Matt Cameron has spoken out about his career following his recent departure from Pearl Jam. Check out his comments below.
Earlier this month (July 7), the longtime drummer for Pearl Jam and Soundgarden announced his exit from the band after 27 years of drumming. In a heartfelt statement, he expressed that he had “taken my final steps down the drum riser for the mighty Pearl Jam” and thanked his bandmates for “the opportunity of a lifetime, filled with friendships, artistry, challenges, and laughter.”
At that time, Cameron didn’t clarify his future plans, simply mentioning there would be “more to follow.” This led to widespread speculation among fans about whether he would be retiring from music altogether. One fan even suggested on Reddit, “I feel like he’s gonna retire. He’s 62 and has mentioned that the 45+ years of drumming are catching up with him. I think he’s done with music, or at least drumming in general.”
Recently, however, Cameron seemed to put those rumors to rest. In an Instagram Story that has since expired, he wrote, “Thank you for the kind words of support, and for the record, I’m still an active musician.”
As for what comes next for Cameron, it remains unclear. Outside of Pearl Jam, he has a long-standing history with Soundgarden. The band’s Ben Shepherd recently hinted at progress on their unreleased album that they were working on before Chris Cornell’s passing, indicating they’re back to revisiting those tracks.
Cameron has also been connected to the Foo Fighters following Josh Freese’s sudden departure in May. In 2023, there were rumors he might join the Foo Fighters as a tribute to the late Taylor Hawkins, who passed away in 2022. At that time, Cameron quashed the speculation, stating on Instagram, “FYI the internet rumors are false, I haven’t joined the Foos.”
Cameron did perform with the Foo Fighters during a tribute concert for Hawkins in Los Angeles, fueling further speculation about a permanent role with the band. The Foo Fighters have yet to announce who will fill in for Josh Freese at their upcoming shows.
What do you think?
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