John talks about Craig Brewer’s film, playing Eddie Vedder for the first time on screen, and drops a special surprise for our readers.
We’re stoked to bring you something really special: our exclusive chat with John Beckwith, the guy playing Eddie Vedder in Song Sung Blue, Craig Brewer’s latest film. The movie, which also stars Hugh Jackman, Kate Hudson, and Jim Belushi, hit theaters on December 25, 2025, and has been one of the most buzzed-about projects where music and movies collide like this in years.
Song Sung Blue tells the story of Lightning & Thunder – that’s actually the real-life Milwaukee couple, Mike and Claire Sardina – who in the ’90s formed a Neil Diamond tribute band under that name. In the movie, music isn’t just background; it drives the story, shapes the characters, and influences their choices. Craig Brewer builds an intense, human narrative where the songs carry the characters’ emotions and conflicts.
Eddie Vedder’s role isn’t the main story, but he plays a key part in some of the movie’s most important moments. John Beckwith steps in to bring one of rock’s most iconic voices to life – a move sure to make Pearl Jam fans pretty stoked.
During our interview, John broke down his work on Song Sung Blue, his vibe with Craig Brewer, and what it was like sharing the set with such a star-studded cast. We dove deep into his take on playing Eddie Vedder, which is historic for fans: it’s the first time ever Eddie Vedder has been played by an actor in a movie.
John opened up about the respect it takes to tackle a character that’s so well-known, the grind on voice, posture, and energy, and how he balanced staying true to Eddie while bringing his own spin. It’s a thoughtful, passionate take that really shows how seriously John approached the role.
The full video of our exclusive interview with John Beckwith is available below – don’t miss it.
And after the interview, make sure to check out the cover Beckwith played just for our readers… Forever in Blue Jeans, baby!
UPDATE
01/13/2026
Following the great response to the interview and the Forever in Blue Jeans cover, John recorded two more covers just for our readers – and we’re sure you’re all gonna dig them: No Ceiling by Eddie Vedder and Black by Pearl Jam.
Enjoy.
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., Mark Lanegan, R.E.M., Radiohead, Cat Power, Dead Kennedys