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Pearl Jam's drummer Matt Cameron leaves the band after 27 years

By Chris Morgan | Last updated Jul 7, 2025 4:26 PM ET

Apparently vintage rock bands can't keep drummers these days. The Who axed Zak Starkey (and then brought him back and then axed him again). Foo Fighters has to replace Josh Freese, who himself was a replacement for the late Taylor Hawkins. Now, legendary grunge band Pearl Jam has lost a drummer as well, as it has been announced Matt Cameron has left the band.

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While no reason has been given for the split after all these years, the statements from both Cameron and "the band" indicate that it seems amicable. As noted, Cameron joined Pearl Jam in 1998, which was after the heyday of grunge, and thus the heyday of the band. To be fair, he was busy being a part of Soundgarden, no slouches in the grunge scene. Pearl Jam had been cycling through drummers in the early days before Cameron signed on in 1998. Over two decades with a band is truly a long tenure.

Much like Foo Fighters with Freese, one imagines Pearl Jam can find a steady journeyman to serve as their new drummer. As for Cameron, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Pearl Jam, and he's about to go in as a member of Soundgarden, so he's doing alright.

(h/t Pitchfork)

Chris Morgan

Chris Morgan is a Detroit-based culture writer who has somehow managed to justify getting his BA in Film Studies. He has written about sports and entertainment across various internet platforms for years and is also the author of three books about '90s television.

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