Red Mosquito

Infobox Song
Name = Red Mosquito


Artist = Pearl Jam
Album = No Code
Background = lightsteelblue
Released = August 27, 1996
track_no = Track 8
Recorded = January 1996 – February 1996 at Studio Litho, Seattle, Washington
Genre = Alternative rock
Length = 4:03
Label = Epic
Producer = Brendan O'Brien, Pearl Jam
Writer = Jeff Ament, Stone Gossard, Jack Irons, Mike McCready, Eddie Vedder
Chart position =
prev = "Habit"
prev_no = Track 7
next = "Lukin"
next_no = Track 9"Red Mosquito" is a song by the American rock band Pearl Jam. The song is the eighth track on the band's fourth studio album, "No Code" (1996). Despite not being released as a single, the song managed to reach number 37 on the "Billboard" Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Origin and recording

The song features lyrics written by frontman Eddie Vedder and music co-written by bassist Jeff Ament, guitarist Stone Gossard, guitarist Mike McCready, and drummer Jack Irons. At Pearl Jam's July 18, 2006 concert in San Francisco, California, Vedder said regarding McCready's lead guitar work, "In the studio he played that part on that record...he played it with a Zippo lighter...an old Zippo lighter. It belonged to my grandpa and afterwards he asked if he could have it, and I said, 'no.' But, I found it the other day Mike, and I wanted to tell you I found it and I might give it back to you. I think you should have it."Vedder, Eddie. (Speaker). (2006). "7/18/06, Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California". [Audio Recording] . Ten Club.]

Lyrics

The lyrics for "Red Mosquito" were inspired by the events surrounding Pearl Jam's June 24, 1995 concert in San Francisco at Golden Gate Park. When introducing the song at Pearl Jam's July 18, 2006 concert in San Francisco, California, Vedder stated, "This next song is a connection to San Francisco ‘cause it was written in a hotel room here, in the midst of having a really, really bad day." Vedder was forced to stay at a San Francisco hospital after suffering from the effects of food poisoning, the same day the band was scheduled to play at Golden Gate Park in front of 50,000 people. [Kava, Brad. [http://www.vedderism.friko.pl/wywiady-17.htm ""I'm Just looking to make it right." --- E.V."] . www.vedderism.friko.pl. November 3, 1995.] Vedder left the hospital to play the show, but only managed to make it through seven songs. Neil Young filled in for Vedder for the rest of the show that day. Because of Vedder's health the band was forced to cancel the remaining dates of the short tour that they were on. [Hilburn, Robert. [http://www.fivehorizons.com/archive/articles/latimes2.shtml "Working Their Way Out of a Jam"] . "Los Angeles Times". December 22, 1996.] When introducing the song at Pearl Jam's June 16, 2008 concert in Columbia, South Carolina, Vedder stated, "Alright, this one goes back aways. It’s all about…uh…being trapped in a hotel room with an insect." [Vedder, Eddie. (Speaker). (2008). "6/16/08, Colonial Center, Columbia, South Carolina". [Audio Recording] . Kufala.]

Regarding the situation, Vedder stated:

That whole [Golden Gate Park] thing was a blur based on some bad food. It was really, really bad. Looking back at it, it doesn't seem as intense as it was, but it was horrible. I just felt not human and looking back I should have got through that show somehow, and I think the fact that Neil [Young] was there made me feel like I could get off the hook in some way and I did go out for a few songs. I just didn't feel good about the whole thing, I felt swallowed up by the whole deal. It was just a situation where you couldn't go to work. But I think now I'd probably get through that show. [Weisbard, Eric, et al. "Ten Past Ten". "Spin". August 2001.]

Reception

Without being released as a single, the song peaked at number 37 on the "Billboard" Mainstream Rock Tracks chart.

Live performances

The song was premiered live at the band's November 1, 1995 concert in Salt Lake City, Utah. [ [http://pearljam.com/songs/song.php?song=RedMosquito "Pearl Jam Songs: "Red Mosquito""] . pearljam.com.] A live performance of "Red Mosquito" can be found on the live album "Live on Two Legs".

Chart positions

References

External links

* [http://pearljam.com/songs/song.php?song=RedMosquito Lyrics]