The Bottom Line
Rescuing Decades of Grunge History From Deterioration
For more than three decades, Jeff Ament has quietly documented life behind the scenes with a camera. What started as an urgent rescue mission to save failing 30-year-old negatives ultimately transformed into a tangible hardbound archive. Teaming up with his brother, acclaimed designer Barry Ament, the brothers sorted through roughly 300 rolls of film.
Here is the kicker: the project began not as a traditional rock memoir, but as a family-style archiving job. “Historically, my family will often get together by creating some kind of project or job,” Jeff Ament explained of the four-year undertaking. “And in some ways, putting together this book was a job for Barry and me — a reason to hang out.” During the process, the pair digitized about 10,000 photos, digging through stacks of old journals, loose light bulbs, memories, and pertinent dreams to weave into the final layout.
Inside the 1990–1998 Archive and Pearl Jam’s Evolution
Spanning the crucial years between 1990 and 1998, Since Forever traces Pearl Jam’s evolution from the remnants of Seattle rock band Mother Love Bone into one of the defining rock bands of the decade. Barry Ament was frequently right there on the road, next door, or just a phone call away, capturing the raw fabric of the band’s ascent.
Ninety percent of the photographs featured in the 250-plus image collection have never been seen before by the public. The pages capture backstage scenes, grueling recording sessions, endless highway miles, and candid moments illuminating Ament’s creative partnerships with bandmates Eddie Vedder, Stone Gossard, and Mike McCready. Even iconic imagery, such as the goat cover photo from Pearl Jam’s 1993 sophomore album, Vs., was pulled directly from contact sheets appearing within the book.
| Detail | Specification |
|---|---|
| Author / Subject | Jeff Ament (with Barry Ament) |
| Format & Dimensions | 9-by-12-inch hardcover photography book |
| Content Scope | 250+ black-and-white photos (90% unpublished), journals, memories |
| Timeline Covered | 1990 to 1998 (Formative years) |
| Release Date | September 25, 2026 |
| Launch Events | Ohana Festival Storytellers Stage (Sept. 25 & 27, 2026) |
Broader Creative Pursuits and Upcoming Live Milestones
While Ament remains globally recognized for his bass work in Pearl Jam, his creative footprint extends well beyond stadium tours. Over the decades, he has pursued solo albums, film scores, Grammy-winning visual design, and dedicated skatepark advocacy throughout Montana and the American West. Barry Ament has spent an equal three decades as co-founder of the Seattle design studio Ames Bros, crafting iconic Pearl Jam album packaging, merchandise, and more than 500 concert posters.
The book’s launch aligns with a major live milestone for the band. Pearl Jam is set to return to active duty at the Ohana Festival for their first live performance since May 18, 2025. This upcoming festival appearance also marks the band’s live debut with an as-yet-unnamed new drummer, following the departure of longtime member Matt Cameron last summer. Meanwhile, guitarist Mike McCready is also expanding his literary footprint this fall with the release of the graphic novel Farewell to Seasons.
Preorders for Since Forever are currently open via Pearl Jam’s official website, ahead of its independent bookstore rollout and festival panel appearances in Dana Point. As rock’s premier chroniclers open their vaults, fans finally get an unfiltered lens into the dust and drive of the 1990s alternative explosion. What are your favorite memories of 1990s rock culture, and will you be picking up a copy? Let us know in the comments below.
