Pearl Jam Could’ve Been In the Imploded Titanic Submersible According To Documentary
via Tully Blanchard / Youtube
In a new Netflix documentary Titan: The OceanGate Disaster, it’s revealed that OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush once floated the idea of taking Pearl Jam down to the Titanic wreck—yes, really. The shocking detail comes from videographer Joseph Assi, who was recruited by Rush to help promote the submersible’s deep-sea mission.
“They needed more exposure, that’s why we came along,” Assi explained. “The sub they were making was very basic, so the idea was – ‘Make us videos so we can catch the attention of people.’” One of those ideas? Getting Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam aboard the Titan. “They had wild ideas, like they want to take Pearl Jam in the submarine, or he talked about some floating city that could also submerge,” Assi said.
A Tragic Dive to the Titanic
The Titan submersible tragically imploded on June 18, 2023, during a 12,500-foot descent to the Titanic wreck site. All five passengers—including Rush, French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British billionaire Hamish Harding, and Pakistani-British businessman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman—were killed.
Less than two hours into the journey, the sub lost contact with OceanGate’s crew at around 10,825 feet. After a four-day search, debris from Titan was discovered on the Atlantic seabed. The documentary confirms that the craft was crushed instantly by the deep ocean pressure, leaving no time for anyone aboard to react.
Warnings, Noises, and a Risky Design
Even though Rush had completed 13 previous dives to the Titanic, safety concerns had been raised. Passengers from earlier trips reported hearing “banging noises” against the hull—an ominous sign that wasn’t taken lightly. A similar sound was picked up by the OceanGate team right before Titan went dark.
Despite the tragic outcome, Titan: The OceanGate Disaster has been well-received. It’s currently rated 6.7/10 on IMDb and holds a 69% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
As for Pearl Jam, they released their latest album Dark Matter in April 2024 and are set to play at the Ohana Festival in California this September 26.
