Michael David McCready (born April 5, 1966 in Pensacola, Florida) is an American musician who serves as the lead guitarist for the band Pearl Jam. Along with Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Dave Krusen, and Eddie Vedder, he is one of the founding members of Pearl Jam.
McCready began playing guitar as a child after his family had relocated from Florida to San Diego, California. He fronted several bands; the most notable was Shadow, a band that started as a cover band, but eventually began writing its own material. Shadow eventually disbanded and McCready found himself in Seattle and too depressed to pick up the guitar.
It wasn't until after he was the incomparable Stevie Ray Vaughan at The Gorge Amphitheater in Central Washington state that he was inspired to again play. Soon he found himself jamming with Stone Gossard who then called Jeff Ament.
It wasn't long before the three of them had contacted Chris Cornell, founder of Temple of the Dog. Joined by Eddie Vedder, the five musicians decided they had enough solid material to release an album and in 1991 the self-titled album came out. McCready was also a member of the side projects Mad Season with Alice In Chains' vocalist Layne Staley and Barret Martin of the Screaming Trees as well as The Rockfords.
Many people have commented that McCready's playing style bears remarkable similarities to Jimi Hendrix and Vaughan. A huge music fan, McCready has cited the technical prowess of KISS' Ace Frehley, Michael Schenker, and Eddie Van Halen among his influences. McCready is a sonic chameleon, however, and gets tremendous flair from Parliament's Eddie Hazel and the classically trained Randy Rhoads.
While many musicians channel their pain into their music, McCready is no different. Since the age of 21, he has suffered from Chron's Disease, an inflammation of the intestines. Each year he performs an annual concert to benefit the Northwest chapter of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.
McCready is married with two children and lives in Seattle, Washington.
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Neil Young's 20th Annual Bridge School Benefit - Day Two
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Neil Young's 20th Annual Bridge School Benefit - Day One
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