
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.
Acted in 119
2020s
- 2025
Pearl Jam: Vitalogy
Guitar, Backing Vocals
- 2024
Pearl Jam: Baltimore 2024
Movie
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2024 - Night 2
Movie
- 2023
Pearl Jam: Chicago 2023 - Night 1
Guitar
- 2022
Pearl Jam: Camden, NJ 2022
Movie
Pearl Jam: Budapest 2022
Movie
Pearl Jam: Imola 2022
Movie
Pearl Jam: Oakland 2022 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: Oakland 2022 - Night 1
Movie
Pearl Jam: Gila River Arena 2022
Movie
Pearl Jam: Los Angeles 2022 - Night 1
Movie
- 2021
Pearl Jam Twenty - The Fans Are Alright
Movie
Enormous: The Gorge Story
Movie
- 2020
Pearl Jam: Gigaton Theater Experience
Movie
2010s
- 2018
Pearl Jam: Fenway Park 2018 - Night 1 - The Away Shows [BTNV]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Fenway Park 2018 - Night 1 - The Away Shows [TheSteved111]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Missoula 2018
Movie
Pearl Jam: Safeco Field 2018 - Night 2 - The Home Shows [BTNV]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Safeco Field 2018 - Night 1 - The Home Shows [BTNV]
Movie
Pearl Jam: London 2018
Movie
Pearl Jam: Rock Werchter 2018
Movie
Pearl Jam: Lollapalooza Brazil 2018 [Animal]
Movie
- 2017
Pearl Jam: The TV Master Archive 1992 - 2017
Movie
Pearl Jam: Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony
Movie
- 2016
Temple Of The Dog
Movie
Pearl Jam: Wrigley Field 2016 - Night 2 [BTNV]
Movie
PearlJam: Wrigley Field 2016 - Night 2 [YT]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Fenway Park 2016 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: Fenway Park 2016 - Night 1
Movie
Pearl Jam: Toronto 2016 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: Toronto 2016 - Night 1 - The Binaural Show
Movie
Pearl Jam: New York City 2016 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: New York City 2016 - Night 1
Movie
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2016 - Night 2 - The Ten Show [BTNV]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2016 - Night 2 - The Ten Show [Nugs]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2016
Movie
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2016 - Night 1
Movie
Pearl Jam: Hampton 2016
Movie
Pearl Jam: Greenville 2016 - The Vs. Show
Movie
Pearl Jam: Jacksonville 2016
Movie
Pearl Jam: Tampa 2016
Movie
Pearl Jam: Miami 2016
Movie
Pearl Jam: Fort Lauderdale 2016
Movie
- 2015
Pearl Jam: Global Citizens Festival - New York 2015
Movie
- 2014
Pearl Jam: Milwaukee 2014 - The Yield Show
Movie
Pearl Jam: St. Paul 2014
Movie
Pearl Jam: Moline 2014 - The No Code Show [BTNV]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Moline 2014 - The No Code Show [Nugs]
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: Leeds 2014
Movie
Pearl Jam: Vienna 2014
Movie
- 2013
Pearl Jam: Seattle 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Vancouver 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Spokane 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Los Angeles 2013 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: Los Angeles 2013 - Night 1
Movie
Pearl Jam: San Diego 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: See No Evil, Hear No Evil
Movie
Pearl Jam: Glendale 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Oklahoma City 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Dallas 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Voodoo Festival - New Orleans 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Charlottesville 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Baltimore 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Hartford 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2013 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2013 - Night 1
Movie
Pearl Jam: Wrigley Field 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Lollapalooza Chile 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Lollapalooza Brazil 2013 [BTNV]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Lollapalooza Brazil 2013
Movie
Pearl Jam: Lollapalooza Brazil 2013 [Multishow]
Guitars
- 2012
Pearl Jam: Stockholm 2012
Movie
Pearl Jam: Berlin 2012 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: Manchester 2012 - Night 1
Movie
- 2011
Pearl Jam: Rio de Janeiro 2011
Movie
Pearl Jam: The Kids Are Twenty
Movie
Pearl Jam: The Fans Are Alright
Movie
- 2010
Pearl Jam: Heineken Jammin' Festival, Venice 2010
Movie
Pearl Jam: Hard Rock Calling, London 2010
Movie
Pearl Jam: Dublin 2010
Movie
Pearl Jam: Live in Texas
Movie
Pearl Jam: New York City 2010 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: New York City 2010 - Night 1
Movie
2000s
- 2009
Pearl Jam: Melbourne 2009
Movie
Pearl Jam: Philadelphia 2009 - Night 4
Movie
Pearl Jam: Austin City Limits 2009
Movie
- 2008
Pearl Jam: Hartford 2008
Movie
- 2006
Pearl Jam: Melbourne 2006 - Night 1
Movie
Pearl Jam: Verona 2006
Movie
Pearl Jam: Bologna 2006
Movie
Pearl Jam: Lisbon 2006 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: Barcelona 2006
Movie
Pearl Jam: VH1 Storytellers
Movie
- 2005
Pearl Jam: Buenos Aires 2005 [La Viola TV]
Movie
Pearl Jam: Santiago 2005
Guitars
Pearl Jam: Santiago 2005 - Night 2
Movie
Pearl Jam: Kitchener 2005
Movie
- 2001
Pearl Jam: Nightfile - A Night with Pearl Jam
Movie
- 2000
Pearl Jam: Verona 2000
Movie
Pearl Jam: Wembley 2000
Movie
1990s
- 1998
Pearl Jam: Atlanta 1998
Movie
- 1996
Pearl Jam: Bridge School Benefit 1996
Movie
Pearl Jam: Downing Stadium, NY 1996
Movie
- 1995
Pearl Jam: Sponsored By No One - 1995 Tour Film
Movie
- 1994
Pearl Jam: Bridge School Benefit 1994 - Night 2
Movie
- 1993
Pearl Jam: Gimli Motorsport Park 1993
Movie
- 1992
Pearl Jam: Live In Milan '92
Movie
Pearl Jam: Warfield Theater, San Francisco 1992
Movie
Pearl Jam: MTV Unplugged
Guitar
Pearl Jam: Sorpasso 1992
Movie
- 1991
Pearl Jam: Tower Records - Yonkers, NY
Movie
Pearl Jam: Tower Records - Rockville, MD
Movie
Pearl Jam: Mural Amphitheatre, Seattle 1991 [single cam]
Movie
Sound 9
2010s
- 2019
The Story of Plastic
Music
- 2018
Sadie
Original Music Composer, Musician
Pearl Jam - Rome 2018
Music
Elvis Presley: The Searcher
Original Music Composer
- 2015
- 2012
Fat Kid Rules The World
Original Music Composer
- 2010
The Westsiders
Music
Appearances32
2020s
- 2025
- 2024
Pearl Jam: Dark Matter – Global Theatrical Experience
Self
- 2020
MoPOP Founders Award 2020 Honoring Alice in Chains
Self
The Rocky Horror Musical Live Stream
Self
All in Washington: A Concert for COVID-19 Relief
Self
Pearl Jam: Gigaton Visual Album Experience
Himself
2010s
- 2018
BOOM! A Film About the Sonics
Himself
Pearl Jam: Safeco Field 2018 - Night 1 - The Home Shows [Nugs]
Himself
Pearl Jam - Rome 2018
Himself - Guitar
- 2017
Pearl Jam: Let's Play Two
Himself
- 2016
- 2015
Global Citizen Festival 2015
Self
- 2013
Alice in Chains: AIC 23
Himself
- 2011
Pearl Jam Twenty
Himself
2000s
- 2008
VH1 Rock Honors: The Who
Self
- 2007
Pearl Jam: Immagine in Cornice
Himself
- 2005
Pearl Jam: Buenos Aires 2005 - Night 2 [Frontviewmirror]
Himself
- 2003
Pearl Jam: Live at the Garden
Himself
Pearl Jam: Live At The Showbox
Himself
- 2002
Pearl Jam: Riot Act - Live At Chop Suey
Himself
- 2001
VH1 News Special: Grunge
Self
Pearl Jam: Touring Band 2000
Himself
1990s
- 1998
Pearl Jam: Single Video Theory
Self
- 1996
Tibetan Freedom Concert
Self
- 1995
Mad Season: Live at the Moore
Self
Pearl Jam: Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, CO 1995
Himself
- 1993
- 1992
Pearl Jam: Live at Pinkpop '92
Self
1970s
- 1975