One of early 90s American rock’s most controversial feuds has been revisited with Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder claiming Kurt Cobain didn’t understand what his group were trying to do.
Famously, Pearl Jam’s debut album ‘Ten’ was released soon after Nirvana’s breakthrough album ‘Nevermind’. Many accused the group of being bandwagon jumpers, with Cobain himself entering the debate.
In an interview at the time the Nirvana singer said the band were “pioneering a corporate, alternative and cock-rock fusion”.
Pearl Jam would later eclipse Nirvana in terms of sales with follow up ‘V’ outselling Nirvana’s ‘In Utero’ by almost five copies to one. However it could be argued this is exactly what Cobain wanted.
Speaking to the Sun newspaper about Cobain’s comments, Vedder said: “I don’t think Kurt understood us at the time, but we became friends and I’m glad we had some of the great conversations we had, that I’m always going to keep up here.
“I don’t talk too much about him in respect to Krist (Novoselic) and Dave (Grohl) and I know he said that early stuff about not liking us.
“But there’s a couple of complimentary things that he said in public about me as a human being, which I’m proud exist.
“But if Kurt were around today, I know he’d say to me, ‘Well, you turned out OK’.”
Pearl Jam are set to re-issue ‘Ten’ on March 23rd.
