Mike McCready

Latest about Mike McCready

Mike McCready of Pearl Jam and Slash perform Paradise City onstage with Guns N' Roses in Seattle
“Two of rock’s elite guitar soloists go lick for lick”: Watch Slash and Mike McCready trade leads on Paradise City as the Pearl Jam guitarist joins Guns N’ Roses onstage

By Matt Parker Published

McCready dropped in on the LA legend’s Seattle show for a barn-storming cameo

Guitarists
Mike McCready with his new Fender Signature Stratocaster
“My original ’60 Stratocaster will always sound the best. This one is right next to the best”: Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready on why he’s playing his more affordable signature guitar live, covering Eruption and embracing digital amps

By Michael Astley-Brown Published

Now onto his second signature Fender, grunge’s answer to Stevie Ray Vaughan reflects on his greatest Stratocaster moment, how Eddie Van Halen and Chris Cornell inspired his guitar playing, and why you should be excited for the next Pearl Jam album – oh, and his rock opera about the Seattle scene

Guitarists
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam performs onstage at Pearl Jam Performs Live At The Apollo Theater For SiriusXM's Small Stage Series on September 10, 2022 in New York City.
“They’re some of the best amps I’ve ever played”: Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready on why he made the switch to Fender’s digital Tone Master amps

By Michael Astley-Brown Published

The self-confessed tube lover changed up his backline for Pearl Jam’s 2022 US tour – but it wasn’t a decision he took lightly

Guitar Amps
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam performs onstage at Madison Square Garden on September 11, 2022 in New York City.
“Andrew Watt pushed us as hard as we could be pushed”: Pearl Jam’s energetic new album is “just about finished” – but Mike McCready is also working on a rock opera about the Seattle music scene

By Michael Astley-Brown Published

The lead guitarist shares the first details of his ambitious new musical that honors Chris Cornell and other Seattle legends – and why he used Andrew Watt’s gear rather than his own for the rock veterans’ forthcoming record

Music Releases
Fender Mike McCready Stratocaster
“I’m honored to deliver a more approachable guitar to the next generation of players”: Fender makes Mike McCready’s iconic 1960 Stratocaster accessible to the masses with new signature model

By Matt Owen Published

The Pearl Jam legend’s second signature Strat is vastly more affordable than its $15,000 Custom Shop sibling, but still carries all the hallmarks of McCready’s fabled 1960 workhorse

Guitars
Jason Isbell (left) and Mike McCready
Watch Mike McCready share solo duties with Jason Isbell in epic guitar duel – on a 1960 Fender Stratocaster he borrowed from Isbell

By Matt Owen Published

The performance of This Ain't It doubled as a fine vintage guitar display, with Isbell himself playing both a '50s Fender Telecaster and a 1961 Gibson SG

Guitarists
Stone Gossard performs live with Painted Shield, playing a Fender Custom Shop Mike McCready 1960 Stratocaster
Stone Gossard spotted playing Pearl Jam bandmate Mike McCready’s signature Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster onstage

By Michael Astley-Brown Published

The $15,000 guitar appeared to be one of the Seattle rhythm king’s main squeezes at side-project Painted Shield’s debut shows

Electric Guitars
Mike McCready
Learn the rhythm and soloing styles of Pearl Jam's Mike McCready

By Martin Cooper Published

A fusion of classic rock with elements of funk, Pearl Jam's sound is unique and slippery, and this lesson in McCready's style offers a stern test of your rhythm and pentatonic phrasing

Lessons
WEMBLEY ARENA Photo of Mike McCREADY and PEARL JAM, Mike McCready performing live onstage
Mike McCready breaks down the gear and inspiration behind 15 landmark Pearl Jam tracks

By Jeff Gilbert Published

In this classic 1995 interview, the Seattle great details how the tricks he “stole directly from Ace Frehley, Angus Young and Keith Richards” wound up on choice Pearl Jam and Temple of the Dog cuts

Artists
Nancy Wilson and Mike McCready
Watch Nancy Wilson and Mike McCready tear it up in raucous live cover of Led Zeppelin’s Rock and Roll

By Matt Parker Published

The Pearl Jam man dropped in as a guest at the Heart legend’s recent Seattle show – and even borrowed her iconic Fender Telecaster

Music Releases
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