Mike McCready
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- April 5, 1966 (age 60)
- Birthplace
- Pensacola, Florida, USA
Biography
Michael David McCready (born April 5, 1966) is an American musician who serves as the lead guitarist for the American rock band Pearl Jam, a band he co-founded. He has also been a member of the side project bands Flight to Mars, Temple of the Dog, Mad Season and The Rockfords. McCready was born in Pensacola, Florida, USA, but his family moved to Seattle shortly after his birth. As a child, his parents played Hendrix and Santana, while his friends listened to KISS and Aerosmith; McCready would frequently play bongo drums. At the age of 11, McCready purchased his first guitar and began taking lessons—aiming to imitate Gene Simmons of KISS, by sticking his tongue out. Shadow split up soon afterwards, and McCready lost interest in guitar for some time, before finally joining another band called Love Chile. A high school friend, Stone Gossard, heard the band, appreciated McCready's work, and asked if he wanted to join a band he was forming. The two worked together and recruited bassist Jeff Ament. Together with drummer Dave Krusen (who would later be replaced by Matt Chamberlain, then Dave Abbruzzese, then Jack Irons, and currently Matt Cameron) and Eddie Vedder, the group formed the band Pearl Jam (originally known as Mookie Blaylock). It was during this time that McCready took a central role in the Temple of the Dog project, combining members of Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. Mikes first recording studio experience was recording the Temple of the Dog album, including an epic 4-minute-plus solo for "Reach Down." According to drummer Matt Cameron, McCready's headphone monitors flew off halfway through the recording of the solo, and he played the rest without being able to hear the backing track. McCready still considers this track to be his greatest achievement. By the end of 1991, Pearl Jam became one of the most famous modern bands with the release of Ten. McCready frequently soloed, and added a blues touch to the music (influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan). McCready's guitar style is usually an aggressive bluesy nature, and he never plays the same solo twice. His live renditions of songs have slightly different solos due to his fondness of improvization, and sometimes he treats the crowd to a full-on improv. He is extremely energetic live, and is commonly found dashing around the stage, playing to the crowd, throwing plectrums and soloing with the guitar behind his head.
Known For
Filmography
2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Movie · as Self
Pearl Jam: Vitalogy
Movie · as Guitar, Backing Vocals
Singing Earth
TV · as Himself · 1 ep
Pearl Jam: Dark Matter – Global Theatrical Experience
Movie · as Self
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2024 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: Baltimore 2024
Movie
Pearl Jam: Chicago 2023 - Night 1
Movie · as Guitar
Pearl Jam: Camden, NJ 2022
Movie
Pearl Jam: Gila River Arena 2022
Movie
Pearl Jam: Imola 2022
Movie
Pearl Jam: Los Angeles 2022 - Night 1
Movie
Pearl Jam: Oakland 2022 - Night 1
Movie
Pearl Jam: Oakland 2022 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: Budapest 2022
Movie
Pearl Jam Twenty - The Fans Are Alright
Movie
Enormous: The Gorge Story
Movie
Pearl Jam: Gigaton Theater Experience
Movie
Pearl Jam: Gigaton Visual Album Experience
Movie · as Himself
The Rocky Horror Musical Live Stream
Movie · as Self
All in Washington: A Concert for COVID-19 Relief
Movie · as Self
MoPOP Founders Award 2020 Honoring Alice in Chains
Movie · as Self
Pearl Jam - Rome 2018
Movie · as Himself - Guitar
![Pearl Jam: Lollapalooza Brazil 2018 [Animal] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/d9XBBHDuF1ZsE70hPpIeCpaNENG.jpg)
Pearl Jam: Lollapalooza Brazil 2018 [Animal]
Movie
![Pearl Jam: Fenway Park 2018 - Night 1 - The Away Shows [TheSteved111] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/rCaektgOsV5TxOQuFyioQtM840J.jpg)
Pearl Jam: Fenway Park 2018 - Night 1 - The Away Shows [TheSteved111]
Movie
![Pearl Jam: Fenway Park 2018 - Night 1 - The Away Shows [BTNV] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/atsLGsCNnvZdUURIGixQ7xxWZgf.jpg)
Pearl Jam: Fenway Park 2018 - Night 1 - The Away Shows [BTNV]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Missoula 2018
Movie
![Pearl Jam: Safeco Field 2018 - Night 2 - The Home Shows [BTNV] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/gacL3G21Z3XoP6oVrmr0LlHA0H5.jpg)
Pearl Jam: Safeco Field 2018 - Night 2 - The Home Shows [BTNV]
Movie
Pearl Jam: London 2018
Movie
Pearl Jam: Rock Werchter 2018
Movie
BOOM! A Film About the Sonics
Movie · as Himself
![Pearl Jam: Safeco Field 2018 - Night 1 - The Home Shows [Nugs] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/eVuodQT6T0bTJJ3u3WG2jQn9AmK.jpg)
Pearl Jam: Safeco Field 2018 - Night 1 - The Home Shows [Nugs]
Movie · as Himself
![Pearl Jam: Safeco Field 2018 - Night 1 - The Home Shows [BTNV] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/3wFCzhmJdYmqD0cH44Plr2N6j8s.jpg)
Pearl Jam: Safeco Field 2018 - Night 1 - The Home Shows [BTNV]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony
Movie
Pearl Jam: The TV Master Archive 1992 - 2017
Movie
Pearl Jam: Let's Play Two
Movie · as Himself
![PearlJam: Wrigley Field 2016 - Night 2 [YT] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/gKBHIavQ3ZRoZigWz8TnddAYhXS.jpg)
PearlJam: Wrigley Field 2016 - Night 2 [YT]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Fenway Park 2016 - Night 2
Movie
![Pearl Jam: Wrigley Field 2016 - Night 2 [BTNV] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/uBJfBg9dkd7lYMHdntiZTZXq99i.jpg)
Pearl Jam: Wrigley Field 2016 - Night 2 [BTNV]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Fenway Park 2016 - Night 1
Movie
Pearl Jam: Toronto 2016 - Night 1 - The Binaural Show
Movie
Pearl Jam: Toronto 2016 - Night 2
Movie
![Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2016 - Night 2 - The Ten Show [BTNV] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/4daXLF1UbEvI0ytBnr0KHaHRLn3.jpg)
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2016 - Night 2 - The Ten Show [BTNV]
Movie
Pearl Jam: New York City 2016 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: Greenville 2016 - The Vs. Show
Movie
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2016 - Night 1
Movie
![Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2016 - Night 2 - The Ten Show [Nugs] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/A0OJ0SPgZwVixkYYsq6hFrjCP47.jpg)
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2016 - Night 2 - The Ten Show [Nugs]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Fort Lauderdale 2016
Movie
Pearl Jam: Tampa 2016
Movie
Pearl Jam: Miami 2016
Movie
Pearl Jam: Jacksonville 2016
Movie
Pearl Jam: New York City 2016 - Night 1
Movie
Pearl Jam: Hampton 2016
Movie
Temple Of The Dog
Movie
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2016
Movie
Gleason
Movie · as Self
Global Citizen Festival 2015
Movie · as Self
The Glamour & the Squalor
Movie · as Self
Pearl Jam: Global Citizens Festival - New York 2015
Movie
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
TV · as Self - Musical Guest · 1 ep
Pearl Jam: Leeds 2014
Movie
![Pearl Jam: Moline 2014 - The No Code Show [BTNV] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/ft5feJUl4IRn1SXlqWUTOwttdSA.jpg)
Pearl Jam: Moline 2014 - The No Code Show [BTNV]
Movie
![Pearl Jam: Moline 2014 - The No Code Show [Nugs] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/uIawsbI17SpyKgmCvzOIUgLZS4X.jpg)
Pearl Jam: Moline 2014 - The No Code Show [Nugs]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Vienna 2014
Movie
Pearl Jam: Milwaukee 2014 - The Yield Show
Movie
Pearl Jam: St. Paul 2014
Movie
Pearl Jam: Detroit 2014
Movie
Pearl Jam: Lincoln 2014
Movie
Pearl Jam: St. Louis 2014
Movie
Pearl Jam: Cincinnati 2014
Movie
Pearl Jam: Milton Keynes 2014
Movie
![Pearl Jam: Lollapalooza Brazil 2013 [BTNV] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/8S8RUYtpB13B6e4Ki5WW41yZXnK.jpg)
Pearl Jam: Lollapalooza Brazil 2013 [BTNV]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Lollapalooza Brazil 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Movie
![Pearl Jam: Lollapalooza Brazil 2013 [Multishow] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/cVNYcIFcP68yackdcXLXI4tnOQF.jpg)
Pearl Jam: Lollapalooza Brazil 2013 [Multishow]
Movie · as Guitars
Pearl Jam: Seattle 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Los Angeles 2013 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: Vancouver 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Los Angeles 2013 - Night 1
Movie
Pearl Jam: Charlottesville 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: San Diego 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Oklahoma City 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Dallas 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Glendale 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Baltimore 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Spokane 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Wrigley Field 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2013 - Night 1
Movie
Pearl Jam: Lollapalooza Chile 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Hartford 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2013 - Night 2
Movie
Alice in Chains: AIC 23
Movie · as Himself
Pearl Jam: Voodoo Festival - New Orleans 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Stockholm 2012
Movie
Pearl Jam: Berlin 2012 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: Manchester 2012 - Night 1
Movie
Pearl Jam: The Fans Are Alright
Movie
Pearl Jam: Rio de Janeiro 2011
Movie
Pearl Jam Twenty
Movie · as Himself
Pearl Jam: The Kids Are Twenty
Movie
Pearl Jam: Live in Texas
Movie
Pearl Jam: Hard Rock Calling, London 2010
Movie
Pearl Jam: Heineken Jammin' Festival, Venice 2010
Movie
Pearl Jam: Dublin 2010
Movie
Pearl Jam: New York City 2010 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: New York City 2010 - Night 1
Movie
Pearl Jam: Under Review
Movie
Pearl Jam: Austin City Limits 2009
Movie
Pearl Jam: Melbourne 2009
Movie
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2009 - Night 4
Movie
Pearl Jam: Hartford 2008
Movie
VH1 Rock Honors: The Who
Movie · as Self
Pearl Jam: Immagine in Cornice
Movie · as Himself
Pearl Jam: Bologna 2006
Movie
Pearl Jam: Melbourne 2006 - Night 1
Movie
Pearl Jam: Verona 2006
Movie
Pearl Jam: Lisbon 2006 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: Barcelona 2006
Movie
Make Poverty History - Music Concert
Movie · as Self
Pearl Jam: VH1 Storytellers
Movie
Pearl Jam: Santiago 2005
Movie · as Guitars
![Pearl Jam: Buenos Aires 2005 [La Viola TV] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/nAdSUULk80hPbkJrzxk5j2IzBPl.jpg)
Pearl Jam: Buenos Aires 2005 [La Viola TV]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Santiago 2005 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: Kitchener 2005
Movie
![Pearl Jam: Buenos Aires 2005 - Night 2 [Frontviewmirror] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/wuYOdHSLo2IA5sxk3b2MtJGxDCE.jpg)
Pearl Jam: Buenos Aires 2005 - Night 2 [Frontviewmirror]
Movie · as Himself
Pearl Jam: Live at the Garden
Movie · as Himself
Pearl Jam: Live At The Showbox
Movie · as Himself
Pearl Jam: Riot Act - Live At Chop Suey
Movie · as Himself
Pearl Jam: Touring Band 2000
Movie · as Himself
Pearl Jam: Nightfile - A Night with Pearl Jam
Movie
VH1 News Special: Grunge
Movie · as Self
Pearl Jam: Wembley 2000
Movie
Pearl Jam: Verona 2000
Movie
Pearl Jam: Single Video Theory
Movie · as Self
Pearl Jam: Atlanta 1998
Movie
Pearl Jam: Downing Stadium, NY 1996
Movie
Pearl Jam: Bridge School Benefit 1996
Movie
Tibetan Freedom Concert
Movie · as Self
Mad Season: Live at the Moore
Movie · as Self
Pearl Jam: Sponsored By No One - 1995 Tour Film
Movie
Pearl Jam: Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO 1995
Movie · as Himself
Pearl Jam: Bridge School Benefit 1994 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: Gimli Motorsport Park 1993
Movie
Late Show with David Letterman
TV · as Self - Musical Guest · 1 ep
Pearl Jam: MTV Unplugged
Movie · as Guitar
Pearl Jam: Sorpasso 1992
Movie
Pearl Jam: Live In Milan '92
Movie
Pearl Jam: Warfield Theater, San Francisco 1992
Movie
Pearl Jam: Live at Pinkpop '92
Movie · as Self
![Pearl Jam: Mural Amphitheatre, Seattle 1991 [single cam] poster](https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/2DyBQcIbT1eXkQ1pGZYn0DYcoM2.jpg)
Pearl Jam: Mural Amphitheatre, Seattle 1991 [single cam]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Tower Records - Rockville, MD
Movie
Pearl Jam: Tower Records - Yonkers, NY
Movie
MTV Video Music Awards
TV · as Self · 2 eps
Saturday Night Live
TV · as Self - Musical Guest