Editing Jeff Ament

{{Short description|American bassist (born 1963)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name             = Jeff Ament
| background       = solo_singer
| image            = Jeff-Ament.jpg
| caption          = Ament performing with [[Pearl Jam]] in 2009
| birth_name       = Jeffrey Allen Ament
| alias            = Al Nostreet, Jeff Diction
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1963|3|10}}
| birth_place      = [[Havre, Montana]], U.S.
| genre            = {{hlist|[[Alternative rock]]|[[grunge]]|[[hardcore punk]]|[[hard rock]]|[[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]]|[[experimental rock]]|[[glam metal]]}}
| occupation       = {{hlist|Musician|songwriter}}
| years_active     = 1981–present
| instrument       = {{hlist|Bass guitar|double bass}}
| label            = {{hlist|[[Monkeywrench Records|Monkeywrench]]|[[Homestead Records|Homestead]]|[[Sub Pop]]|Stardog|[[Mercury Records|Mercury]]|[[A&M Records|A&M]]|[[Epic Records|Epic]]|[[J Records|J]]}}
| associated_acts  = [[Pearl Jam]], [[Green River (band)|Green River]], [[Mother Love Bone]], [[War Babies (band)|War Babies]], [[Temple of the Dog]], [[Three Fish]], Derranged Diction, [[RNDM]], Tres Mts., Deaf Charlie
| module          = {{Infobox person|embed=yes
 | signature       = Jeff Ament signature, Billboard Open Letter 2016.png
 }}
}}

'''Jeffrey Allen Ament''' (born March 10, 1963) is an American musician best known as the bassist of rock band [[Pearl Jam]], which he co-founded alongside [[Stone Gossard]], [[Mike McCready]], and [[Eddie Vedder]]. Ament wrote or co-wrote many of Pearl Jam's hits, including "[[Jeremy (song)|Jeremy]]", "[[Oceans (Pearl Jam song)|Oceans]]", "[[Dissident (song)|Dissident]]", "[[Nothingman]]" and "[[Nothing as It Seems (song)|Nothing as It Seems]]".

Prior to his work with Pearl Jam, Ament was part of the 1980s [[Seattle]]-based [[Grunge|grunge rock]] bands [[Green River (band)|Green River]] and [[Mother Love Bone]]. He is known particularly for playing with the [[fretless bass]], [[Double bass|upright bass]], and [[Twelve-string bass|twelve-string bass guitar]]s. Ament is also a member of the bands [[Temple of the Dog]], [[Three Fish]], [[RNDM]], Tres Mts., and P.E.S.T.

In 2008, Ament released his first solo album, ''[[Tone (Jeff Ament album)|Tone]]''. His second solo release, ''[[While My Heart Beats]]'', followed in 2012, and his third in 2018: ''[[Heaven/Hell]]''. Ament was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] as a member of Pearl Jam on April 7, 2017.<ref name="rrhofjourney">{{cite web|title=Inductees: Pearl Jam|url=https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/pearl-jam|website=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame|access-date=20 December 2016}}</ref> He was also recognized as one of the top hard rock/metal bassists of all time by [[Loudwire]] in 2016, being placed at #52 on the list.<ref name="Go and ask">{{cite magazine|url=https://loudwire.com/top-hard-rock-metal-bassists-of-all-time/|title=TOP 66 HARD ROCK + METAL BASSISTS OF ALL TIME|magazine=Loudwire|date=14 September 2016|access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref>

==Biography==

===Early life===
The first of 12 children, Ament was born in [[Havre, Montana]] to George and Penny Ament and grew up in the town of [[Big Sandy, Montana]], a town with a population of less than 700 people.<ref name=ament2>{{cite web|title=125 Montana Newsmakers: Jeff Ament|url=http://www.greatfallstribune.com/multimedia/125newsmakers5/ament.html|work=Great Falls Tribune|author=Tribune Staff|access-date=August 27, 2011}}</ref><ref name=ament>{{cite web|title=Jeff Ament|work=Montana Kids|publisher=Montana Office of Tourism|url=http://montanakids.com/cool_stories/Famous_Montanans/ament.htm|access-date=August 8, 2011}}</ref> Ament's father George was mayor of Big Sandy for fifteen years, as well as a barber and a school bus driver.<ref>Chaney, Rob. [http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/07/14/news/top/news01.txt "Pearl Jam to play benefit in Missoula"]. ''[[Missoulian]]''. July 14, 2005.</ref> Ament described his family growing up as "pretty poor"<ref name="vaziri">Vaziri, Aidin. [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/10/29/PK40984.DTL "Q & A With Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament"]. ''[[San Francisco Chronicle]]''. October 29, 2000.</ref> and "hard-core [[Catholic]]."<ref>Weisel, Al. [http://home.nyc.rr.com/alweisel/rollingstoneament.htm "Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050308200157/http://home.nyc.rr.com/alweisel/rollingstoneament.htm |date=March 8, 2005 }}. ''[[Rolling Stone]]''. August 8, 1996.</ref>

He began playing the bass guitar as a teenager, often playing along with [[Ramones]], [[The Clash]], and [[The Police]] records. Ament participated in basketball, [[American football|football]], and track at [[Big Sandy High School (Montana)|Big Sandy High School]], where he graduated in 1981.<ref>"Interview with Jeff Ament, Bassist for Pearl Jam". digital-noise.net. May 25, 2003.</ref> He then attended the [[University of Montana]] in [[Missoula, Montana]], where he studied art and played basketball.<ref>[http://www.vitalogy.de/faq/faq.html#2.8 "The Unofficial Pearl Jam FAQ"]. vitalogy.de.</ref><ref>Heaney, John. [http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/01/06/sports/sports05.txt "Meet: Jeff Ament: Pearl Jam's Ament Plays for Love of Game"]. ''[[Missoulian]]''. January 6, 2008.</ref> Ament quit college in the middle of his second year after the university told him they were no longer going to continue its [[graphic design]] program.<ref name="juice">Ho, Jeff. [http://juicemagazine.com/home/pearl-jam/ "Interview with Jeff Ament"]. ''Juice'' Magazine. 2006.</ref> In 1983, Ament relocated to [[Seattle]], Washington with his band Deranged Diction. While in Seattle, Ament got a job working at a coffee shop in [[Belltown, Seattle|Belltown]].<ref name="juice"/>

===Green River===
{{Main|Green River (band)}}
Ament became acquainted with fellow Seattle musicians [[Mark Arm]] and [[Steve Turner (guitarist)|Steve Turner]], and he was asked to join their new band [[Green River (band)|Green River]] in 1984. The band also included drummer [[Alex Vincent (drummer)|Alex Vincent]], with guitarist [[Stone Gossard]] eventually being added to the line-up. By the time the band finished the recording of its debut EP, ''[[Come on Down (EP)|Come on Down]]'', Turner decided to leave the group, citing his distaste with Ament and Gossard's [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] leanings.<ref name="allmusicgr">Huey, Steve. "[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p13088|pure_url=yes}} Green River]". [[Allmusic]]. Retrieved on June 13, 2005.</ref> He was replaced by Ament's former Deranged Diction bandmate, [[Bruce Fairweather]].

The band released the EP ''Come on Down'' in 1985 and followed it up with ''[[Dry As a Bone]]'' in 1987, the first non-compilation release on [[Sub Pop]] records.<ref name="subpopbio">{{Cite web|url=http://www.subpop.com/bio/green_river|title=Sub Pop Records biography|website=Subpop.com|access-date=February 8, 2022|archive-date=July 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725064848/http://www.subpop.com/bio/green_river|url-status=dead}}</ref> The band's only full-length studio album, ''[[Rehab Doll]]'', was released in 1988.<ref name="subpopbio" /> In-fighting lead to the group's break-up during the recording of ''Rehab Doll''. A stylistic division had developed between Ament and Gossard on one side, and Arm on the other.<ref>Azerrad, Michael. ''[[Our Band Could Be Your Life]]''. Little Brown and Company, 2001. {{ISBN|0-316-78753-1}}, pg. 422</ref> Ament and Gossard wanted to pursue a major-label deal, while Arm wanted to remain [[independent music|independent]], viewing the duo as being too careerist.<ref name="allmusicgr" /> Regarding the accusation, Ament later said that during his time with the band he had to work at a restaurant in order to pay his rent, while the other members were supported by their parents. He said, "Did I want to play music and have my rent paid for? Hell yeah."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060702213630/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/10574958/pearl_jam_extras "Pearl Jam Podcast"]. ''[[Rolling Stone]]''.</ref> The band achieved a considerable local reputation in Seattle and had a significant influence on the genre later known as [[grunge]], with Green River being described as "arguably the first grunge band."<ref name="allmusicgr" />

===Mother Love Bone===
{{Main|Mother Love Bone}}
Following Green River's dissolution, Ament established [[Mother Love Bone]] in 1988 along with former Green River members Gossard and Fairweather, former [[Malfunkshun]] frontman [[Andrew Wood (singer)|Andrew Wood]], and former [[10 Minute Warning|Ten Minute Warning]] and [[Skin Yard]] drummer [[Greg Gilmore]]. The band quickly worked on recording and performing locally and by late 1988 had become one of Seattle's more promising bands. In early 1989 the band signed to [[PolyGram]] subsidiary [[Mercury Records]]. In March of that year the group issued its debut EP, ''[[Shine (Mother Love Bone album)|Shine]]''.

In late 1989 the group returned to the studio to record its debut studio album, ''[[Apple (Mother Love Bone album)|Apple]]''. It was planned for a March 1990 release. Only days before the release of ''Apple'', however, frontman Wood, who had a long history with drug problems, [[Drug overdose|overdosed]] on heroin. After spending a few days in the hospital in a coma, Wood died, effectively bringing Mother Love Bone to an end. ''Apple'' was released later that year.

===Temple of the Dog===
{{Main|Temple of the Dog}}
Following Wood's death, Ament and Gossard almost parted company. Ament briefly spent time in the band [[War Babies (band)|War Babies]], but he eventually got back together with Gossard and a childhood friend of Gossard's named [[Mike McCready]]. The trio were attempting to form their own band when they were invited to be part of the [[Temple of the Dog]] project founded by [[Soundgarden]]'s [[Chris Cornell]] as a musical tribute to Andrew Wood. Cornell had been Wood's roommate. Ament described the collaboration as "a really good thing at the time" for him and Gossard that put them into a "band situation where we could play and make music."<ref name="Fivehorizons.com Interview">{{cite web|title=KISW 99.9 FM: Seattle, Radio Interview by Damon Stewart in The New Music Hour with Chris Cornell, Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard|author=Nicholls, Justin|publisher=Fivehorizons.com|url=http://www.fivehorizons.com/archive/articles/radio041491.shtml|access-date=2007-10-03|date=April 14, 1991}}</ref> The band's lineup was completed by the addition of Soundgarden drummer [[Matt Cameron]].

The band started rehearsing songs that Cornell had written on tour prior to Wood's death, as well as re-working some existing material from demos written by Gossard and Ament.<ref name="Guitar World - Requiem for a Heavyweight">Alden, Grant. "Requiem for a Heavyweight." ''[[Guitar World]]''. July 1997</ref> This project eventually featured vocalist [[Eddie Vedder]], who had arrived in Seattle to audition to be the singer for Ament and Gossard's next band, which later became Pearl Jam. Vedder sang a duet with Cornell on the song "[[Hunger Strike (song)|Hunger Strike]]" and provided background vocals on several other songs. The band decided that it had enough material for an entire album and, in April 1991, ''[[Temple of the Dog (album)|Temple of the Dog]]'' was released through [[A&M Records]].

===Pearl Jam===
{{Main|Pearl Jam}}
[[File:Pearl Jam Philadelphia 2016 01.JPG|thumb|Ament performing with Pearl Jam show at the [[Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia)|Wells Fargo Center]] in [[Philadelphia]] in April 2016]]
Pearl Jam was formed in 1990 by Ament, Gossard, and McCready,<ref name="crowe">{{cite magazine | last = Crowe | first = Cameron | url = https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/10560431/five_against_the_world | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070519100135/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/10560431/five_against_the_world | url-status = dead | archive-date = May 19, 2007 | title = Five Against the World | magazine = [[Rolling Stone]] | date = October 28, 1993 | access-date = 2007-06-23 }}</ref> who then recruited Vedder and drummer [[Dave Krusen]]. The band originally took the name [[Mookie Blaylock]], but was forced to change it when the band signed to [[Epic Records]] in 1991. After the recording sessions for ''[[Ten (Pearl Jam album)|Ten]]'' were completed, Krusen left Pearl Jam in May 1991.<ref name="secrethistory">Greene, Jo-Ann. "Pearl Jam and the Secret History of Seattle Part 2". ''[[Goldmine (magazine)|Goldmine]]''. ''August 1993''</ref> Krusen was replaced by [[Matt Chamberlain]], who had previously played with [[Edie Brickell & New Bohemians]]. After playing only a handful of shows, one of which was filmed for the "[[Alive (Pearl Jam song)|Alive]]" video, Chamberlain left to join the ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' band.<ref name="peiken">{{cite magazine | url=https://pearljamhistory.no.sapo.pt/PJArticles_Interviews_12-xx-93_-_modern_drummer.htm | title=Dave Abbruzzese of Pearl Jam | access-date=2007-07-01 | author=Peiken, Matt | magazine=[[Modern Drummer]] | date=December 1993 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629145947/http://pearljamhistory.no.sapo.pt/PJArticles_Interviews_12-xx-93_-_modern_drummer.htm | archive-date=June 29, 2012 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> As his replacement, Chamberlain suggested [[Dave Abbruzzese]], who joined the group and played the rest of Pearl Jam's live shows supporting the ''Ten'' album.

''Ten'' broke the band into the mainstream, and became one of the best selling alternative albums of the 1990s. The band found itself amidst the sudden popularity and attention given to the Seattle music scene and the genre known as grunge. The single "[[Jeremy (song)|Jeremy]]" received [[Grammy Award]] nominations for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Song|Best Rock Song]] and [[Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance|Best Hard Rock Performance]] in 1993.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19930107/1678641/clapton-tops-list-of-grammy-nominations |title=Clapton Tops List of Grammy Nominations |newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]] |access-date=2008-08-03 |date=January 7, 1993 |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519101016/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19930107&slug=1678641 |url-status=live }}</ref> Pearl Jam received four awards at the 1993 [[MTV Video Music Awards]] for its music video for "Jeremy", including [[MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year|Video of the Year]] and [[MTV Video Music Award for Best Group Video|Best Group Video]].<ref name="MTV Award">{{cite web| url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1993/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828202646/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1993/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=August 28, 2008 |title=1993 Video Music Awards |publisher=[[MTV]].com |access-date=2008-08-02}}</ref> ''Ten'' was ranked number 207 on ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine's list of the [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|500 greatest albums of all time]],<ref name="500greatest">{{cite magazine| url=https://www.rollingstone.com/features/coverstory/featuregen.asp?pid=2164| title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time| access-date=2008-05-06| magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080614194909/http://www.rollingstone.com/features/coverstory/featuregen.asp%3Fpid%3D2164| archive-date=June 14, 2008| url-status=dead}}</ref> and "Jeremy" was ranked number 11 on [[VH1]]'s list of the 100 greatest songs of the '90s.<ref name="greatest90s">{{cite web
  | url = http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/127759/episode_featured_copy.jhtml
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071216020506/http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/127759/episode_featured_copy.jhtml
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = December 16, 2007
  | publisher = [[VH1]]
  | title = VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s
  | access-date = 2008-08-09}}</ref>

Following an intense touring schedule, the band went into the studio to record what would become its second studio album, ''[[Vs. (Pearl Jam album)|Vs.]]'', released in 1993. Upon its release, ''Vs.'' set at the time the record for most copies of an album sold in a week,<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://ew.com/article/1993/11/19/pearls-jam/ | title=Pearl's Jam | access-date=2007-08-31 | magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] | date=November 19, 1993 | first=Nisid | last=Hajari | archive-date=June 7, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607100223/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,308749,00.html | url-status=live }}</ref> and spent five weeks at number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]]. ''Vs.'' was nominated for a [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Album]] in 1995.<ref name="latimes">{{cite news
  | url = http://theenvelope.latimes.com/factsheets/awardsdb/env-awards-db-search,0,7169155.htmlstory?searchtype=all&query=pearl+jam
  | title = Awards Database
  | newspaper = [[Los Angeles Times]]
  | access-date = 2008-08-02}}</ref> From ''Vs.'', the song "[[Daughter (song)|Daughter]]" received a Grammy nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal|Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal]] and the song "[[Go (Pearl Jam song)|Go]]" received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE2DD113CF935A15751C0A963958260 |title=POP VIEW; Playing Grammy Roulette |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |author=Pareles, Jon |access-date=2008-08-03 | date=February 26, 1995}}</ref>

Feeling the pressures of success, the band decided to decrease the level of promotion for its albums, including refusing to release music videos.<ref>Ashare, Matt. "The Sweet Smell of (Moderate) Success". [[College Music Journal|CMJ]]. July 2000.</ref> "Ten years from now," Ament said, "I don't want people to remember our songs as videos."<ref name="crowe"/> In 1994, the band began a much-publicized boycott of [[Ticketmaster]], which lasted for three years and limited the band's ability to tour in the United States.<ref>DeRogatis, Jim. ''Milk It!: Collected Musings on the Alternative Music Explosion of the 90's''. Cambridge: Da Capo, 2003. {{ISBN|0-306-81271-1}}, pg. 58</ref> Ament took an active role during Pearl Jam's dispute with Ticketmaster in 1994 over prices and surcharges. Along with Gossard, Ament testified before a congressional subcommittee, arguing that Ticketmaster's practices were anti-competitive.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/07/21/vanschagen/ | title="Jam Session" – Interview with Stone Gossard | access-date=2008-11-01 | author=Van Schagen, Sarah | website=Grist.org | date=July 21, 2006}}</ref>

Later that same year the band released its third studio album, ''[[Vitalogy]]'', which became the band's third straight album to reach multi-platinum status. The album received Grammy nominations for [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]] and Best Rock Album in 1996.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E05EFDA1239F936A35752C0A960958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |title=New Faces in Grammy Nominations |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |author=Strauss, Neil |access-date=2008-08-03 | date=January 5, 1996}}</ref> ''Vitalogy'' was ranked number 492 on ''Rolling Stone'' magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.<ref name="500greatest"/> The lead single "[[Spin the Black Circle]]" won a Grammy Award in 1996 for Best Hard Rock Performance.<ref name="latimes"/> Although Abbruzzese performed on the album ''Vitalogy'', he was fired in August 1994, four months before the album was released.<ref name="tenpast">Weisbard, Eric, et al. "Ten Past Ten". [[Spin (magazine)|''Spin'']]. August 2001.</ref> The band cited political differences between Abbruzzese and the other members; for example, he disagreed with the Ticketmaster boycott.<ref name="tenpast"/> He was replaced by [[Jack Irons]], a close friend of Vedder and the former and original drummer of the [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]].<ref name="secrethistory"/>

The band subsequently released ''[[No Code]]'' in 1996 and ''[[Yield (album)|Yield]]'' in 1998. In 1998, prior to Pearl Jam's U.S. [[Yield Tour]], Irons left the band due to dissatisfaction with touring.<ref name="offhegoes">{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/pearljam/articles/story/5928493/off_he_goes | title=Off He Goes | access-date=2007-06-28 | author=Fischer, Blair R | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=April 17, 1998 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002115935/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/pearljam/articles/story/5928493/off_he_goes | archive-date=October 2, 2007 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Pearl Jam enlisted former Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron as Irons' replacement on an initially temporary basis,<ref name="offhegoes"/> but he soon became a permanent replacement for Irons. "[[Do the Evolution]]" (from ''Yield'') received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/specials/1999/grammys/bigpicture.html |title=41st annual Grammy nominees and winners |publisher=[[CNN]].com |access-date=2008-08-03 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080613094347/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/specials/1999/grammys/bigpicture.html |archive-date = June 13, 2008}}</ref> In 1998, Pearl Jam recorded "[[Last Kiss]]", a cover of a 1960s ballad made famous by [[J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers]]. It was released on the band's 1998 fan club Christmas single; however, by popular demand, the cover was released to the public as a single in 1999. "Last Kiss" peaked at number two on the ''Billboard'' charts and became the band's highest-charting single.

In 2000, the band released its sixth studio album, ''[[Binaural (album)|Binaural]]'', and initiated a successful and ongoing series of [[Pearl Jam Official Bootlegs|official bootlegs]]. The band released seventy-two such live albums in 2000 and 2001, and set a record for most albums to debut in the ''Billboard'' 200 at the same time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12055527 |title=Pearl Jam Breaks Its Own Chart Record |access-date=2007-06-28 |author=Davis, Darren |publisher=[[Yahoo!|Yahoo! Music]] |date=March 7, 2001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060912100129/http://music.yahoo.com/read/news/12055527 |archive-date=September 12, 2006 }}</ref> "[[Grievance (song)|Grievance]]" (from ''Binaural'') received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1439384/20010214/pearl_jam.jhtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010223215253/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1439384/20010214/pearl_jam.jhtml | url-status=dead | archive-date=February 23, 2001 |title=Pearl Jam DVD Compiles Tour Footage |publisher=[[MTV]].com |author=Moss, Corey |access-date=2008-08-03}}</ref> The band released its seventh studio album, ''[[Riot Act (album)|Riot Act]]'', in 2002. Pearl Jam's contribution to the 2003 film, ''[[Big Fish]]'', "[[Man of the Hour]]", was nominated for a [[Golden Globe Award]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/year/2003 |title=Golden Globes Nominations & Winners |publisher=goldenglobes.org |access-date=2008-02-20 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080201120641/http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/year/2003 |archive-date = February 1, 2008}}</ref> The band's eighth studio album, the eponymous ''[[Pearl Jam (album)|Pearl Jam]]'', was released in 2006. The band released its ninth studio album, ''[[Backspacer]]'', in 2009 its tenth studio album, ''[[Lightning Bolt (Pearl Jam album)|Lightning Bolt]]'', in 2013 and its eleventh studio album ''[[Gigaton (album)|Gigaton]]'' in 2020.

Aside from his musical contributions for the band, Ament has made significant contributions to the band's album artwork. His photography can be found throughout the majority of the band's releases. He has won two [[Grammy Award for Best Recording Package|Grammy Awards for Best Recording Package]] for his work on the album ''Lightning Bolt'' and on [[Chris Cornell]]'s [[Chris Cornell (album)|self-titled compilation]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/jeff-ament/1260|title=Jeff Ament|date=2019-11-26|website=GRAMMY.com|language=en|access-date=2023-04-27}}</ref>

==Other musical projects==
===Three Fish===
{{Main|Three Fish}}
Ament had a side project band named [[Three Fish]], which he formed in 1994 with Robbi Robb of Tribe After Tribe and [[Richard Stuverud]] of the [[Fastbacks]]. Three Fish released two albums, ''[[Three Fish (album)|Three Fish]]'' (1996) and ''[[The Quiet Table]]'' (1999).

===''Mirror Ball''===
{{Main|Mirror Ball (Neil Young album)}}
Ament performed with other members of Pearl Jam on [[Neil Young]]'s 1995 album, ''[[Mirror Ball (Neil Young album)|Mirror Ball]]'', and subsequently took part in an eleven-date tour in Europe as part of Young's backing band. This tour proved very successful with Young's manager Elliot Roberts calling it "One of the greatest tours we ever had in our whole lives."<ref>{{cite book|author=McDonough, Jimmy|title=Shakey: Neil Young's Biography|publisher=Anchor|date=2003|isbn=0-679-75096-7|url=http://www.thrasherswheat.org/jammin/pj.htm}}</ref>

===''Tone''===
{{Main|Tone (Jeff Ament album)}}
On September 16, 2008, Ament released his first solo album, ''[[Tone (Jeff Ament album)|Tone]]'', through Monkeywrench Records. The album features ten songs written over a span of 12 years.<ref>[http://www.pearljam.com/jeffament/ "Jeff Ament: ''Tone''"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912062641/http://www.pearljam.com/jeffament/ |date=September 12, 2008 }}. pearljam.com.</ref> The album's songs feature a raw, [[Experimental rock|experimental]] sound. 3,000 copies of ''Tone'' were pressed and were distributed through independent record stores across the United States as well as through Pearl Jam's official website.<ref>Cohen, Jonathan. [http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1044277/pearl-jams-jeff-ament-preps-solo-debut "Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament Preps Solo Debut"]. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''. September 3, 2008.</ref> The album, like their others is also available via Pearl Jam's official website.

===''Tres Mts.''===
On January 24, 2011 Ament announced on Pearl Jam's official website his side project with [[dUg Pinnick]] of [[King's X]] and [[Richard Stuverud]] of the [[Fastbacks]].  The band's official Facebook page announced a March 2011 release of their album, ''Three Mountains'', through Monkeywrench Records.

===''RNDM''===
{{Main|RNDM}}
In 2012, Ament started another band with singer-songwriter [[Joseph Arthur]] and drummer [[Richard Stuverud]].

==Other work==
Ament had a brief acting cameo in the 1992 movie, ''[[Singles (1992 film)|Singles]]'', along with Stone Gossard and Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. He appeared as himself, playing bass in lead actor [[Matt Dillon]]'s backing band, Citizen Dick.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0024610/ "Jeff Ament"]. [[Internet Movie Database]].</ref> Most of Matt Dillon's wardrobe in the movie actually belonged to Ament.<ref>Hajari, Nisid. [https://ew.com/article/1993/03/05/singles-secrets/ "Northwestern Exposure"] . ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''. March 5, 1993.</ref> During the making of the film Ament produced a list of song titles for the fictional band.<ref name="prato">Prato, Greg. [{{AllMusic|class=song|id=t2762490|pure_url=yes}} "Spoonman - Review"]. [[Allmusic]]. Retrieved on August 1, 2008.</ref> Chris Cornell took it as a challenge to write songs for the film using those titles, and "[[Spoonman]]" was one of them.<ref name="prato"/> The title of "Spoonman" is credited to Ament in the liner notes for Soundgarden's 1994 album, ''[[Superunknown]]''.<ref>(1994) Album notes for ''Superunknown'' by Soundgarden, [CD booklet]. New York: A&M Records.</ref> 

With his brother Barry, Ament founded Ames Bros., an art production company that produces tour posters and album artwork for many bands, including Pearl Jam. The brothers won a [[Grammy Award]] in 2020 for "Best Recording Package" as a result of their work as art directors on the [[Chris Cornell]] posthumous compilation album titled ''[[Chris Cornell (album)|Chris Cornell]]''.<ref>[https://www.vulture.com/2020/01/grammy-winners-2020-the-full-list.html Grammy Wimmers List 2020] by Zoe Haylock, Vulture.com, January 27, 2020.</ref>

In 2022 Ament scored, together with [[Josh Klinghoffer]], the [[FX on Hulu]] television series ''Under the Banner of Heaven'', adaptation of [[Jon Krakauer]]’s best-selling book. <ref name="auto">{{cite web | url=https://www.spin.com/2022/05/pearl-jams-jeff-ament-on-bill-simmons-podcast-5-things-we-learned/ | title=Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament on Bill Simmons' Podcast: 5 Things We Learned|website=Spin.com | date=May 6, 2022 }}</ref>

==Musical style and influences==
Ament has cited [[the Who]], [[Ramones]], [[the Clash]], [[Led Zeppelin]], and [[Neil Young]] as his biggest musical influences.<ref>{{cite book |last= Pearl Jam|author-link= |date=2011 |title= Pearl Jam Twenty|url= |location=United States|publisher=Simon & Schuster |page=11 |isbn=}}</ref> In an interview, Ament stated:
<blockquote>I have to be able to feel the bass. I've worked hard with our producers to make sure that when you play our records on your stereo, you can feel the bass. You might not necessarily be able to hear it all the time, but if you turn it up you can feel the movement in the low end—that it's moving the song. And when it's not there, it should be creating a dynamic.<ref name="godfather">Coryat, Karl. [http://www.fivehorizons.com/archive/articles/bp0494.shtml "Godfather of the "G" Word"]. ''Bass Player Magazine''. April 1994.</ref></blockquote>

Ament makes a major songwriting contribution to Pearl Jam. He wrote the music for one of the band's biggest hits, "Jeremy", as well as "[[Nothingman]]" (from ''Vitalogy''). His contributions to Pearl Jam's songs have not been limited to music with Ament having written the lyrics for the ''Yield'' songs "Pilate" and "Low Light", the ''Binaural'' songs "Gods' Dice" and "[[Nothing as It Seems (song)|Nothing as It Seems]]", "Help Help" (from ''Riot Act''), "Other Side" (from the "[[Save You (Pearl Jam song)|Save You]]" single), and "Sweet Lew" (from ''[[Lost Dogs (album)|Lost Dogs]]''). As well as bass contributions, Ament has often provided backing vocals and has played guitar on two of the Pearl Jam songs he had written musically: "Smile" (from ''No Code'') and "Bee Girl" (from ''Lost Dogs''). He performs lead vocal duties on "Sweet Lew" and also on the [[Ramones]] [[cover version|cover]] "I Just Want To Have Something To Do". He plays guitar and keyboard on [[Dance of the Clairvoyants]] (from [[Gigaton (album)|Gigaton]]).

In 2011, Ament endorsed luthier Mike Lull, and a signature model was produced, which is available in four different colors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pearljam.com/news/jeff-ament-collaborates-with-mike-lull-custom-guitars-to-create-signature-bass|title=Pearl Jam - Jeff Ament Collaborates with Mike Lull Custom Guitars to Create Signature Bass|website=Pearljam.com|access-date=February 8, 2022}}</ref>

==Personal life==
A self-professed NBA fanatic, Ament is a lifelong supporter of the former [[Seattle SuperSonics]] NBA basketball team, and for 10 consecutive years he held season tickets to the team at [[Climate Pledge Arena|Key Arena]]. The bassist is also an avid basketball player and his passion prompted him to suggest NBA player [[Mookie Blaylock]] as the name of the band that is now Pearl Jam.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/pearl-jams-jeff-ament-on-the-nba-and-breaking-noses-with-win-butler-68282/ | title=Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament on Basketball and Breaking Noses | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=October 29, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-soundsystem-extra-pearl-jam-jeff-ament | title=Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament on his NBA fandom, 'Mookie Blaylock' origins, and more | website=[[NBA.com]] }}</ref>

Ament is also an avid reader and has cited [[Mikhail Bulgakov]] and [[Cormac McCarthy]] as his favorite authors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/pearl-jam-pick-their-favourite-books-of-all-time/|title=Pearl Jam pick their favourite books of all time|website=Faroutmagazine.co.uk|date=July 13, 2021|access-date=February 8, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hear-pearl-jam-bassist-jeff-aments-apocalyptic-new-solo-song-627829/|title=Hear Pearl Jam Bassist Jeff Ament's Apocalyptic New Solo Song|first=Elias|last=Leight|website=Rollingstone.com|date=April 19, 2018|access-date=February 8, 2022}}</ref> On February 16, 2016, he married longtime partner Pandora Andre-Beatty.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://missoulian.com/lifestyles/announcements/marriages-for-monday-feb/article_c9d7f885-0872-5754-92aa-1f3c53ca4377.html/|title=Marriages for Monday, Feb. 22|access-date=2016-02-23|newspaper=Missoulian|date=February 22, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FJeffAmentsArmy|title=Facebook|website=Facebook|access-date=June 1, 2022}}</ref>

Ament currently lives in [[Seattle]], Washington and [[Missoula, Montana]]. Aside from music, Ament's interests include [[skateboarding]], basketball, graphic design, [[snowboarding]], and [[wakeboarding]]. Ament assisted in financing the construction of Missoula's Mobash Skatepark.<ref>Woodhouse, Murphy. [http://www.mtinbusiness.com/inbiz-0710/bus05.php "Riding a vision to reality — Success of Mobash skatepark is the triumph of determination over inexperience"]{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Western Montana InBusiness Monthly. October 2007.</ref> In 2004, Ament and his wife Pandora Andre-Beatty climbed Africa's [[Mount Kilimanjaro]] in support of [[Save the Children]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=From Malawi to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20040820/mtkilimanjaro22/from-malawi-to-the-summit-of-mount-kilimanjaro |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=archive.seattletimes.com}}</ref> Since 2014, Ament and Andre-Beatty have funded and operated the Montana Pool Service Foundation, a registered 501(c)3.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Robbins |first=Jim |last2=Heisler |first2=Todd |date=2021-09-30 |title=A Rock Star’s Next Act: Making Montana a Skateboarding Oasis |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/09/30/sports/montana-skateboarding-jeff-ament.html |access-date=2024-10-31 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Ament and Montana Pool Service have helped build over 30 skate parks in the state of Montana,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Skateparks - Bringing safe spaces to rural Montana since 1992 |url=https://montanapoolservice.com/#our-parks |access-date=2024-10-31 |website=Montana Pool Service |language=en-US}}</ref> including many on Native American reservations.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bucholtz |first1=Andrew |date=November 23, 2021 |title=Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament talks to Real Sports' Mary Carillo on building remote Montana skate parks to battle suicide rates |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/hbo/pearl-jam-jeff-ament-mary-carillo-skate-parks-real-sports.html |access-date=November 29, 2021 |publisher=Awful Announcing}}</ref> 

Ament is a supporter of [[organic farming]] and United States Senator [[Jon Tester]]. Tester grew up near Big Sandy and Ament knew of Tester before either were famous. Ament campaigned for Tester in 2006 and 2018.

Ament is credited for the album artwork and art direction for the Pearl Jam albums [[Ten (Pearl Jam album)|''Ten'']], the album photograph for [[Vs. (Pearl Jam album)|''Vs.'']], and created the concept for [[Yield (album)|''Yield'']], which was nominated for the [[Best Recording Package]] Grammy in 1999. Ament has won two Grammys for his art design for the Pearl Jam album [[Lightning Bolt (Pearl Jam album)|''Lightning Bolt'']] and the posthumous compilation album [[Chris Cornell (album)|''Chris Cornell'']]. 

In April 2009, Ament was attacked at knifepoint by a gang of muggers. According to ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', Ament had just pulled up outside the Southern Tracks recording studio in [[Atlanta]], Georgia, when his rented jeep was attacked by several men, who smashed the vehicle's windows and demanded money. The magazine also reported that Ament was knocked to the ground while trying to escape the robbers. He sustained a head injury and was treated at the scene. His Blackberry, passport and cash were stolen.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/05/13/pearl-jams-jeff-ament-injured-in-robbery-outside-atlanta-studio/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516170618/http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/05/13/pearl-jams-jeff-ament-injured-in-robbery-outside-atlanta-studio | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 16, 2009 | title=Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament Injured in Robbery Outside Atlanta Studio | access-date=2009-05-14 | author=Greene, Andy | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | date=May 13, 2009}}</ref> The incident would lead one fan, Joe Hartgrove, with the idea of a charity in Ament's name, called ''Jeff Ament's Army'', to be formed by Joe, Roger McDaniel and Joanna Traver, and with the approval of Ament, started in 2011; their work includes the promoting of [[Skatepark|skate parks]] in the state of Montana.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.montanaskatepark.org/about/ |title=About the MSA - Montana Skatepark Association |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=Montanaskatepark.org |publisher=Montana Skatepark Association |access-date=November 14, 2021}}</ref> 

==Discography==
===Green River discography===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! '''Year'''
! '''Title'''
! '''Label'''
! '''Track(s)'''
|-
| 1985
| ''[[Come on Down (EP)|Come on Down]]''
| [[Homestead Records|Homestead]]
| All
|-
| 1986
| ''[[Deep Six (album)|Deep Six]]''
| [[C/Z Records|C/Z]]
| "10,000 Things" and "Your Own Best Friend"
|-
| 1987
| ''[[Dry As a Bone]]''
| [[Sub Pop]]
| All
|-
| rowspan="3"|1988
| ''Motor City Madness''
| [[Glitterhouse Records|Glitterhouse]]
| "Searchin' (Good Things Come)"
|-
| ''[[Rehab Doll]]''
| Sub Pop
| All
|-
| ''[[Sub Pop 200]]''
| Sub Pop
| "Hangin' Tree"
|-
| rowspan="3"|1989
| ''This House Is Not a Motel''
| Glitterhouse
| "[[Swallow My Pride]]"
|-
| ''Sub Pop Rock City''
| Glitterhouse
| "Hangin' Tree"
|-
| ''Another Pyrrhic Victory: The Only Compilation of Dead Seattle God Bands''
| C/Z
| "Bazaar" and "Away in Manger"
|-
| rowspan="2"|1990
| ''Endangered Species''
| Glitterhouse
| "Ain't Nothing to Do"
|-
| ''[[Dry As a Bone/Rehab Doll]]''
| Sub Pop
| All
|-
| 1992
| ''Afternoon Delight: Love Songs from Sub Pop''
| Sub Pop
| "Baby Takes"
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Hype! (soundtrack)|Hype!: The Motion Picture Soundtrack]]''
| Sub Pop
| "Swallow My Pride" (1987 demo)
|-
| 2000
| ''Wild and Wooly: The Northwest Rock Collection''
| Sub Pop
| "This Town"
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Sleepless in Seattle: The Birth of Grunge]]''
| Livewire
| "Come on Down"
|-
| 2016
| ''1984 Demos''
| Jackpot Records
| All
|}

===Mother Love Bone discography===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! '''Year'''
! '''Title'''
! '''Label'''
! '''Track(s)'''
|-
| 1989
| ''[[Shine (Mother Love Bone album)|Shine]]''
| Stardog/[[Mercury Records|Mercury]]
| All
|-
| 1990
| ''[[Apple (Mother Love Bone album)|Apple]]''
| Stardog/Mercury
| All
|-
| rowspan="2"|1992
| ''[[Singles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]]''
| [[Epic Records|Epic]]
| "[[Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns]]"
|-
| ''[[Mother Love Bone (album)|Mother Love Bone]]''
| Stardog/Mercury
| All
|-
| rowspan="2"|1993
| ''Thrash and Burn: The Metal Alternative''
| [[Sony Music Special Products]]
| "Capricorn Sister"
|-
| ''The Best of Grunge Rock''
| [[Priority Records|Priority]]
| "Stardog Champion"
|-
| 1995
| ''Alterno-Daze: Natural 90s Selection''
| [[MCA Records|MCA]]
| "Stardog Champion"
|-
| 1997
| ''Proud to Be Loud''
| Debutante
| "Bone China"
|-
| 2001
| ''Alternative Moments''
| [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony Music Media]]
| "Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns"
|-
| 2007
| ''[[One Tree Hill Soundtracks#The Road Mix|The Road Mix: Music from the Television Series One Tree Hill, Volume 3]]''
| Maverick
| "Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns"
|-
| 2016
| ''On Earth As It Is - The Complete Works''
| Monkeywrench
| All
|}

===Temple of the Dog discography===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! '''Year'''
! '''Title'''
! '''Label'''
|-
| 1991
| ''[[Temple of the Dog (album)|Temple of the Dog]]''
| [[A&M Records|A&M]]
|}

===Pearl Jam discography===
{{Main|Pearl Jam discography}}

===Three Fish discography===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! '''Year'''
! '''Title'''
! '''Label'''
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Three Fish (album)|Three Fish]]''
| Epic
|-
| 1999
| ''[[The Quiet Table]]''
| Epic
|}

===Solo discography===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! '''Year'''
! '''Title'''
! '''Label'''
! '''Format'''
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Tone (Jeff Ament album)|Tone]]''
| Self-released
| [[LP records|LP]], [[Music download|Digital]]
|-
| 2012
| ''[[While My Heart Beats]]''
| Monkeywrench
| LP, [[CD]]
|-
| 2018
| ''Heaven/Hell''
| Monkeywrench
| LP, Digital
|-
| 2021
| ''I Should Be Outside''
| Monkeywrench
| LP, Digital
|}

===Deranged Diction discography===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! '''Year'''
! '''Title'''
! '''Label'''
|-
| 2009
| ''Life Support/No Art, No Cowboys, No Rules''
| Feedback
|}

===Tres Mts. discography===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! '''Year'''
! '''Title'''
! '''Label'''
|-
| 2011
| ''Three Mountains''
| Monkeywrench
|}

===RNDM discography===
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
! '''Year'''
! '''Title'''
! '''Label'''
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Acts (album)|Acts]]''
| Monkeywrench
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Ghost Riding (album)|Ghost Riding]]''
| Monkeywrench
|}

===Contributions and collaborations===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! '''Year'''
! '''Group'''
! '''Title'''
! '''Label'''
! '''Track(s)'''
|-
| 1993
| M.A.C.C. ([[Mike McCready]], Jeff Ament, [[Matt Cameron]], and [[Chris Cornell]])
| ''[[Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix]]''
| [[Reprise Records|Reprise]]/[[Warner Music Group|WEA]]
| "Hey Baby (Land of the New Rising Sun)"
|-
| 1995
| [[Neil Young]]
| ''[[Mirror Ball (Neil Young album)|Mirror Ball]]''
| Reprise
| All
|-
| 1997
| Tribe After Tribe
| ''Pearls Before Swine''
| Bulletproof
| Some
|-
| 1998
| Clodhopper
| ''Red's Recovery Room''
| My Own Planet
| "Café Joli" and "900 Miles"
|-
| rowspan="2"|2004
| [[Jack Irons]]
| ''[[Attention Dimension]]''
| Breaching Whale
| "Dunes"
|-
| [[King's X]]
| ''[[Live All Over the Place]]''
| Brop! Records/[[Metal Blade Records|Metal Blade]]
| "[[Manic Depression (song)|Manic Depression]]"
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p51625|label=Jeff Ament}}
* {{IMDb name|0024610}}

{{Pearl Jam}}
{{Temple of the Dog}}
{{Mother Love Bone}}
{{Green River}}
{{2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ament, Jeff}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:21st-century American guitarists]]
[[Category:American rock bass guitarists]]
[[Category:American male bass guitarists]]
[[Category:American male guitarists]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Green River (band) members]]
[[Category:Grunge musicians]]
[[Category:Guitarists from Montana]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mother Love Bone members]]
[[Category:Pearl Jam members]]
[[Category:People from Chouteau County, Montana]]
[[Category:People from Havre, Montana]]
[[Category:RNDM members]]
[[Category:Temple of the Dog members]]
[[Category:University of Montana alumni]]