When grunge exploded onto the scene in the early ’90s, it sent shockwaves through the rock world — and even Iron Maiden’s powerhouse frontman Bruce Dickinson took notice. The rise of bands like Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam changed everything, shifting audiences away from heavy metal’s high-flying theatrics toward a darker, moodier sound born out of Seattle’s underground.
But rather than dismissing the movement that threatened to overshadow his genre, Dickinson paid close attention — and, as it turns out, genuinely admired what grunge brought to the table. Over the years, the Iron Maiden legend has shared his respect for the era’s biggest voices, particularly Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam and Chris Cornell of Soundgarden.
“The best voice I’ve heard in rock is Chris Cornell,” Dickinson once said in a 2001 interview with Let It Rock. “The best two rock voices I’ve heard in the last few years both have been from grunge bands — Eddie Vedder and Chris Cornell.” Later, speaking to VH1 for their “Greatest Artists in Hard Rock” series, he added, “Pearl Jam I really like. Eddie Vedder’s singing is very emotional.” Coming from one of metal’s most commanding vocalists, that’s high praise.
Interestingly, Bruce admitted that by the 1990s, many of the newer metal bands weren’t exciting him anymore. Instead, he found himself drawn to the emotional rawness and poetic depth of grunge and alternative rock. “A lot of metal today that sounds like the old New Wave of British Heavy Metal bores me,” he told Lollipop Magazine in 2000. “Non-metal stuff I like is usually poetic, melodic… I like Henry Rollins, Pearl Jam, Neil Young, and even Marilyn Manson.”
That admiration for grunge would soon shape his own work. After leaving Iron Maiden in 1993, Dickinson ventured into solo territory, determined to break free from the band’s signature sound. The result was Skunkworks (1996), an album heavily influenced by Seattle’s music scene. He teamed up with Jack Endino, the famed producer behind Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Mudhoney. Endino later revealed that Bruce had been “listening to a lot of the Seattle stuff” and wanted to create a more modern, alternative edge to his music.
Despite their different origins, both Pearl Jam and Iron Maiden have one thing in common: endurance. While most of their peers faded, both bands continue to pack stadiums worldwide. Pearl Jam, led by Vedder, has sold over 85 million records globally, while Iron Maiden remains one of metal’s most celebrated acts — even if the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame continues to overlook them.
Decades later, Bruce Dickinson’s respect for Pearl Jam still stands as proof that true musicians recognize greatness, no matter the genre. Whether it’s metal or grunge, his words remind us that powerful voices — from the operatic highs of Run to the Hills to the haunting emotion of Black — will always transcend trends.
