Scott Stapp doesn’t mind being compared to Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder. In a recent interview with Guitar World, the Creed singer reflected on the frequent comparisons, saying,
“Hey, they said the same thing about Darius Rucker. He was the Eddie Vedder rip-off before they called me the Eddie Vedder rip-off. I felt like I was in good company, and I was honored by the compliment.”
During the late ’90s, Creed and other rock bands were often criticized for their similarities to Seattle grunge bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Stapp, in particular, was frequently likened to Vedder. A 1997 Sun Sentinel review mentioned:
“I doubt I’m the only one who heard Creed’s ‘My Own Prison’ on the radio and thought, ‘Cool, a new Pearl Jam song.’ I was surprised to find out that the Eddie Vedder voice belonged to Scott Stapp of the Tallahassee rock band, Creed.”
The vocal similarities between Stapp and Vedder led to debates about whether Stapp was imitating Vedder. While some dismissed these claims as coincidental due to their similar vocal ranges, others were convinced that Stapp was mimicking Vedder’s style.
Creed member insulted Pearl Jam
Creed bassist Brian Marshall once defended Stapp but also made contentious remarks about Pearl Jam, saying:
“Eddie Vedder wishes he could write songs like Scott Stapp. I love Pearl Jam but I just don’t understand the route they took, and I don’t think it all had to do with Eddie Vedder.”
Shortly after, Creed apologized for Marshall’s comments:
“We’re tired of the constant comparisons to Pearl Jam, but there’s no excuse for the arrogance and stupidity [of Marshall]. Please don’t judge Creed based on those statements, as they don’t reflect the band’s feelings. Brian has apologized for his comments, and we’re sorry if he offended anyone.”
Marshall left the band not long after these comments. At the time, he was also dealing with alcoholism, and the band wanted him to go to rehab, which he refused.
