Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready Accept Ice Bucket Challenges
If you've spent anytime on social media as of late, you've likely seen one or two (or three or five) of your friends pouring buckets of ice water on their heads. You can now add a couple of your favorite rockers to that list: Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder and guitarist Mike McCready (watch McCready in the video above and Vedder below).
The #IceBucketChallenge has swept the nation raising awareness and money for the ALS Association (ALS is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease). The challenge is simple: someone pours ice water on their head and then challenges specific people to do the same -- if the challenged individual doesn't complete the task in 24 hours, he or she then donates $100 to the charity.
McCready was recently challenged by friend and former New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason. Gleason was diagnosed with ALS in 2011 and since then has built a strong bond with Pearl Jam's music -- so much so that he introduced the band at their 2013 headlining gig at New Orleans' Voodoo Experience festival (and even wrote the setlist for the night).
While skateboarding in a parking lot and half-covered by a wet suit, McCready accepted the challenge as a friend dumped a bucket of ice water on him. Before getting wet, he issued his challenge to a number of people, including his "bandmates."
Answering the challenge, Vedder dedicated his video to Gleason and challenged actor Tim Robbins, Bruce Springsteen and -- thanks to the recommendation of his daughter -- Niall Horan of One Direction. He then proceeded to get a massive amount of water poured slowly over his head.
Our hats go off to Vedder, McCready and everyone who has shown support for ALS Association. Get more information on the charity and ice bucket challenge here.