Eddie Vedder Anti-War Comments Defended

Never the one to skirt around the issue, grunge veteran and Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder has followed up on the comments he made on stage during the closing date of their European tour in Milton Keynes.

On Friday, Vedder vented (via Hennemusic):

“What the f***? What the f***? We can have this many people having a peaceful time. We can have modern technology. We can reach our friends. We know what they’re thinking before they’re thinking it. The advertisers know what we’re thinking before we’re thinking it. We have technology – all this in our hands, but the same time that something this positive is happening, at the same f***ing time, not even that far away, [people are] f***ing dropping bombs on each other. What the f***ing f***?”.

“I swear to f***ing God, there are people out there who are looking for a reason to kill!,” he continued. “They’re looking for a reason to go across borders and take over land that doesn’t belong to them. They should get the f*** out, and mind their own f***ing business. Everyone wants the same goddamn thing: to live our lives, to have our children, eat, procreate, draw a painting, make some art, listen to music, f*** some more, have another baby, eat, work, eat, work, love, love, love, everyone’s the f***in’ same! So why are people at war? Stop the f***ing s***, now! Now! Now! We don’t want to give them our money. We don’t want to give them our taxes to drop bombs on children! Now! No more! Now!”

Following the tirade Vedder then ripped into Edwin Starr’s anti-war classic, 'War' followed by 'Daughter' in which he dramatically dropped to his knees as the track drew to a close and pleaded Please, please, please, we beg of you, please, please, please.”

Although the legendary vocalist never mention any specific countries during the speech, many have interpreted it as directed at Israel over its fight with Hamas militants and the systematic destruction of Gaza.

On Wednesday, Vedder posted a follow-up to his onstage comments; you can read his statement in full, here.