Deaf Charlie - Catastrophic Metamorphic (2023) Hi Res

Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam) and John Wicks (Fitz and the Tantrums former drummer) have announced they will release a full album under moniker Deaf Charlie.

In a statement, Jeff Ament said: “There’s a real optimism in this batch of mostly dystopian themes, and that comes from John’s upbeat production and playing, he infused a lot of pop and reggae elements into the songs, pushing my arrangements and rhythms into new territory. Most of these tunes had real journeys between our two visions.”

Deaf Charlie’s debut album will contain 12 songs, including the debut single of the band (Something Real, released in 2020), Sitting ‘Round At Home (Buzzcocks cover, released as Something Real 7” b-side), Comeback Player of the Year (inspired by the loss of mutual friend and Seattle café owner Dow Lucurell, who died unexpectedly in 2018), and their new track, Losing My Mind.

Among the Catastrophic Metamorphic guest contributors are Marlon Grace (on Losing My Mind, Something Real and Preamble), some local Montana horn players (Andrew Kagerer, Mitchell Bailey and Cade Chastain) and John Wicks’ own daughters, who provide background vocals on The Orange Flag.

According to SPIN, Catastrophic Metamorphic art was created by Edgar Smith, a fellow Missoula-based artist who also worked on the imagery for Pearl Jam’s 2002 single Save You.