Tracked live with Eddie Vedder’s crew and produced by Andrew Watt, this inspired album bridges classic and modern rock with raw energy and heart.
On April 4, 2025, Elton John and Brandi Carlile dropped Who Believes in Angels?, a powerful and inspired collab cut in just 20 days at Sunset Sound in L.A.
The record’s produced by Andrew Watt, the same guy behind Eddie Vedder’s Earthling and Pearl Jam’s latest, Dark Matter. Watt also jumped in on multiple instruments throughout the sessions. Rounding out the lineup are Chad Smith (yeah, the Chili Peppers’ drummer), Josh Klinghoffer (guitarist/keyboardist extraordinaire and longtime Vedder sideman), and legendary bassist Pino Palladino.
Elton and Brandi started fresh, writing everything from scratch in the studio. No overthinking, no polish—just pure chemistry and creative fire.
The songs run the gamut from soul-baring ballads to full-on rock anthems. Highlights include The Rose of Laura Nyro, Little Richard’s Bible, and the Oscar-nominated title track Who Believes in Angels?, which also appears in the recent documentary Elton John: Never Too Late.
And let’s be real—the album slaps. It’s heartfelt, fearless, and full of grit. You can feel the vibe in every track. Watt’s production walks the tightrope between vintage soul and modern edge, and with the Earthlings rhythm section on board, it punches hard in all the right places.
Josh Klinghoffer, former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist and now full-on Earthling (plus Pearl Jam’s touring multi-instrumentalist since 2021), brings a ton of flavor to the record. He’s got that chameleon-like touch—one minute he’s laying down dreamy textures, the next he’s riffing with raw muscle.
Oh, and by the way, he co-wrote Something Special, one of the most emotional tracks on Dark Matter. Dude’s got range.
Chad Smith—another Chili Pepper turned Earthling—brings the thunder on drums. He’s been rolling with Vedder since 2022 and doesn’t miss a beat here. His grooves hold it all down without stealing the spotlight.
Worth noting: Eddie Vedder and Elton John have already teamed up in the studio twice. First on E-Ticket (from Elton’s The Lockdown Sessions in 2021), then again on Earthling, where Elton guested on piano and vocals on Picture.
And Pearl Jam fans might remember the band recorded a gorgeous cover of Brandi Carlile’s Again Today in 2017 for charity, which later became a fan-favorite live jam during the 2018 tour.
Who Believes in Angels? is more than just a collab—it’s a celebration of different eras, different voices, and one shared love for honest, soul-stirring music. With top-tier musicianship and killer songwriting, this album’s got heart, depth, and the kind of spark that doesn’t come around too often.
BY THE WAY, Josh Klinghoffer…
As reported by Rockol, Josh Klinghoffer was involved in a tragic car accident in Los Angeles in March 2024, where he accidentally struck a pedestrian, Israel Sanchez, who sadly passed away. After a full investigation, Klinghoffer reached a plea deal in May 2025 and avoided jail time.
Under the agreement, Klinghoffer received one year of informal probation, 60 days of community service, mandatory traffic safety classes, and financial restitution to the victim’s family. Authorities found no drugs, alcohol, or reckless behavior involved, and Klinghoffer fully cooperated with the investigation from day one.
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.