After 27 years, seven studio albums, and countless live performances, longtime Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron has announced his departure from the band. The news comes from a series of Instagram posts, one from the band and another from Cameron himself. The news arrives a year after Pearl Jam’s latest studio album, 2024’s Dark Matter, and a few months after the band completed the extensive tour around the LP.
According to the post, the split seems to be a mutually respected decision. “After 27 fantastic years, I have taken my final steps down the drum riser for the mighty Pearl Jam,” reads Cameron’s post, which was uploaded the morning of July 7. “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,” continues Cameron.
“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,” reads Pearl Jam’s Instagram post, which was seemingly uploaded in sync with Cameron’s. The same post from the band praises Cameron’s other musical legacies, highlighting his time with Soundgarden and SkinYard.
Together, Cameron and Pearl Jam released several albums from 1998 to 2024 and completed 15 tours, including globe-trotting outings and treks across North America. Prior to Cameron’s arrival, the band had three drummers in four years. The sudden split comes as a shock to Pearl Jam fans and the rock world as a whole. You can read the posts from both parties below, and be sure to keep an eye on Cameron’s next moves.
