10 Best Frontmen In Alternative Rock
6. Eddie Vedder - Pearl Jam
The holy trinity of grunge is made up for Nirvana, Soundgarden and of course, Pearl Jam. Sonically they all sounded different, however. Soundgarden took heavy metal and altered the basic formula to make it both grittier and somehow more accessible. Nirvana took the raw anger of punk, and crossed it with the melodic sophistication of the Beatles. But, Pearl Jam hailed from a more classic/hard rock background. You could hear the influences of blues-inspired '70s acts in the guitar work, but it was Eddie Vedder that really gave them the edge.
As a kid Vedder and his family moved to California, where he become ever more engaged in the music scene. During the '80s he played in a number of funk-inspired rock and punk bands, drawing inspiration from the reining kings of the LA alt scene, Red Hot Chili Peppers. Eventually he got wind of what was happening in Seattle, and was offered a gig fronting the newly formed Pearl Jam.
They had the angst of Nirvana, but were distinctly less oppressive than Soundgarden. As a frontmen, Vedder had the social awareness to give his lyricism depth, and the vocal power to give his messages meaning. Out of all the original groups to break alt rock into the mainstream, Pearl Jam are one of the few still standing - in no small part due to the prowess of their frontman.