Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready has revealed plans for a new graphic novel along with a previously unreleased rock opera called Mike McCready’s Farewell to Seasons. Full details about the project can be found below.
McCready has spent more than two decades working on the concept. He first imagined it as a stage musical before reshaping it into the multimedia project it is today with support from filmmaker and writer Cameron Crowe.
The story follows a fictional Seattle artist named David Williams as he finds his way through the city’s rapidly growing music culture during the early part of the 1990s. Described as a historical fantasy, the book is written by McCready together with comic author Mark Sable. Alongside the novel, there will also be a rock opera featuring songs written from the viewpoint of the main character.
Speaking about the project’s themes, McCready said it draws heavily from his own experiences of the Seattle scene. He described it as being “inspired by the creativity, community and chaos of the Seattle music scene” (per Loudwire). He added, “I’ve had a great time bringing this project to life with Z2 and I hope people enjoy the journey as much as I did creating it.”
The graphic novel features artwork from Argentinian illustrator Sebastián Píriz and is scheduled to arrive on October 6. Special deluxe and platinum versions will also include a companion soundtrack made up of new material written by McCready.
Rantz A Hoseley, Editor in Chief at Z2, also shared his thoughts on the release. He explained: “Having been in the heart of the NW music scene as a journalist in the 1990s, I’ve wanted for years to work on a project that would reflect what it was actually like for the musicians and the fans when ‘the world came to Seattle.’
“I can say, without any hyperbole or exaggeration, that I feel like my entire creative life has led to me being involved with this book, and I feel so blessed to be a part of bringing Mike’s beautiful and poignant story to the world.”
Fans can already place advance orders through the Z2 website, while the physical edition is set to hit stores globally on October 6.
Regarding Pearl Jam, the group spent much of last year on a major US tour promoting their most recent album ‘Dark Matter’. The release earned a four star review from NME, where Liberty Dunworth wrote: “For those longing for the charismatic songwriting that first put the band on the map over three decades ago, ‘Dark Matter’ will come as a pleasant surprise.”
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