Rock Royalty

Pearl Jam bassist and UM alum Jeff Ament ’85, right, rocks out during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, in April. Pearl Jam, one of America’s premier rock bands, was inducted into the hall alongside Tupac Shakur, Yes, ELO, Joan Baez and Journey. Ament, a Big Sandy native who lives in Missoula, gave a potent speech. “Being here with the band, who have become some of my best friends in the process, making music and art, traveling the world, supporting causes and programs together, making small differences, meeting great artists and creative minds all over the world. That’s a pretty great (expletive) life. But the very best part about tonight is that my mom, who gave me the keys to the piano and the arts, and my dad, who taught me about hard work and community, they’re here with my family. Only they know how far it is from Big Sandy, Montana, to the Barclays Center. So, this is for every small-town kid who has a dream.”