Making its broadcast premiere later this week on the PBS American Masters series, PEARL JAM 20 is the first full-length documentary to cover the definitive pop music of the ’90s. Written and directed by CAMERON CROWE, the film is an exploration into the career of the hugely popular Seattle-based grunge band, PEARL JAM, and serves as an introduction for the uninitiated and an exaltation for fans. A former journalist for Rolling Stone magazine who actually moved to Seattle in 1989, CROWE knows (and obviously loves) his subject very well. An inspiration to many of the bands that followed in the genre, PEARL JAM is depicted in the film as an honest and devoted group of artists that has withstood the test of time. At a press conference to promote this airing, CROWE talked about the film and the evolution of the band. (CLICK ON THE MEDIA BAR FOR AUDIO)

PEARL JAM 20 airs Friday night on PBS