Pearl Jam's lead guitarist Mike McCready attempted to channel Jimi Hendrix with a solo rendition of the Star Spangled Banner as the Seattle Seahawks hosted the New England Patriots
Mike McCready's solo performance of the National Anthem
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Beloved Seattle band Pearl Jam took to Lumen Field to perform an electric guitar solo of the National Anthem – but NFL fans were not overly happy with the performance.
Pearl Jam's guitarist, Mike McCready, went solo while showcasing his talents in front of a sold-out Seattle Seahawks season opener against the New England Patriots in a rematch of February's Super Bowl.
It's rare for the National Anthem not to be sung and instead to be played on an instrument, which fans have regularly taken poorly. And it appears this incident is much of the same, with many questioning NFL commissioner Roger Goodell signing off on the decision. It came just before Sam Darnold endured a nightmare start to the season
One viewer wrote, "What a stupid presentation of the National Anthem before the first NFL game in Seattle! Unfriggenbelievable!"
A second fan commented, "Wow the NFL couldn’t have started off worse. Ive seen better National Anthem performances at my son's elementary school field day, played on a recorder, @nflcommish, get your act together."
Another fan asked, "Did anyone else think the Pearl Jam guitar solo of the National anthem tonight was offensive and just really sucked, or am I just getting old?"
McCready performed in front of a sold-out crowd
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While a fourth posted, "Guitar player busted out a solo mid national anthem f------ disgusting".
Some NFL fans were angered by the league's decision to choose Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican artist who does not speak or sing English, to perform at the Super Bowl.
Many pointed toward this during McCready's performance to criticize commissioner Roger Goodell.
Pearl Jam is a much-loved band from Seattle, with McCready speaking about the honor of being asked.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 09: Sam Darnold #14 of the Seattle Seahawks looks on after a play against the New England Patriots during the first quarter in the game at Lumen Field on September 09, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images)
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Speaking before his performance, he said: "It’s incredibly special, it’s incredibly poignant, it’s intense. You want to do it right. It’s Seattle.
"We want to play as well as we can for Seattle, because we’re from here, this is our home. It’s a big deal, and that’s an exciting pressure to be part of.”
The Seahawks will be much more concerned with the play on the field than with Pearl Jam's performance, as they hold their breath after losing their quarterback, Darnold, on the first drive. He was seen walking to the locker room with a significant limp.