Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder returned to San Dieguito Academy this weekend to rock out with surprised students, teachers and fellow alumni.
The musician's alma mater was holding its alumni variety show when the rocker took the stage and played alongside others. He sang Joe Jackson’s 1979 song “Got the Time” and later joined in on a cover of “Roadrunner” by Jonathan Richman of the Modern Lovers.
Students were stoked to say the least.
Vedder moved to San Diego county with his family in the mid-’70s and attended San Dieguito Academy until his senior year. He returned to the area in 1984 and became involved in the local music scene before moving to Seattle to form Pearl Jam, which became one of the biggest bands of the '90s.
Though Vedder has noted in interviews that his high school years were rough -- after living on his own and supporting himself since age 15, he dropped out during his senior year, earning his GED shortly thereafter -- he's been a big supporter of San Dieguito Academy and has attributed his success to the late Clayton E. Liggett, his former drama teacher for whom a theater at the school is now named.
Vedder is among a cast of famous alumni at the school, including fellow musician Jon Foreman of Switchfoot and pro surfer Rob Machado, both of whom continue to give back to the community.
Hannah Lott-Schwartz, a San Diego native, moved back to the area after working the magazine-publishing scene in Boston. Now she’s straight trolling SD for all the music she missed while away. Want to help? Hit her up with just about anything at all over on Twitter, where -- though not always work-appropriate -- she means well.
