photos.  Seeing me and my friend Orcun each holding our own, he smiled and we all instinctually shot images of each other from a distance, like some kind of 3-way western shootout scene.  Charles was happy to see that Orcun has a nice Leica around his neck.  He had one, as well.  In fact, he’s such a fan that he even named his daughter after the German camera company.

Among the many groups that Peterson photographed in their heyday was Pearl Jam.  Although he’s often more associated with shooting SUB POP acts, and members Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament when they were with their previous groups (Green River and Mother Love Bone), there was one specific PJ show in particular that has always stood out.  Back in 1992, Eddie Vedder and company threw a concert known as “A Drop In The Park,” which brought a whopping 30,000 people out to Seattle‘s Magnuson Park.  The free event took place after a previous show that was scheduled to be held at Gas Works Park was canceled by the city due to fear of crowd-size, prompting fans to write to the local government in overwhelming numbers.  Local news, along with outlets like MTV, came down to interview people and cover the event, which also saw folks like Pavitt‘s former SUB POP business partner, Jonathan Poneman, and Nirvana‘s Krist Novacelic in attendance.  But the major story with A Drop In The Park, that some people might forget, is that it was intended as a way to promote voting among youth culture, and was, ultimately, successful in registering an impressive 3,000 voters that day, making it one of the most, if not thee most, successful events of it’s kind at the time.

Over the last two-and-a-half decades, Pearl Jam has not only continued to expand and retain their loyal fanbase, but have remained political in their views and efforts.  No greater example of that could be presented than with their “Home Shows” which take place tonight (August 8th) and on Friday (August 10th)  here in Seattle, at Safeco Field.  Marking the first time that the band has played their home town in 5 years, they are estimated to yield approximately 90,000 people in attendance between the two dates.  But, the term “Home Shows” has an extended meaning, with the money being raised from the sold out appearances being used to combat homelessness in this fucked up city, which has one of the worst problems in the country, escalated by the fact that housing rates continues to rise faster than anywhere else in the US.  Working with local businesses and organizations, it has been recorded that the band has already raised well over $11 million dollars for the cause.  Not bad.  Personally, I’m more of a Nirvana and Mudhoney guy, but the band has my genuine respect for their current efforts attempting to do something about this issue.  Plus, the members of PJ that I’ve met have always remained consistently nice chaps.  Beyond that, it’s great to know that Charles Peterson, himself, will be there to photograph them.

n honor of the Pearl Jam Home Shows and their current tour, Peterson has teamed up with the folks at the Detroit publisher of art prints and fine art editions, 1xrun, and will be making 7 limited edition, timed photographs available.  These prints will be unveiled one-at-a-time, to coincide with each of the band’s upcoming show dates.  This series of editions will actually be titled “Drop In The Park,” with the first of the photographs being Peterson‘s famous image of Eddie Vedder hanging from stage scaffolding at A Drop In The Park, 26 years ago (pictured above as header image).  The rest of the images chosen from the photographer’s “expansive archives” are slated to consist of “some old favorites, never before seen shots and more surprises,” according to 1xRun.

Here’s what the man himself has to say of the project…

“These Pearl Jam photos represent over 25 years of working with the band.  They make me feel old and young simultaneously.  I guess you could say these are part of what I’m now calling “The Grunge Years” which is also the working title of my next book I’m slowly assembling.  A lot of this work (in fact most) was self-assigned, and the bands trusted me to do my thing and do well by them.  It’s still the agreement we have for post-grunge events like the Pearl Jam Mariners stadium shows I’m shooting this week.  If you like Pearl Jam, and appreciate their history, not to mention owning a part of the legacy that I gifted to the grunge generation, then these are for you.” – Charles Peterson

If you’re a fan of Pearl Jam and/or Charles Peterson, this is a great opportunity to swoop up this undeniably classic image for a relatively affordable price tags.  And if you’re one of those hardcore Pearl Jam lunatics that needs everything, even better.  You can order the entire series right now, for an even better deal.

Buy the prints individually, or as a collection, now, through 1xRUN.