In order to fully understand a role, actors will often seek out people who embody their version of the persona to study, and gain insight into their lives and apply it to their trade.
Bradley Cooper, in preparation for his role as Jackson Maine in the 2018 blockbuster hit A Star Is Born, did just that, looking to superstar singer Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam for inspiration.
Speaking with Howard Stern, Vedder spoke of their meetings before and after the release of the film, and broke down some of the advice he gave.
Aside from the run-of-the-mill Rock n' Roll lifestyle rules like, "make sure your guitar covers your balls at all times... That way, if the crowd throws anything, let’s say an orange or a tennis ball, you’ll be covered," Vedder had some more poignant words of wisdom.
Initially, he didn't expect it to work out positively for Cooper. "If you really thought this through, because you have to have the talk and say, 'Look, there’s a few movies out there on surfing, a few movies out there on rock ’n roll," he says, "None of them get it right. You’re putting yourself on the line here. I don’t think anyone can pull it off,'" he admitted.
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However, when invited to see the final product Eddie says he was taken aback by the incredible performance.
"I will admit the first time he asked if we would come down to see it, on the way over, I’m thinking of all the ways I could let him down nicely, you know?" he says. "I want to be honest, but how do I? So, I was a little nervous. And I tell you, when I saw it... I was just f***ing blown away."
He feels Cooper absolutely nailed his role, as well as the other stars Lady Gaga and Sam Elliott. "It just took me there, and what he can do with his eyes and what they did together, and then Sam Elliott. It really took me there. I’m getting chills right now," said Vedder.
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Cooper has spoken about Eddie's help in the past, explaining to Yahoo! News that “He gave me minor, little things that only musicians know about what to do, just aesthetically and the inner workings." He also worked tirelessly with Lukas Nelson, son of music legend Willie Nelson, to hone his character.
In the interview, Vedder also talked briefly about his own musical role during the early stages of the project, explaining that Sean Penn was originally going to star as Jackson, with Clint Eastwood as director, and that he was asked to submit music for possible use.
Eddie also touched on the death of his friend and singer Chris Cornell, and the impact it has had on his life through the years. "I’ve had to be somewhat in denial," he admits about Cornell's untimely passing. "I don't even feel like I had a choice. I was just terrified where I would go if I allowed myself to feel what I needed to feel or what I was instinctively wanting to feel or how dark I felt like I was gonna go."
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"Because I didn’t see him that often in the last 10 years, probably only, like, four or five times, and usually at a gig or something, I still haven’t quite dealt with it. I'll get stronger as time goes."
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