Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesA Pearl Jam tribute band will be changing their name following a legal notice from the original grunge rockers.
The London-based tribute act — formerly known as Pearl Jamm, with two Ms — has apparently been playing under that name with the original Pearl Jam’s knowledge since starting in 2016. However, they recently received a letter demanding they change their name and destroy any associated merchandise.
The story was covered on BBC News, and the group posted a statement saying that the legal notice has “broken our hearts.”
“You have known of our tribute band for years yet have waited until a global pandemic to have threatening legal letters sent,” the statement reads. “This isn’t the Pearl Jam we know and love, the Pearl Jam that stands up for social issues and against corporate giants. Yet your lawyers tell us it is indeed you, the band, that are behind this.”
After their story was picked up by several outlets this week, they’ve since posted a new statement announcing their new, very fitting name: Legal Jam.
“A name doesn’t define us,” Legal Jam now writes.
“We do what we do out of love and respect for Pearl Jam,” the group adds. “We have always been clear that we will Yield to Pearl Jam’s demands and equally clear that our disappointment was only ever of the timing and manner in which those demands were made.”
The real Pearl Jam has not commented publicly on the matter.
By Josh Johnson
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