Mike McCready

Mike McCready is an American guitarist who co-founded Pearl Jam and plays lead guitar for the band. He was born in Pensacola, Florida, and his family relocated to Seattle soon after. At age eleven he got his first guitar, and in high school he played in a band called Shadow. After that group dissolved, he began jamming with Stone Gossard, and with Jeff Ament they launched Pearl Jam in 1990, soon bringing in Eddie Vedder and drummer Dave Krusen. Their debut album Ten pushed them into the mainstream, and McCready's blues-inflected solos drew on Stevie Ray Vaughan. The single Jeremy earned Grammy nominations in 1993. He has also played in Temple of the Dog, Mad Season, and The Rockfords, and appeared on Neil Young's Mirror Ball. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducted him in 2017 as part of Pearl Jam. In 2023, Rolling Stone placed him on its list of the 250 greatest guitarists.