Pearl Jam Guitarist Unveils Grunge Opera and Graphic Novel

Mike McCready's decades-in-the-making 'Farewell to Seasons' project blends music, comics, and the history of Seattle's 1990s music scene.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 3:34pm

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Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready has announced the release of his long-in-the-works grunge-inspired rock opera and graphic novel project titled 'Farewell to Seasons.' The multimedia project, which McCready has been developing for over 20 years, tells a fictional tale of a Seattle musician named David Williams navigating the city's burgeoning music scene in the early 1990s. The graphic novel, co-authored by McCready and comic writer Mark Sable, will be accompanied by a 'lost' rock opera featuring original music written from the perspective of the main character.

Why it matters

McCready's project aims to capture the creativity, community, and chaos of the iconic Seattle music scene of the 1990s, while also exploring the brutal cost that many artists and musicians faced during that seminal era. The story blends elements of magical realism to render the triumphs and struggles of the characters, posing the question of whether the glory of that musical movement was ultimately 'worth it'.

The details

The graphic novel, illustrated by Argentinian artist Sebastián Píriz, will be released on October 6th. Deluxe and Platinum editions will include a soundtrack featuring new and original songs created by McCready, serving as an 'artifact recording' produced by the fictional lead character David Williams. McCready has been working on the project for two decades, initially conceiving it as a musical stage show before expanding it into the current multimedia format with the help of director/writer Cameron Crowe.

  • McCready began working on 'Farewell to Seasons' in earnest during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The graphic novel and accompanying rock opera are scheduled for release on October 6, 2026.

The players

Mike McCready

The guitarist for the rock band Pearl Jam, who has been developing the 'Farewell to Seasons' project for over 20 years.

Mark Sable

The comic writer who co-authored the 'Farewell to Seasons' graphic novel with McCready.

Sebastián Píriz

The Argentinian artist who provided the illustrations for the 'Farewell to Seasons' graphic novel.

Cameron Crowe

The director and writer who provided McCready with advice and guidance during the development of the project.

David Williams

The fictional lead character of the 'Farewell to Seasons' story, a Seattle musician navigating the city's burgeoning music scene in the early 1990s.

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What they’re saying

“It's a story I've been developing for many years, inspired by the creativity, community, and chaos of the Seattle music scene.”

— Mike McCready (Billboard)

“Having been in the heart of the NW music scene as a journalist in the 1990s, I've wanted for years to work on a project that would reflect what it was actually like for the musicians and the fans when 'the world came to Seattle.' I can say, without any hyperbole or exaggeration, that I feel like my entire creative life has led to me being involved with this book, and I feel so blessed to be a part of bringing Mike's beautiful and poignant story to the world.”

— Rantz A. Hoseley, Z2 editor in chief (Billboard)

What’s next

McCready has indicated that he hopes to mount a live production of the 'Farewell to Seasons' rock opera in the future, though details on that have not been finalized.

The takeaway

McCready's 'Farewell to Seasons' project serves as a poignant exploration of the creative highs and personal costs of the iconic Seattle music scene of the 1990s, blending music, comics, and historical fiction to capture the spirit of that seminal era.