Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron leaves band after 27 years: “It’s been an incredible journey”
Matt Cameron has left Pearl Jam after 27 years, the drummer sharing the news on social media today (July 7).
Cameron, who’s also known for his work with Soundgarden, joined Pearl Jam in 1998 to replace Jack Irons, who left during the tour promoted the band’s album ‘Yield’.
In a statement, he said that he had “taken my final steps down the drum riser for the mighty Pearl Jam,” before thanking the other members of the band for “the opportunity of a lifetime, filled with friendships, artistry, challenges and laughter.”
He added: “I am forever grateful to the crew, staff and fans the world over. It’s been an incredible journey. More to follow. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
His bandmates added their own message, too. They wrote: “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. 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. We love you Matt.”
Back in 2023, Cameron was rumoured to be joining Foo Fighters. The Sun reported that he and Atom Willard – who went on to join Alkaline Trio later that year – were in line to take over from the late Taylor Hawkins, who died in 2022.
He denied the rumours at the time, writing on his Instagram Stories, “FYI the internet rumours are false, I haven’t joined the Foos.”
Cameron previously played with Foo Fighters during the Hawkins tribute show in Los Angeles, and his departure from Pearl Jam has led to further speculation that he’ll be joining on a more permanent basis. This time, ahead of the Foos’ concerts later this year.
A headline performance at the Singapore F1 Grand Prix in October is sandwiched between dates in Indonesia and Japan, before they’re set to play in Mexico in November. They’re set to be the band’s first gigs since they announced the sacking of previous drummer Josh Freese in May and reportedly cancelled European festival shows after 2024’s news that frontman Dave Grohl had “recently become the father of a new baby daughter, born outside of my marriage”.
Last week, Foo Fighters celebrated their 30th anniversary as a band with a new single, ‘Today’s Song’. Alongside the track, Grohl shared a message in which he looked back on the previous three decades with the band and touched upon Hawkins’ death.
“Over the years, we’ve had moments of unbridled joy, and moments of devastating heartbreak,” he said. “Moments of beautiful victory, and moments of painful defeat. We have mended broken bones and broken hearts. But we have followed this road together, with each other, for each other, no matter what. Because in life, you just can’t go it alone.”
The post Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron leaves band after 27 years: “It’s been an incredible journey” appeared first on NME.
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