Eddie Vedder, the iconic voice behind Pearl Jam, recently bared his soul about his initial days in the realm of music, expressing notable disdain for Mötley Crüe and the reigning metal giants of the 1980s.
During a candid chat with the New York Times, Eddie Vedder reminisced about his time in San Diego where he juggled duties loading music equipment at a local club.
This role often had him inadvertently witnessing live gigs by the very bands that were the darlings of late ’80s MTV.
Vedder didn’t hold back on his feelings for the era’s metal music, especially targeting Mötley Crüe’s chart-topping “Girls, Girls, Girls”.
He voiced, “My San Diego gig had me unintentionally dropping by concerts of bands I’d not usually pick. The metal soundscapes that reigned supreme on MTV then? Not my cup of tea. Mötley Crüe’s ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’? It rubbed me the wrong way, especially how it framed both genders. The depth, or the lack of it, was glaring.”
But Vedder also navigated the interview to spotlight shifts in the music scene and its reflection on societal perceptions.
While he tipped his hat to the raw energy of Guns N’ Roses, he held a special reverence for Seattle’s alternative wave, where female individuality shone.
He commented, “Seattle was different. The alt-vibe there celebrated women who sported combat boots flaunted Cat Power-esque hair, and didn’t conform to the polished Heather Locklear look. They were bold, opinionated, and drew respect.”
With a playful tone, he added, “When talking about the ’90s, Perry Farrell was probably the only one I appreciated in a bustier.”
Switching gears, there’s a buzz around Vedder’s imminent solo release, ‘Earthling’, slated for a 11th February launch via Seattle Surf/Republic Records.
As the buzz amplifies, fans are bracing to embrace a more intimate, unplugged, and raw Vedder, in stark contrast to his storied journey with Pearl Jam.
