Matt Cameron Leaves Pearl Jam After 27 Years

July 7, 2025 — A date Pearl Jam fans won’t forget anytime soon.

Today, Monday July 7, Matt Cameron officially announced he’s parting ways with Pearl Jam after 27 years of music, albums, tours, and brotherhood.

The news came straight from Matt himself, with a heartfelt message posted on social media and the band’s official website: “After 27 fantastic years, I have taken my final steps down the drum riser for the mighty Pearl Jam. Much love and respect to Jeff, Ed, Mike and Stone for inviting me into the band in 1998 and for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, filled with friendships, artistry, challenges and laughter. 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. Peace and love.”

Not long after, the band followed with their own statement — full of warmth and gratitude: “From being one of our first musical heroes in the bands Skinyard and the mighty Soundgarden, to playing on our first demos in 1990, Matt Cameron has been a singular and true powerhouse of a musician and drummer. He has propelled the last 27 years of Pearl Jam live shows and studio recordings. It was a deeply important chapter for our group and we wish him well always. He will be deeply missed and is forever our friend in art and music. We love you, Matt.”

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Matt Cameron’s Story with Pearl Jam

It all started in the spring of 1998. Pearl Jam needed a new drummer after Jack Irons stepped away, and they called up Matt Cameron — fresh off the breakup of Soundgarden. At first, it was just supposed to be a temporary gig to finish the Yield tour.

Matt’s first public appearance with the band came on May 1, 1998, when Pearl Jam hit the Late Show with David Letterman and performed a beautiful, stripped-down version of Wishlist. His playing was tight, tasteful, locked in — and something just clicked.

Then came the official live debut on May 7, 1998, in Seattle at a club called ARO.space. It was a small, raw, high-energy show — the band worked through a killer setlist from Corduroy to In Hiding and into a searing Habit. That night marked the real beginning of Matt’s long, storied journey with Pearl Jam.

Matt didn’t just sit behind the kit. He wrote, he explored, he pushed the band forward. His creative input became a backbone for every album — from Binaural (2000) to Dark Matter (2024). Outside the founding core, Matt is the only member who’s been on every single tour and studio album since 1998.

Live, he was rock solid. Metronome-precise, hard-hitting, but always grooving with feel and musicality. With Matt in the engine room, Pearl Jam evolved — getting tighter, bolder, more expansive.

And beyond drumming, Matt penned or co-wrote a ton of tracks in the band’s catalog — including: Evacuation, In the Moonlight, Cropduster, You Are, Get Right, Unemployable, The Fixer, Johnny Guitar, Take the Long Way, Get It Back, and Dark Matter.

His songwriting leaned into rhythm and experimentation, adding depth and new edges to Pearl Jam’s sound.

On May 18, 2025, in Pittsburgh, Matt played what would become his final show with the band — the closing night of the Dark Matter tour. No one knew at the time, but that gig marked the end of an era.

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The Goodbye That Hurts

Matt’s departure from Pearl Jam hits hard. It closes one of the most consistent, creative, and essential chapters in the band’s long history.

Neither Matt’s post nor the band’s statement gave a reason for the decision. But the line “More to follow” hints that there’s more to the story — we just don’t know it yet. For now, the only thing to do is wait, and reflect.

Whatever happens next, one thing is crystal clear: Matt Cameron will always be a part of Pearl Jam’s heart and soul — and ours, too.

Thank you for everything, Matt. For the thunder. For the grace.
For every beat. 💔