After Pearl Jam became one of the most popular bands in the world in the early-90s, a lot of subsequent bands were accused of trying to mimic the Seattle band’s distinctive sound. One of those groups who faced that criticism was the Tallahassee rock band, Creed, especially when it came to their chart-topping 1997 debut album, My Own Prison. In a new interview with Guitar World, Creed frontman Scott Stapp responds to those accusations that he was an Eddie Vedder rip-off early in the band’s career.

“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,” Stapp said. Guitarist Mark Tremonti said they never felt part of the grunge scene at the time. “We were fans of a lot of the grunge bands, but I don’t think we ever tried to fall in line with them. We were just doing our own thing.” (Loudwire)