Stone Carpenter Gossard (born July 20, 1966) is an American guitarist, songwriter, producer, and record-label owner best known as a founding member of Pearl Jam. His rhythm guitar and songwriting helped connect several important stages of the Seattle rock movement, from the city's early underground scene to the international success of grunge in the 1990s.
Gossard began playing in Seattle-area bands during his teenage years, including the Ducky Boys and March of Crimes. In the mid-1980s, he joined Green River, a group that also featured Mark Arm and Jeff Ament. Alongside bands such as Soundgarden and the Melvins, Green River helped define the abrasive, punk-influenced sound that later became associated with Seattle grunge. The band released the influential EPs *Come on Down* and *Dry as a Bone* before breaking up in 1988.
Following Green River's split, Gossard and Ament formed Mother Love Bone with singer Andrew Wood, guitarist Bruce Fairweather, and drummer Greg Gilmore. The band's music combined hard rock, glam-rock theatricality, and a strong melodic sense. Its *Shine* EP appeared in 1989, and the group seemed poised for a major breakthrough when Wood died of a heroin overdose in March 1990, shortly before the release of Mother Love Bone's debut album, *Apple*. The loss ended the band but not Gossard and Ament's creative partnership.
Gossard, Ament, Mike McCready, and Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell subsequently recorded *Temple of the Dog*, a tribute to Wood. Released in 1991, the album also featured Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron and guest vocals from Eddie Vedder. At the same time, Gossard, Ament, McCready, and Vedder were developing the group that became Pearl Jam, initially performing under the name Mookie Blaylock. Pearl Jam's debut, *Ten*, transformed the band into one of the most successful rock acts of its era. Gossard's riff-driven compositions were central to songs such as "Alive," "Even Flow," "Jeremy," and "Dissident," while his guitar partnership with McCready gave the band a balance between muscular rhythm work and expressive lead playing.
Pearl Jam's later albums, including *Vs.*, *Vitalogy*, *No Code*, *Yield*, *Binaural*, and *Dark Matter*, reflected the group's movement beyond its initial grunge identity. Gossard has generally worked as a collaborative songwriter, contributing instrumental ideas and arrangements while allowing the band's sound to evolve. Pearl Jam was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
Outside Pearl Jam, Gossard has maintained a broad range of projects. He is a member of Brad, the Seattle group formed with singer Shawn Smith and drummer Regan Hagar, whose albums include *Shame*, *Interiors*, and *In the Moment That You're Born*. He has also released the solo albums *Bayleaf* and *Moonlander*. In 2020, he launched Painted Shield with songwriter Mason Jennings; the project blends rock with electronic, folk, and experimental elements across albums including *Painted Shield*, *Painted Shield 2*, and *Painted Shield 3*.
Gossard and Hagar founded Loosegroove Records in 1994, later reviving the label to release music by Painted Shield, Brad, and other artists. He also owns Studio Litho in Seattle, where Pearl Jam, Brad, and numerous other artists have recorded. Through his playing, songwriting, production work, and support for emerging musicians, Gossard has remained a significant link between Seattle's formative rock culture and its continuing musical life.