Pearl Jam Drops Emotional Last of Us EP

Pearl Jam drop a limited edition EP inspired by The Last of Us – packed with emotion, nostalgia, and a fresh surprise. 

“If I ever were to lose you…”. If you’ve played The Last of Us, that line probably hits you straight in the feels. And now, it’s got even more weight: Pearl Jam just dropped news of a brand-new, limited-edition EP made in collaboration with Naughty Dog, celebrating the powerful bond between the Seattle legends and the emotional world of Joel and Ellie.

The 12” vinyl — available exclusively to Ten Club members (one per member) — is called The Last of Us. A title that instantly brings you back to the post-apocalyptic universe we’ve all come to love, while also serving as a symbol of loss, memory, and the deep emotional roots this whole project taps into.

If you know, you know. Heads up: this EP’s super limited and could sell out fast. Don’t sleep on it — snag your copy now via the Ten Club Shop!

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A Longstanding Bond Between Music and Gaming

Pearl Jam’s connection to The Last of Us runs deep. When Part II dropped in 2020, Naughty Dog chose Future Days — a hauntingly beautiful track from 2013’s Lightning Bolt — to represent the emotional core between Joel and Ellie. This wasn’t just a background song; it was the bond. A musical memory. A symbol of love and loss, of what once was and what can never be again.

That song shows up in one of the game’s most emotional moments, becoming a kind of emotional anchor that haunts you long after the screen fades to black.

And then there was that unforgettable performance during the 2020 Game Awards. Just Ed, alone at home, strumming Future Days in the middle of the pandemic. It was raw, intimate, and hit people right in the soul — a powerful tribute to how this song became part of The Last of Us legacy.

Fun fact: Neil Druckmann, the creative mind behind the game, said he heard Future Days long before Part II came out and immediately knew — this was their song. And the rest is history.

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What The Last of Us Is All About — The Game & The Show

Originally developed by Naughty Dog, The Last of Us is set in a post-apocalyptic America where a deadly fungus has turned people into horrifying creatures called Clickers. You follow Joel, a guy still reeling from the tragic loss of his daughter, and Ellie, a teenage girl who might just be the key to saving what’s left of humanity.

It’s a survival story, sure — but it’s also about grief, love, trauma, and the unbreakable bonds we form even when the world’s falling apart.

Part II dives even deeper. It’s darker, more brutal, and explores the consequences of revenge, the cycle of violence, and how we cope with pain. And all along, Future Days is there, echoing through the game as a memory, a promise, and a heartbreak.

Then came the HBO series. Premiering in 2022, it was co-created by Druckmann himself and Chernobyl’s Craig Mazin. The show stayed pretty true to the game while adding some new twists and emotional beats. Pedro Pascal plays Joel and Bella Ramsey steps into Ellie’s shoes — and fans and critics alike were hooked.

Season 2 kicked off April 13, 2025, and it adapts the early part of The Last of Us Part II. Things are just getting started, and it’s already delivering on the intensity and heartbreak fans were expecting.

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The Last of Us EP

This EP is a 4-track journey split between two distinct sides:

Side A

• Future Days (from Lightning Bolt, 2013)
• All or None (from Riot Act, 2002)

Both songs carry that same emotional weight — quiet, contemplative, filled with longing. All or None might be a deep cut, but alongside Future Days, it feels like its spiritual twin.

Side B

• Future Days (Live from Ohana Festival ‘24)
• Present Tense (Redux)

Now here’s the big surprise — Present Tense (Redux) isn’t just a reissue. It’s a full-on rework of the No Code classic from 1996. It’s got a more intimate, cinematic feel, stripped back and haunting. And yep — Ed re-recorded the vocals just for this. Totally fresh take.

And the live version of Future Days from Ohana ‘24? Let’s just say it’s loaded with emotion. You can practically hear the ocean breeze and see the tears in Ed’s eyes. One of those moments you just feel in your bones.

UPDATE. In under 24 hours, as expected, the exclusive Last of Us EP vinyl from Pearl Jam, up on the band’s official site, is already sold out.

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More Than Just a Collector’s Item

This isn’t just a release for vinyl nerds or die-hard fans — it’s a genuine emotional artifact. A cross-universe tribute that fuses two storytelling powerhouses: Pearl Jam and The Last of Us.

And what makes it even cooler is how organic it all feels. This wasn’t a forced collab. It grew out of mutual respect and shared themes — grief, memory, love, time — all tied together by music.

So yeah, if The Last of Us made you cry, and if Pearl Jam’s music ever healed something inside you, this one’s for you. The second season of The Last of Us TV series runs from April 13 to May 25, 2025, on HBO.

You can listen to Pearl Jam’s new The Last of Us EP right here — but don’t wait too long to get your hands on that vinyl. Like the man said: If you know, you know.