“don’t you worry
i believe your story
you were put away
for something you didn’t do
while i’m waiting
i’ve been saving
my love”

                     … Eddie Vedder – Satellite (Listen on YouTube)

In 1994, a great tragedy occurred that left three 8-year old boys murdered and three teens unjustly accused of the horrific murders. They went to jail while the real murderer went free. Jessie Misskelley, Damien Echols, and Jason Baldwin were arrested for the torture and murders of second graders Christopher Byers, Steven Branch, and Michael Moore.

Their lives became a nightmare. The story made headlines around the world and stirred up a massive controversy. The murders were even connected to possible satanic worship, an interest in heavy metal and Stephen King books. It became a topic on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

The small town West Memphis, Arkansas suddenly became the centre of intense international scrutiny. The murder of children is a crime that creates immense disbelief and evokes intense emotional responses. The murders had to be solved quickly. Errors were made and police pressure applied that interfered with justice being done.

Did they do it? A coerced confession by one of the accused teens sealed their fate. Echols, eighteen years old, was sentenced to death. It would later be proven that none of the testimony from this admission correlated to the facts. Fortunately international celebrities took up their cause when it became clear that justice had not been done. Eddy Vedder, Peter Jackson and his wife, the Dixie Chicks, Johnny Depp, Metallica and countless musicians including Marilyn Manson, Band of Horses, Bob Dylan, Henry Rollins, and Nick Cave with Warren Ellis spoke out about the mishandling of the crime.

Eddie Vedder, lead singer for Pearl Jam became personally involved in raising money, keeping the investigation alive, and advocating for their release. In 2005, he donated signed items to be auctioned off for “West Memphis Three World Awareness Day”. He and Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks) participated in Voices for Justice: A Rally in Support of the West Memphis Three in Little Rock, Arkansas.

“It took years of educating myself and reading and even helping funding new discoveries that allowed me to have what now I feel is 100 percent belief in their innocence. Now we’ve really got more evidence, and now with conviction we can say without a doubt these young man don’t deserve to be [in prison.]“ 

Eddie Vedder ‘Larry King Live’ Hollywood Reporter 8/9/2011