Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron exits band: 'I have taken my final steps'

Article content

Longtime Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron has announced he is leaving the band after nearly 30 years.

“After 27 fantastic years, I have taken my final steps down the drum riser for the mighty Pearl Jam. Much love and respect to (bassist) Jeff (Ament), (vocalist) Ed (Vedder), (lead guitarist) Mike (McCready) and (rhythm guitarist) Stone (Gossard) for inviting me into the band in 1998 and for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, filled with friendships, artistry, challenges and laughter. I am forever grateful to the crew, staff and fans the world over. It’s been an incredible journey. More to follow. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer shared in a social media statement.

Cameron, who also played percussion in Soundgarden, Skinyard and Temple of the Dog, joined Pearl Jam in 1998 after the band’s previous drummer, Jack Irons, had to exit due to health issues.

In their own statement, members of Pearl Jam called Cameron a “true powerhouse of a musician and drummer.”

“From being one of our first musical heroes in the bands Skinyard and the mighty Soundgarden, to playing on our first demos in 1990, Matt Cameron has been a singular and true powerhouse of a musician and drummer,” they shared.

“He has propelled the last 27 years of Pearl Jam live shows and studio recordings. It was a deeply important chapter for our group and we wish him well always. He will be deeply missed and is forever our friend in art and music.”

In addition to Cameron and Irons, Pearl Jam has featured Dave Krusen and Dave Abbruzzese on drums. 

Cameron split his time between Soundgarden (who broke up in 1997 before reuniting in 2010) and Pearl Jam, but after the death of Soundgarden vocalist Chris Cornell in 2017, his work with Pearl Jam became his primary focus and he played drums on seven of the Grammy-winning band’s studio albums, starting with 2000’s Binaural up until last year’s Dark Matter.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil hinted that fans will get to hear the Seattle grunge rockers’ long-awaited final album, which they were working on at the time of Cornell’s death.

“I think so,” he replied when the magazine asked if fans will ever get to hear Soundgarden’s last recordings in the studio. “Our objective and goal was always to complete that. I probably have OCD enough to not want to leave something unfinished or incomplete like that, so I think the more we can attend to our body of work and our catalog…I think everyone in the band feels that way.”

After the death of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins in 2022, Cameron was rumoured to be joining that band as well as Pearl Jam. But he cleared up speculation with a post to his Instagram story. “FYI the internet rumours are false, I haven’t joined the Foos,” Cameron wrote alongside a red heart emoji.

But Cameron did speak about the toll touring and playing for three hours a night was taking on Hawkins.

“(Hawkins) had a heart-to-heart with (frontman) Dave (Grohl) and, yeah, he told me that he ‘couldn’t f— do it anymore’ — those were his words,” Cameron told Rolling Stone. “So I guess they did come to some understanding, but it just seems like the touring schedule got even crazier after that.”

Cameron later said his words were misrepresented.

“When I agreed to take part in the Rolling Stone article about Taylor, I assumed it would be a celebration of his life and work,” he wrote on Instagram. “My quotes were taken out of context and shaped into a narrative I had never intended.”

mdaniell@postmedia.com

Love concerts, but can't make it to the venue? Stream live shows and events from your couch with VEEPS, a music-first streaming service now operating in Canada. Click here for an introductory offer of 30% off. Explore upcoming concerts and the extensive archive of past performances.