Between shadows of the past and feedback that scratches the soul, the new band sings for those who have never had justice.
On a night full of emotions and distortions, Amanda Knox took the stage with Mike McCready, the legendary guitarist of Pearl Jam, to give voice to a new battle: the one for people wrongfully convicted. The event, titled Voices for Justice, marked the birth of a musical project destined to leave its mark: the Exoneree Band, a group made up of survivors of wrongful convictions, supported by some of the most iconic musicians from Seattle’s scene.
Amanda Knox, who became globally famous in 2007 when she was accused of the murder of Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy, was later acquitted of all charges after a long and painful legal battle. After spending four years in unjust detention, her name has remained etched in the collective imagination as a symbol of a judicial system that can fail. In the years that followed, Knox has worked as a writer, activist, and now as a musician, transforming her experience into art.
The performance, met with great participation from the audience, intertwined music and personal stories. Mike McCready, always committed to social causes and civil rights defense, supported Amanda both with his guitar and his energy on stage. Together, they performed an intense setlist, alternating iconic Pearl Jam songs – including Black – with original tracks written for the occasion.
“We call ourselves Exoneree Band. We have all been wrongfully convicted, with over 100 years of unjust imprisonment between us. Last weekend, we performed at the Innocence Network Conference, and we were lucky enough to have Mike McCready of Pearl Jam join us on stage. He and his wife Ashley are great supporters!” said Amanda.
An unreleased track, Silent Cells, captured the essence of the night: a raw and melancholic song, born from Knox’s words and shaped by McCready’s distorted notes, telling the loneliness, fear, and hope of those who have lived behind bars unjustly.
The concert took place in an underground venue in Seattle, with dim lighting, rough brick walls, and the smell of overheated amplifiers in the air. No gloss of a big show, just real, raw, and urgent music. The proceeds from the night were entirely donated to organizations that support victims of wrongful convictions.
With this performance, Amanda Knox chose to share her journey not only through books and interviews but also through an expressive form that in Seattle has always been synonymous with resistance: rock. A rock that still knows how to be gritty, authentic, and human.
Below you can see a part of the video of the cover of Black by Pearl Jam, sung by Amanda Knox with Mike McCready on guitar.
Born in Reggio Emilia in 1980. He created pearljamonline.it in 2001 and wrote the first edition of “Pearl Jam Evolution” in 2009 along with his wife Daria. Since 2022, he is behind 2 podcasts: “Pearl Jam dalla A alla Z” and “Fuori Orario Not Another Podcast”. He has collaborated with Barracuda Style, HvsR, Rolling Stone, Rockol and Il Fatto Quotidiano. He continues relentlessly to try to find “beautiful melodies that say terrible things”.
Favorite song: Present Tense
Favorite album: No Code
Favorite bands/artists other than PJ: Tom Waits, Soundgarden, Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, IDLES, Fontaines D.C., The Murder Capital, Dead Kennedys, Mark Lanegan, Cat Power, R.E.M.