Eddie Vedder’s new Netflix documentary, Matter of Time, premiering on February 9, shifts focus from his Pearl Jam career to raise awareness for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a rare genetic skin disorder. The film chronicles Vedder’s solo concerts in Seattle in October 2023, which raised funds for clinical research into the condition.
Epidermolysis Bullosa, often called “butterfly skin” due to its fragility, affects about 500,000 people worldwide. Those with the most severe forms have a life expectancy ranging from infancy to 30 years. The disorder causes severe blistering and tearing of the skin due to missing proteins that bind skin layers.
Vedder and his wife Jill co-founded the EB Research Partnership in 2010 after a family friend’s child was born with the condition. The charity has become the largest funder of EB research, aiming to find a cure by 2030. The documentary combines concert footage with stories of patients, families, and researchers, set to a score by Broken Social Scene.
In a statement, Vedder said: “We are so grateful to the music community, and the entire team who made these concerts and this film possible. This is a story of hope, resilience, and the power of community.” Michael Hund, CEO of the EB Research Partnership, added: “We are showing the world how rare diseases like EB can be cured.”
Canadian director Matt Finlin noted: “The concert wasn’t just about music; it was about amplifying the voices of a small but mighty community that refuses to let this disease define them.”
