His version is intense, faithful, and part of the tribute album Heart of Gold.
Eddie Vedder has released his version of Needle and the Damage Done by Neil Young today, Friday, March 21. This reinterpretation is part of the tribute album Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young, set to be released on April 25, 2025. The album features contributions from many notable artists, including Brandi Carlile, Fiona Apple, Mumford & Sons, Courtney Barnett, and Sharon Van Etten, with proceeds going to the Bridge School in Hillsborough, California.
Needle and the Damage Done is one of Neil Young’s most famous songs, originally released in 1972 on the album Harvest. The track addresses the devastating effects of heroin addiction, inspired by Young’s personal experiences with musician friends who fell victim to the drug, including Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten.
Eddie Vedder has performed the song live several times, both at his solo concerts and with Pearl Jam.
His interpretation has always been marked by a deep respect for the original, with an emotional intensity that enhances its meaning. Now, with this studio version, Vedder brings that same atmosphere to life, maintaining the minimalist arrangement and a vocal delivery that pays tribute to Young’s sensitivity.
The cover is available today on all major streaming platforms, offering listeners the chance to rediscover this timeless classic through Vedder’s artistic touch.
Fans can pre-order the album Heart of Gold: The Songs of Neil Young on Killphonic Rights’ official website.
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.