Matt Cameron quits Pearl Jam

[Jorge]

if it's truly a health problem, him including the "more to follow" in his post is pretty strange.

He meant health problems. More health problems will follow

[oneway23]

Matt is a year younger than Neil Peart was when he retired. I know Matt is ostensibly in better health, as he's not walking around on bloody stumps like Neil was, by the end, but, sometimes, there is no conspiracy, wellwater or otherwise.

Mofo is getting old, just like the rest of us! He's got some serious tendinitis, just as any drummer who has been playing for that long does.

[B]

Just because he has nerve or muscular damage that makes touring with Pearl Jam difficult or painful or whatever, doesn't mean he can't still play or compose or do things on a small scale. They will be great stuff coming out of Matt Cameron in the future.

[oneway23]

Just because he has nerve or muscular damage that makes touring with Pearl Jam difficult or painful or whatever, doesn't mean he can't still play or compose or do things on a small scale. They will be great stuff coming out of Matt Cameron in the future.

I started editing my post to add that, and, I left it alone. I'm glad you said it.

I'm not wearing a veil today for this guy. He's still very much with us. There will be projects aplenty, there may even be gigs!

He doesn't have to be joining the Foo Fighters or re-constituting some version of Soundgarden in order to continue his life.

[Kalevi]

He looks healthier than anyone else in the band

[oneway23]

He looks healthier than anyone else in the band

[Johnny Turner]

Maybe something related to his right knee? That may be hurtful to use the kick

[oneway23]

Oh, and I don't know if y'all are discussing this, but, the recent EP he did with Melvins is great.

Slightly OT aside, the one Melvins did with Napalm Death, also ferocious.

[MattA75]

Vicky sounds like a pain in the ass, from what I've read/heard. Kim, Matt and Ben probably can't stand her.

there is no "probably"

Everyone in Seattle hates Vicky...

[EBowie]

Vicky sounds like a pain in the ass, from what I've read/heard. Kim, Matt and Ben probably can't stand her.

there is no "probably"

Everyone in Seattle hates Vicky...

Hahaha...Roger that

[CCKaraoke]

He wrote Birth Ritual and Room A Thousand Years Wide. It doesn’t really matter after that.

Two of their best songs.

[MattA75]

Stuverud made Animal sound like it hadn't sounded in 20 years...and Stone knew it with the way he was moving and smiling during it...I'm down for him taking the reins

Zak Starkey would also be fine, and has the friendship with Ed that is likely some sort of prerequisite (though I don't know if Ed would "tuck" it to Pete and Roger like that)

I'm sad to see Matt go, but I have no doubt this is all about the physical toll

As they regroup, it would be perfect time for a Lost Dogs II as a sort of final bow on Matt's time with the band.

[mikejasond]

It really is sad to think.

No matter what happens, and no matter what we liked or didn't like about him, Matt Cameron WILL go down in history as the drummer that was with Pearl Jam the longest, and this lineup will be the longest-lasting they ever had or have, unless they'll all be playing until they're 90.

So the version of Pearl Jam that lasted the longest and played the most shows, is now over.

[lowlight79]

The real funny thing is at the pit and on the sub reddit. They are acting like it's just a drummer change and there gonna do 40 shows next year.

[EBowie]

The Pit are a bunch of idiots.

[mikejasond]

Predictably half of the social media comments are some variation of "Bring back Dave A!" which is annoying if only because everyone thinks they are the first person to suggest this. Then it usually turns to "Pearl Jam are still around?" or "They haven't been good since 1994" or other inane statements that everybody thinks is some clever take.

I also don't understand the "He was great in Soundgarden but not in Pearl Jam" comments. He's the same drummer. Both bands play melodic hard rock. Obviously there was a different approach to the songwriting but I've never found his work to be wildly different or somehow lesser in Pearl Jam. I like Soundgarden but obviously feel PJ is the better overall band with a much richer and varied catalogue—I'm sure that is biasing my opinion to a degree but I still say he's done great stuff in both bands. I've never felt the need to choose a side there and don't get why people think they have to.

To me Soundgarden used his abilities better. They seem to have songs with more complicated and rhythmic drum parts, which is something he can do very well. He's very tight and crisp and so when the drums require a lot of complexity and tightness he nails it.

Pearl Jam was not as complex on the drums, and in the earlier years it was more the vibe that was important than playing some complex rhythm or line. Dave's drums are impressive because of the feeling they evoke, the emotions they stir, the sounds of passion, energy, groove, etc. It's a different skillset, and that didn't really seem to be something that Matt excelled at, in my opinion. So his drums are good if the song calls for his abilities (but IMO the songs that did aren't the best Pearl Jam songs), and less good if they call for different skills that isn't the type of drummer he seems to be. The drums of something like Jesus Christ Pose are insane and awesome, but his drums on Even Flow not so much.

Dave was like a wild animal, and Matt is like a robot lol.

[oneway23]

It really is sad to think.

No matter what happens, and no matter what we liked or didn't like about him, Matt Cameron WILL go down in history as the drummer that was with Pearl Jam the longest, and this lineup will be the longest-lasting they ever had or have, unless they'll all be playing until they're 90.

So the version of Pearl Jam that lasted the longest and played the most shows, is now over.

No tears, babypaw...It's all one continuum.
There will be gigs, there will be songs, there will be joy.

[oneway23]

Dave was like a wild animal, and Matt is like a robot lol.

They had the right drummer they needed for whatever point they were at in their lives at that time.

Dave A with young Pearl Jam was ideal. Perhaps later, not so much.

The fact that it didn't happen allows our brains to fill in the ideal, as though they'd still be writing albums like VS. in their fifties if only Dave A. were still in the band.

[wease]

The real funny thing is at the pit and on the sub reddit. They are acting like it's just a drummer change and there gonna do 40 shows next year.

And Matt’s going to the Foo Fighters.

[oneway23]

The real funny thing is at the pit and on the sub reddit. They are acting like it's just a drummer change and there gonna do 40 shows next year.

And Matt’s going to the Foo Fighters.

Will Goldsmith to Pearl Jam confirmed