Photo credit: Kyle Hansen of RKH Images

Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard is sharing some details about the band’s upcoming album. Gossard says the next album is “close to the finish line.” He also talked about producer Andrew Watt, saying Watt is such a huge fan of the band that he can play all of their songs.

On the latest episode of Kyle Meredith With… he said, “[Watt is the] most hardcore Pearl Jam fan you’ll ever meet. It’s been such a joy to make a record with him. He’s energizing us.”

Watt has also worked with Elton John, Ozzy Osbourne, Iggy Pop, and Eddie Vedder as part of a 2022 solo project. Gossard also revealed that the upcoming album will sound a lot like Pearl Jam’s early days, but said that the fans can “be the judge of that.”

He also took time to reflect on Temple of the Dog.

Temple of the Dog only released one album, but that LP came together rather quickly. Guitarist Stone Gossard was a member of Temple of the Dog, which was a supergroup that was formed in tribute to Andrew Wood, the lead singer of Mother Love Bone who died in March 1990 of a heroin overdose.

He stated: “[Pearl Jam’s] Ten wasn’t a record that came together easily; Temple was. ‘Temple’ was Chris Cornell at the height of his powers.”

Cornell fronted Temple of the Dog while still fronting Soundgarden. Temple of the Dog, which also featured Jeff Ament, Matt Cameron, Mike McCready and Eddie Vedder, led to the formation of Pearl Jam. Temple of the Dog reunited and toured in 2016 in honor of the 25th anniversary of their 1991 self-titled, and only, album.