According to Consequence of Sound, David Letterman and Eddie Vedder are pretty good buddies, their friendship so strong that the former Late Show host inducted Pearl Jam into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Last night, Vedder repaid his companion by performing in a ceremony honoring Letterman as the 20th recipient of the Mark Twain Prize For American Humor. Vedder, lead vocalist and one of the three guitarists in the legendary group Pearl Jam, recently debuted a new song that he performed with Fiona Apple and Social Distortion at Ohana Fest in September.

He covered Warren Zevon’s “Keep Me In Your Heart” alongside Paul Shaffer and The Choir. Letterman and Zevon had an close relationship as well, before Zevon passed away in 2003, so the song choice was not chosen at random. “Keep Me In Your Heart” comes from Zevon’s final album, The Wind, which was written while he was dying of lung cancer. Vedder’s performance took place at the Kennedy Center. Zevon made several appearances on the Late Show, including one in 2002 shortly after his diagnosis, and Vedder carried out a touching testament to their friendship in the cover of Zevon’s song. Listen to the cover and original track below.


Photo Credit: Alyssa Fried