Matt Cameron has officially ended his time as Pearl Jam’s drummer, closing out a 27-year chapter with the band. He announced in early July, sharing a personal message with fans and his fellow band members. In his statement, he thanked the group for the years of music and friendship, but did not go into details about why he made the decision.
Cameron joined Pearl Jam in 1998, stepping into a role that had seen frequent changes throughout the band’s early career. What was initially planned as a temporary arrangement became permanent, and over the next two decades, Cameron became a steady presence in the group. He played on every Pearl Jam album from Binaural in 2000 to Dark Matter in 2024.
After the announcement, speculation started circulating about whether Cameron was stepping away from music entirely. He quickly put those rumors to rest. In a follow-up post, he made it clear that he is still active as a musician and plans to keep playing and recording. “I’m still an active musician,” he said, directly addressing fans’ concerns.
Pearl Jam has not yet announced who will fill the role going forward. There has been talk among fans about possible replacements, and some have suggested former drummer Dave Abbruzzese. However, Abbruzzese has publicly stated that a return to the band is unlikely.
At this time, Pearl Jam has not provided updates on their next steps regarding the drummer position. The band is currently wrapping up shows in support of Dark Matter, and it’s unclear whether they will hold auditions, bring in guest players, or make another long-term decision.
As for Cameron, his schedule remains open but busy. He has other musical projects in progress and is still involved with Soundgarden’s surviving members. There is unfinished material from that band that could be released in the future, although no official timeline has been confirmed.
For both Cameron and Pearl Jam, this marks the end of an important era. But the separation appears to be an amicable one. Cameron’s message focused on appreciation, not controversy, and the band has responded with similar respect. Fans can expect to hear more from Cameron soon as he continues his work in the music world.