Peter Frampton Joins Pearl Jam for Soul-Stirring “Black” Performance in Nashville
Thursday night’s Pearl Jam concert in Nashville turned legendary when Peter Frampton stepped onto the stage to join the band for a stunning live rendition of “Black.” The collaboration wasn’t just a jaw-dropping surprise for fans—it was a full-circle moment in rock history.
Introduced by Eddie Vedder with heartfelt reverence, Frampton’s presence was clearly personal for the Pearl Jam frontman. “He was right up there,” Vedder said, referring to Frampton’s influence on live albums. “It was one of the reasons that you loved live records. And later, we decided to release bootlegs because of his influence. He’s such an incredible human being on top of it.”
The highlight of the night came when Frampton lent his signature flair to Pearl Jam’s emotional ballad “Black,” even tossing in a few bars from his own classic “Do You Feel Like We Do,” creating a seamless blend of eras and sounds. The result? A performance that was both nostalgic and transcendent.
But this wasn’t the first time Frampton has collaborated with the band. He previously worked with Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready and Matt Cameron on his 2006 Grammy-winning instrumental album Fingerprints, deepening the roots of this musical alliance.
Beyond the stage, Frampton is staying busy with new music. He’s currently recording an album with his son Julian Frampton, calling the experience “spectacular.” Using a remote recording platform called Sessionwire, the father-son duo are breaking generational and technological ground to produce their latest project.
The Nashville show itself was a powerhouse from start to finish. Pearl Jam tore through a 25-song set, featuring tracks from their latest album Dark Matter as well as fan favorites like “Even Flow,” “Better Man,” and “Alive.” Covers of Victoria Williams’ “Crazy Mary” and Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World” rounded out the encore, keeping the crowd on its feet to the very last note.
Frampton’s cameo made this night unforgettable—an iconic moment when two generations of rock collided on one Nashville stage.
