Defining True Society — A Conversation with singer/songwriter Jerry Hannan about music, life and working with Eddie Vedder

This interview/story was conducted over the phone and via email with myself and Jerry Hannan in 2007. I’ve been a fan of his work ever since hearing Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam cover and record his song “Society”. With Pearl Jam on the verge of releasing a new album, I thought this interview would be of interest to fans of both Jerry Hannan and Pearl Jam alike.

Back in 2007 I had the pleasure of interviewing veteran singer/songwriter Jerry Hannan. If you didn’t know who he was before the release of the epic film, Into The Wild, you certainly knew him afterwards. Hannan wrote the beautiful song Society, which he recorded with Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder for their mutual friend Sean Penn’s film and soundtrack. I hope you enjoy it!

Have you ever gazed at a beautiful nights’ sky, full of stars and promise and thought that there’s so much more to this life? Have you thought beyond money, politics and the religions of the world? Have you simply thought that there must be a better way? Well Jerry Hannan has…and through his gift of song he shares those thoughts with the rest of us.

“…We have a greed with which we have agreed. When ya think you have to want more than you need, until you have…