After Mother Love Bone singer Andrew Wood died of an overdose in 1990, guitarist Stone Gossard quickly began writing new material rather than abandoning music. Working initially with Mike McCready and later rejoining bassist Jeff Ament, he assembled the foundations of what would become Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten. The article shows how grief, persistence and Seattle’s thriving rock scene helped turn a devastating loss into a major new band.

Gossard developed the songs in his parents’ attic, aiming for dramatic, driving music with heavy grooves and space for a powerful vocalist. He and Ament recorded 12 instrumental demos with Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron over two weekends at Seattle’s Reciprocal Studios, using chord charts to shape tightly arranged songs. Cameron recalled that Gossard already seemed to have a clear vision, with the arrangements deliberately leaving room for vocals.