Matt Cameron might no longer be sitting behind the kit for Pearl Jam, but the decorated drummer has refuted the notion that he’s officially retired.
Cameron announced last week (July 7) that after more than a quarter century spent keeping the beat for the Seattle grunge icons, he had left the group. “After 27 fantastic years, I have taken my final steps down the drum riser for the mighty Pearl Jam,” he announced in a statement.
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“Much love and respect to Jeff [Ament], Ed [Vedder], Mike [McCready] and Stone [Gossard] for inviting me into the band in 1998 and for giving me 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. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
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However, while Cameron hasn’t publicly detailed the reasons leading to his decision, he has however taken to social media to reveal he’s far from done with the music game.
As Rolling Stone reports, Cameron took to his Instagram account to share a since-expired Story that gave an update as to his current status. “Thank you for the kind words of support,” he wrote, “and for the record, I’m still an active musician.”
Cameron joined Pearl Jam in 1998, serving as the drummer for every one of their albums from 2000’s Binaural until 2024’s Dark Matter. His joining the band occurred just one year after the initial dissolution of Soundgarden, with whom he had sat behind the kit since 1986.
Having been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 as a member of Pearl Jam, Cameron will become the latest two-time inductee upon Soundgarden’s inclusion in November 2025.
Though Soundgarden officially split for good following the passing of frontman Chris Cornell in 2017, Cameron has performed with his bandmates at various reunion performances since, including a December benefit gig under the moniker Nudedragons with vocalist Shaina Shepherd in December.
Members of Soundgarden had also previously been announced as performers for the recent Back To The Beginning farewell concert for Ozzy Osbourne at Villa Park in Birmingham, England on July 5, though ultimately did not attend.
“We are very grateful to Tony, Ozzy, Geezer and Bill, as well as Sharon Osbourne and music director, Tom Morello for the honor and invitation to Soundgarden to perform at the Back to the Beginning festival!” a post on Soundgarden’s official Instagram account read this week.
“We are super bummed and regret that we were unable to coordinate the schedules of our individual and collective projects to attend and contribute to the festival.”
