Rock band holds onto grudge against ’90s rivals, unable to tolerate their music

ll page ad of Pearl Jam’s gig and Pearl Jam’s record,” Barron said. “And you couldn’t find the Spin Doctors anywhere. You’d go to the record store, it’d be a big Pearl Jam display and one copy of our record. It was maddening.”

Drummer-keyboardist Aaron Comess shared a similar sentiment, recalling how it took a frustratingly long “year” before the label recognized the potential of the Spin Doctors’ debut album, “Pocket Full of Kryptonite.” Despite the delay, the album eventually peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold over 10 million copies, propelled by chart-topping hits such as “Two Princes,” “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” and “Jimmy Olsen’s Blues.”

According to Comess, Epic Records heavily favored Pearl Jam during their time with the label. As the Spin Doctors toured the country in their modest van, they found themselves struggling to locate copies of their own record in music stores. The shelves were consistently dominated by Pearl Jam’s records, leading the band to question the record label’s priorities repeatedly.

In contrast, Pearl Jam burst onto the scene with their debut album “Ten,” released around the same time as the Spin Doctors’ success. With hits like “Black,” “Alive,” and “Jeremy,” the Seattle-based group quickly climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and achieved an impressive 13-times platinum certification in the U.S. Their momentum propelled them to international fame, selling over 100 million records worldwide and ultimately earning induction into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Despite the Spin Doctors’ respectable achievements, they feel that they might have achieved even greater success if they had received equitable promotion from their record label. As the years have passed, the underlying rivalry with Pearl Jam has persisted, with Barron admitting that he still struggles to listen to their music.

The feud between the two bands continues to influence their interactions and perceptions, even though both have since moved on from their shared record label. The Spin Doctors’ latest album, “Face Full of Cake,” which was produced by Phish bassist Mike Gordon, marks their return to the music scene after a prolonged hiatus following 2013’s release, “If the River Was Whiskey.”

While the Spin Doctors’ career has seen its share of highs and lows, their enduring animosity towards Pearl Jam serves as a reminder of the competitive music industry that fueled their rise to fame. Despite the passage of time, the legacy of the ’90s rock scene continues to shape the bands’ relationships and artistic journeys, leaving a lasting impact on both groups.