Pearl Jam’s Drummer Extracts Himself From the Band

First Oasis’s Zak Starkey, then the Foo Fighters’ Josh Freese, and now our rule of threes for kick-ass Gen-X drummers is complete. Matt Cameron has quit Pearl Jam after nearly 30 years behind the riser for the Seattle rockers. The band announced the decision on social media, where they praised Cameron for being a “singular and true powerhouse of a musician and drummer,” as well as one of their “first musical heroes” for his epochal work in the grunge scene with Soundgarden and Skin Yard. “Much love and respect to Jeff, Ed, Mike, and Stone for inviting me into the band in 1998 and for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, filled with friendships, artistry, challenges and laughter,” Cameron wrote. “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.”

Most imminently, Cameron will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year as a member of Soundgarden — he previously got in with Pearl Jam in 2017 — which will put him into the prestigious Two-Time Inductee Club. But if he’s looking for any openings, the Foo Fighters need someone for their tour. And since we’re here: Do we know who’s playing drums on Beck’s tour, which starts next week, since Oasis poached Joey Waronker because they couldn’t get Starkey, who turned them down because he thought he was still employed by the Who? It’s been an exhausting season for our kit men.

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