Some folks are born with a natural allegiance to abrasive rock and roll music, whereas others are converted during their younger years, usually as a result of a particularly memorable record. For many kids and teenagers of the 1990s, those records were produced by Pearl Jam, the Seattle rock outfit that rose to prominence during the grunge years of the early 1990s. When it comes to primary Pearl Jam songwriter Eddie Vedder, his early years were dominated by a deep appreciation for both rock and roll.
After being gifted a guitar on his 12th birthday, Vedder soon turned to the music world for comfort, particularly as a result of his parents’ divorce and the complicated home life that subsequently followed. In these preteen years, a young Vedder’s attention was dominated by classic rock groups like The Who. But like many adolescent rock fans, the budding songwriter found himself yearning for something distinctly more abrasive.
For most musicians of the grunge age – the likes of Nirvana or Mudhoney, for instance – their early years were dominated by a fascination with the defiant sounds of punk rock. However, if you listen to Pearl Jam, you will find that their music has often been a lot closer to classic or even arena rock. Nevertheless, Vedder’s songwriting has always had a bit of an edge to it, and he puts that down to the early influence of one group in particular: heavy metal progenitors, Black Sabbath.
Some of the most life-changing experiences can come from unexpected avenues, and Vedder was first introduced to Black Sabbath by his cousin, Tina. “I had no idea what I had in store for me when my cousin Tina bought me that record,” he later recalled. Of course, Black Sabbath’s debut album changed everything upon its 1970 release. Introducing the world to the incredible tones of Ozzy Osbourne and the guitar mastery of Tony Iommi, the eponymous album spawned thousands of metalheads in its wake.
Vedder was firmly among those legions of fans despite only being six years of age when the album first hit the shelves. As the Pearl Jam songwriter recalls, “I remember hearing that rain falling, and then on the cover, there was that witch on the cover, and then that chord came in, and it scared the shit out of me. Directly opposite to my catholic upbringing.”
Black Sabbath are among the most influential rock groups of the 20th century, almost single-handedly establishing the metal genre and bringing forth a sound that seems to unite all subgenres and cultures under the rock music umbrella. Upon listening to Pearl Jam, particularly their earlier work, the influence of Osbourne’s outfit is particularly stark, culminating in the dark, abrasive sound that Vedder became known for.
So, it seems as though the grunge scene has a lot to thank Vedder’s cousin, Tina, for. Without her admirable taste, Vedder might never have heard the incredible sounds of Black Sabbath’s debut, and consequently, Pearl Jam might have sounded very different.
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