Matt Cameron breaks the silence: “I’m still an active musician”

Matt Cameron took to Instagram to let fans know his career is far from over — but the reasons behind his Pearl Jam exit remain a mystery.

July 7, 2025 – Matt Cameron, Pearl Jam’s longtime drummer since 1998, officially announced he’s stepping away from the band. He broke the news with a post on social media: “After 27 amazing years, I took my final steps down from the drum riser for the mighty Pearl Jam… It’s been an incredible ride. More to come.”

A message that hit fans like a gut punch — mostly because it came with zero explanation. No mention of a fallout, no visible tension. Just a respectful goodbye and that cryptic “More to follow” which opened the floodgates of speculation.

Now, we’ve got a new piece of the puzzle.

THE NEW MESSAGE: “STILL AN ACTIVE MUSICIAN”

A few days after his announcement, Cameron followed up with a short, but telling update via Instagram Stories: “Thank you for the kind words of support and, for the record, I’m still an active musician.”

Simple. Direct. And enough to shut down rumors of retirement. While his chapter with Pearl Jam may be closed, he’s clearly not done playing.

If anything, this sounds more like a new beginning than an ending.

WHY DID MATT CAMERON LEAVE PEARL JAM?

Despite the friendly tone of his goodbye, his departure still raises a ton of unanswered questions. No interviews, no real closure — just appreciation and mutual respect.

But if you rewind the tape and connect the dots from the past few years, a few possible reasons start to surface.

1. Exhaustion on the road and scaled-back setlists

Back in 2024, guitarist Stone Gossard admitted the band had to start shortening their live sets: “It’s not gonna be a marathon every night, because we just can’t do that anymore. Ed and Matt in particular do so much physically on stage.”

Translation: Matt and Eddie were feeling it the most. At 62, Cameron had just wrapped up a grueling world tour behind Dark Matter. It wouldn’t be a stretch to think the physical toll played a role in his decision.

2. The Taylor Hawkins controversy

In 2022, Cameron made headlines after telling Rolling Stone that late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins had privately expressed how burned out he felt before his death: “He told me that he ‘couldn’t fucking do it anymore’. 

The Foo Fighters’ camp quickly shut that down, issuing a strong statement: “There was never a private conversation like that between Taylor and Dave [Grohl] as described.”

Cameron was then forced to walk it back, releasing a public apology: “My words were taken out of context, and I never intended to cause any pain or drama. I sincerely apologize to the Hawkins family and the Foo Fighters.”

3. Foo Fighters rumors

In early 2023, Cameron had to shut down another wave of internet buzz — rumors that he was joining the Foo Fighters to replace Hawkins: “For the record, the online rumors are false. I haven’t joined the Foos.”

Now that Josh Freese is no longer with the band, those rumors have started bubbling up again. But for now? No confirmed projects, no official new gig.

WHAT’S BEHIND “MORE TO FOLLOW”?

That little line at the end of his goodbye — “More To Follow” — paired with his new Instagram post, is fueling plenty of theories. Here’s what could be on the table:

• A new solo project, following 2017’s Cavedweller and his recent EP with the Melvins, Gory Scorch Cretins

• A return to finish the posthumous Soundgarden album, especially now that the band’s set to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this November

• A renewed focus on 3rd Secret, the alt-rock supergroup featuring Krist Novoselic

• New collaborations in the studio or live — Matt’s played with nearly everyone at this point

Right now, it’s all guesswork. Cameron is playing it cool and keeping it classy. He thanked his bandmates — Eddie, Stone, Mike, Jeff — with heartfelt words: “I’ll always carry with me the friendships and the incredible challenges we faced together.”

And he signed off with a message that feels more like a promise than a goodbye.

A FAREWELL, BUT NOT THE END

Matt Cameron may be stepping away from Pearl Jam after 27 years, but he’s not hanging up his sticks. The guy who helped anchor their post-’98 sound — all power, feel, and groove — still has gas in the tank.

He said it himself: he’s still an active musician.

Now fans are left wondering: Where will Matt pop up next? Who will he play with? And who’s gonna sit behind the kit for Pearl Jam going forward?

This story’s far from over.