Eddie Vedder was the star of two memorable days in Japan, surprising and delighting fans with his presence between traditional sports and live music.
On March 14, Vedder was spotted with his family at a sumo match in Osaka. His presence didn’t go unnoticed, as he was even caught on the live broadcast of the event.
The real surprise came the following evening, March 15, when Vedder appeared during Jack White’s concert at the Toyosu PIT in Tokyo. During the encore, the Pearl Jam frontman joined White on stage for a powerful rendition of Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World, giving the audience an unforgettable moment.
Interestingly, this wasn’t the only recent occasion where White performed the Neil Young classic. A few weeks earlier, on February 12, 2025, he played the same song during the SNL50: The Homecoming Concert, a special event celebrating the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live. On that occasion, Eddie Vedder also performed on stage, making the event even more special with his presence.
This is not the first time Vedder and White have shared the stage. The two artists have collaborated multiple times over the years, building a strong mutual respect.
In 2016, Pearl Jam recorded an exclusive set at Third Man Records in Nashville, the label founded by White, and released it as a live vinyl. Two years later, on July 14, 2018, White joined Pearl Jam on stage during their concert at Passeio Marítimo de Algés in Oeiras, Portugal, to play Rockin’ in the Free World together, marking one of the most memorable moments of that tour.
Their connection also extended to other occasions, with Vedder paying tribute to Jack White’s first band, the White Stripes, during a Pearl Jam concert.
On August 8, 2018, at Safeco Field in Seattle, the band performed a cover of We’re Going to Be Friends, a track from the 2001 album White Blood Cells. Vedder’s intimate rendition added a special touch to that evening, once again demonstrating the reciprocal influence between the two musicians.
More recently, in 2022, Jack White took part in the Ohana Festival, the event curated by Vedder himself, delivering an explosive set that made that edition of the festival even more special.
This surprise appearance in Tokyo further solidified Vedder’s reputation as a versatile artist and lover of spontaneous collaborations.
And his stay in Japan might not be over yet: Vedder is likely to attend the Major League Baseball games between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs, set to take place in Tokyo on March 18 and 19. Given his well-known love for baseball and connection to the Cubs, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in the stands.
Below is the video of Rockin’ In The Free World performed by Jack White with Eddie Vedder.
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.