Pearl Jam's darkest hour: Seattle band thought about quitting after concert deaths

Denmark Disaster!

Pearl Jam considered breaking up after the Roskilde Festival, a big outdoor stage area that can hold thousands of people, at which nine concertgoers were crushed to death during the Seattle band's performance. "I think the thought crossed all of our minds, but it would've been a bad way to end it all," guitarist Mike McCready said by phone from a tour stop in Boston, where the group performed two concerts this week.

"We realized we were making viable music. We can't end on a down note."

McCready said Pearl Jam formed in 1990 at the height of the Seattle grunge explosion and whose debut album, "Ten," has sold more than 11 million copies was devastated about the event that occurred during the four-day festival in Denmark.

"It's about the worst thing that can happen to a rock band," McCready said. "People shouldn't have to die at concerts."

Fans rushed the stage, crushing nine concertgoers and majorly injuring three others. The band tried to tell the crowed to move back, but couldn't prevent the massive surge to stage. One of Europe's biggest concert tragedies. The performance was halted and the band that was up next, The Cure, completely canceled their show to represent respect for the dead.

"There are absolutely no words to describe our anguish in regard to the parents and loved ones of those precious lives that were lost," the band said at the time in a statement posted on its Web Site.

Pearl Jam has gone to great lengths to prevent injuries at their concerts. The group customized their own barrier between the stage and the mosh pit; they set-up rails with padding on them to protect people that fall in the mosh pit.

"We're all mentally tough," he said. "I feel very good, very positive. And the fans have been really supportive."

McCready added another tattoo to his already well decorated body.

"I have seen now on my arms and pecs," he said. "It makes me look a lot tougher than I really am."