That’s right, the MTV Video Music Awards once upon a time embraced the beautiful world of rock and roll. No better example of that lovely era than the time Neil Young fronted Pearl Jam for a destructive (literally) performance of “Rockin’ in the Free World.” On Neil Young’s 70th birthday, it only feels appropriate to visit the side project Young always desired, but was never able to fully achieve. 

The eight-minute performance is everything you loved about early 90s “grunge” music, as Vedder and his bandmates smash everything in their sight while Young dismantles his guitar during the solo section of the tune. This was the start of a relationship between Young and Pearl Jam, as they would go on to record Mirrorball together in 1995, an experience that many members of Pearl Jam credit as a huge learning tool for them. They would also tour briefly in 1995, albeit without Eddie Vedder.

Replay it below.