HAPPY APRIL FOOLS’ DAY!
A legendary tour celebrating 30 years of Mirror Ball, featuring Jack Irons on drums and Citizen Dick as the opening band, making their comeback with a brand-new album: I’m Even Smarter Than You.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the legendary Mirror Ball Tour, Pearl Jam will join forces with Neil Young for a world tour that will leave fans breathless. As demonstrated by Neil Young’s Archives, the legendary artist has recorded multiple versions of each of his songs, meticulously cataloging them over the years. Now, for a one-of-a-kind event, Pearl Jam will bring these versions to life on stage, playing a single song each night but with a twist: they’ll perform every take Neil recorded during his sessions.
But that’s not all! Jack Irons will return to his rightful place behind the drums, just like in 1995, bringing a fresh new energy. And, as in the Mirror Ball Tour of 1995, Eddie Vedder will not be part of the lineup. There’s another surprise: while the 1995 tour skipped America, the 2026 tour will also exclude the United States, focusing instead on more exotic locations such as Japan, Oceania, Hawaii, India, and Italy.
And if that already sounds unbelievable, the opening band will make history: Citizen Dick, Cliff Poncier’s band, is making a triumphant comeback! Featuring Stone Gossard on guitar, Jeff Ament on bass, and Eddie Vedder on drums, Citizen Dick will introduce their brand-new album, I’m Even Smarter Than You. This isn’t a joke: the band has actually recorded an album that, quite literally, settles the question of who’s the smartest among them.
Jeff Ament on touring with Neil Young:
“We’ve always loved playing with Neil, but this time it’s something completely different. Playing just one song for an entire show might sound crazy, but when you listen to all of Neil’s takes, you realize each one has its own soul. Some versions are heavily distorted and aggressive, while others are quite minimal… it’ll feel like playing an entire set without ever changing the song.”
Stone Gossard on the Citizen Dick reunion:
“The idea of bringing Citizen Dick back on tour started as a joke, but then we thought: why not? Jeff is excited, Ed on drums is surprising, and the album we recorded is probably the most brilliant thing we’ve ever done. The title, I’m Even Smarter Than You, is kind of a wordplay… but also a way of saying we’re smarter now. Of course, that’s not true.”
Eddie Vedder on the new Citizen Dick album:
“After years of practice, I can finally reveal that I’ve become a better drummer. On the first Citizen Dick album, my drumming sucked big time, but with some tips from Andy Watt, I now play it perfectly. Don’t act like a dick – you’ll be blown away when you hear what I’ve done on this record.”
But the surprises don’t end here.
In 2027, a remixed edition of Mirror Ball will be released in a groundbreaking audio format: Psychedelic Trip/Pill. Thanks to certain substances (to be revealed soon), this immersive technology will transport you back in time to January and February 1995, when Mirror Ball was recorded. But you won’t just be passive listeners – you’ll virtually enter the studio with Neil Young and Pearl Jam and even co-write two brand-new songs that will be automatically added to the album’s tracklist!
Neil Young on the Psychedelic Trip/Pill audio format:
“I’ve spent years thinking about how to make people listen to my music in the best possible way, but I think this time I’ve truly outdone myself. With the right mindset and, let’s say, the ‘proper tools,’ this version of Mirror Ball won’t just be heard – it will be experienced. You’ll be in the studio with us in ‘95, and who knows… you might even suggest a better take for Downtown!”
And if you’re looking for an even more immersive experience, the Deluxe Edition will take things to another level, dropping you straight into the Mirror Ball Tour of 1995, with personalized setlists performed just for you. But the real game-changer? The opening band: the Grateful Dead! Yes, you read that right. At every show, Jerry Garcia and company will perform alongside Pearl Jam and Neil Young, creating the ultimate psychedelic listening experience.
The tour kicks off on April 1, 2026, in Tasmania and will move through Japan, Oceania, Hawaii, and India. The 2026 Take Tour will conclude on April 31, 2026, at the RCF Arena in Reggio Emilia, Italy, as part of the Rockin’ In The Free World in Campovolo Festival, with various special guests to be revealed throughout 2026.
All tickets, priced at $16.98, are available at neilyoungpearljam.aprilfoolsjoke.com.
PEARL JAM & NEIL YOUNG: THE 2026 TAKE TOUR
April 1, 2026 – Tasmania, Vampire Blues Arena
April 4, 2026 – Japan, Cortez the Killer Stadium
April 7, 2026 – Japan, From Hank to Hendrix Dome
April 10, 2026 – Australia, Like a Hurricane Arena
April 13, 2026 – New Zealand, Long May You Run Fest
April 16, 2026 – Hawaii, Walk On Arena
April 19, 2026 – India, Cowgirl in the Sand Arena
April 22, 2026 – India, Sedan Delivery Dome
April 25, 2026 – Fiji, Powderfinger Festival
April 31, 2026 – Reggio Emilia, Italy, RCF Arena – Rockin’ in the Free World in Campovolo Festival
We’re ready to travel through time. Are you?
Check out the official poster for the 2026 Take Tour, featuring Neil Young & Pearl Jam, and special guests Citizen Dick, below!
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.