Pearl Jam's Mike McCready Releases 'Farewell to Seasons' Graphic Novel and Soundtrack

The guitarist's new project features a rock opera-style soundtrack with guest musicians.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 2:00pm

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Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready is releasing a new graphic novel called 'Farewell to Seasons' set in the Seattle music scene of the 1980s and 1990s. The novel will be accompanied by an original soundtrack that McCready describes as 'my version of a rock opera.' The soundtrack features collaborations with musicians like Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses and Stefan Lessard of Dave Matthews Band.

Why it matters

This project showcases a different side of McCready's musical talents beyond his iconic guitar work with Pearl Jam. The rock opera-style soundtrack represents an ambitious creative endeavor that expands McCready's artistic range and contributes to the enduring legacy of the Seattle music scene.

The details

McCready wanted to 'push himself' to write something more than just individual songs, aiming to create a full narrative and musical experience with 'Farewell to Seasons.' He has been working on the project for four years, taking singing lessons to develop his vocal abilities for the soundtrack. The soundtrack features contributions from a variety of acclaimed musicians to bring McCready's vision to life.

  • The 'Farewell to Seasons' graphic novel and soundtrack are scheduled for release in October 2026.
  • McCready says Pearl Jam is still looking to find a new drummer following the 2025 departure of Matt Cameron.

The players

Mike McCready

The lead guitarist of the rock band Pearl Jam, known for his iconic guitar work on songs like 'Even Flow' and 'Alive.'

Duff McKagan

The bassist of the rock band Guns N' Roses, who collaborated with McCready on the 'Farewell to Seasons' soundtrack.

Stefan Lessard

The bassist of the Dave Matthews Band, who also contributed to the 'Farewell to Seasons' soundtrack.

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What they’re saying

“I wanted to push myself to be able to write something that's specifically about something. Not just a song, but a whole story.”

— Mike McCready, Pearl Jam Guitarist

“I wanted to write something where I sang on it. To be honest with you, I took four years of singing lessons and I wanted it to be good, so I've been working on it for a long time. And I feel really good about it now.”

— Mike McCready, Pearl Jam Guitarist

What’s next

The 'Farewell to Seasons' graphic novel and soundtrack are scheduled for release in October 2026. McCready says Pearl Jam is still looking to find a new drummer following the 2025 departure of Matt Cameron.

The takeaway

Mike McCready's 'Farewell to Seasons' project showcases his versatility as an artist, expanding beyond his iconic work with Pearl Jam to create a rock opera-style narrative and soundtrack. This ambitious endeavor highlights McCready's creative vision and the enduring influence of the Seattle music scene.