Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon recently shared his thoughts on a missed opportunity with Eddie Vedder in his Facebook post.
“Hi Friends, after presenting our first manager, the inimitable Irving Azoff with the Pollstar ‘Manager of the Year’ award, I was hustled into the backstage Green Room for photos and quick interviews, and introduced to Eddie Vedder,” Cronin said.
“When Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains burst out of Seattle, down came the Def Leppard and Bon Jovi posters from my sons’ walls and up went Kurt Cobain and Eddie Vedder,” he continued. “My teenage boys had discovered music of their own.”
“As difficult as those initial years of Grunge were for bands of my generation, I dug the Seattle sound and was happy that my boys had discovered new music that they could call their own,” Cronin explained. “I wish I would have had the wherewithal to share that story with Eddie when I met him, but I often feel a bit intimidated in those situations, and only later think of what I wish I would have expressed in the moment.”
“In the brief encounter I had with Eddie Vedder, I found him to be friendly, warm, and welcoming, and if our paths cross again, I will be ready with a conversation starter!” he concluded.
Cronin’s reflection highlights the significant shift in rock music during the early 1990s from an established musician’s perspective.
Records from biographical sources show that Cronin and REO Speedwagon achieved remarkable success before the grunge era. Their album ‘Hi Infidelity’ sold over 10 million copies in the early 1980s.
The late 1980s and early 1990s brought a transformation to rock music. The Seattle grunge scene, led by bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana, reshaped the musical landscape that classic rock acts had dominated.
This generational shift affected chart performances and radio airplay. Cronin’s account reveals the interesting dynamics between established rock musicians and the emerging grunge movement.
Classic rock bands faced commercial challenges during the grunge era. However, Cronin’s appreciation for the Seattle sound and support for his sons’ musical interests demonstrate the potential for mutual respect between these different rock generations.
