A Yungblud and Eddie Vedder Collaboration May Be on the Horizon
Yungblud appears to be continuing his run of high-profile rock collaborations, with recent comments suggesting that new music with Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder could be in the works.
The Doncaster-born artist, whose real name is Dominic Harrison, has spent the past few years building close creative ties with some of the most influential figures in rock music. Along the way, he has attracted support and admiration from a range of established artists, including Ozzy Osbourne and members of Aerosmith.
Now, it seems another major name may be joining that list. In a recent interview, Yungblud hinted that he could be collaborating with grunge icon Eddie Vedder in the future, following a meeting that left a strong impression on him.
The two musicians crossed paths at a high-profile corporate Christmas event held last month by Eldridge Industries. The evening featured an all-star lineup, with Yungblud and Vedder sharing the stage alongside Bruno Mars, Guns N’ Roses members Duff McKagan and Slash, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith and Anthony Kiedis, Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt, and several other notable performers.
After the event, Yungblud was seen backstage socialising with a number of the artists involved. He later revealed that Vedder, in particular, stood out to him.
“Eddie’s such an inspiration to me, especially vocally,” Yungblud said, before adding that the two may eventually work together. “I think we might write together in the future.”
If such a collaboration materialises, it would follow a string of recent high-profile partnerships for Yungblud. Earlier this month, he joined forces with The Smashing Pumpkins for a heavier reimagining of his song Zombie. He also previously collaborated with Aerosmith on the joint EP One More Time.
Yungblud met Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and Aerosmith vocalist Steven Tyler while performing at Black Sabbath’s final-ever show in July. Following Ozzy Osbourne’s death just weeks after the concert, Yungblud, Tyler and Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt paid tribute to the heavy metal legend during an awards show appearance.
Yungblud had been particularly close to Osbourne, and the two drew widespread attention ahead of Black Sabbath’s final performance when footage surfaced of Yungblud presenting Osbourne with a custom-made cross necklace. In one of her first interviews after Osbourne’s passing, Sharon Osbourne suggested that Yungblud could be considered to portray the metal icon in a future biographical film.
At present, no concrete details have been confirmed regarding a collaboration between Yungblud and Eddie Vedder. However, Yungblud has indicated that the second instalment of his Idols album project is set for release in the near future.
Despite strong backing from many figures in the rock world, Yungblud has also faced criticism. Members of The Darkness, including frontman Justin Hawkins and guitarist Dan Hawkins, have been openly critical of him on several occasions since the awards show appearance. In one recent comment, Justin Hawkins took aim at Yungblud’s background, suggesting that reliance on auto-tune signals deeper issues for the future of rock music.
Meanwhile, Pearl Jam released their most recent album, Dark Matter, in spring 2024. The record was widely praised and described as some of the band’s strongest work in years, highlighting a return to the charismatic songwriting that originally defined their sound, combined with confident musicianship and a renewed willingness to take creative risks.
