Who Could Replace Matt Cameron in Pearl Jam?

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It’s been exactly one month since Matt Cameron parted ways with Pearl Jam — and fans are already wondering: who’s gonna sit behind the kit next?

On July 7, 2025, Matt Cameron officially left Pearl Jam, ending a run that started way back in 1998. He was a rock-solid presence — both musically and personally — bringing stability and depth to a band that had seen its fair share of chaos behind the drums.

As of now, there’s no official replacement. Not even a hint whether it’ll be a permanent gig or just a touring fill-in. But that silence? It’s got fans and insiders buzzing. So here’s a deep dive into the most likely candidates, the dark horses, and how it all connects to the PJ universe.

P.S. This list is in no particular order — not by preference and not alphabetical.
P.P.S. You won’t see any drummers here who are already tied up with other bands (like Chad Smith), or names that would be awesome with the band but are pretty unlikely to join Pearl Jam full-time (for example, Stewart Copeland).

Still in the Running

RICHARD STUVERUD

  • Jeff Ament’s go-to drummer. Played on all his solo and side projects.
  • Stepped in for a few PJ shows in 2022 when Cameron was out with COVID.
  • Ament actually picked him back in the day after Dave Abbruzzese got the boot.

Pros: Totally plugged into the PJ family.
Cons: Not a household name.
Has he played with PJ? Yep — he’s on the Nothingman demo from ’93, which showed up on the Vs. Legacy Edition in 2011.

MATT CHAMBERLAIN

  • Played a few dates with PJ in the summer of ’91.
  • Shows up in the Alive video.
  • Currently drumming with Painted Shield, Gossard’s new band since 2020.

Pros: Total pro, killer session guy, and already part of PJ’s history.
Cons: Might not be down for a long-term commitment.
Has he played with PJ? Yep — did a few summer shows in ’91 and he’s the dude in the Alive video.

CHRIS FRIEL

  • First bandmate of Mike McCready in Shadow, later in The Rockfords.
  • Played on the Gossman Project demos (Black, Times of Trouble).
  • McCready’s pick after Abbruzzese was let go.

Pros: Deep roots with McCready and the band’s early days.
Cons: Never really broke into the mainstream.
Has he played with PJ? Yep — played on their cover of Catholic Boy (Jim Carroll), recorded for The Basketball Diaries soundtrack in ’95.

JOHN WICKS

  • Tight with Jeff Ament since 2020: Deaf Charlie, PEST, and even scored the TV series Under the Banner of Heaven.

Pros: Locked into the PJ orbit, solid enough to handle even the heavier PJ stuff.
Cons: More of a studio cat (so far).
Has he played with PJ? Nope.

JACK IRONS

  • PJ’s official drummer from ’94 to ’98.
  • Former Chili Pepper, and the guy who introduced Eddie Vedder to Jeff and Stone.

Pros: Massive experience, unique style. Loved by fans and the band.
Cons: Left in ’98 due to burnout.
Has he played with PJ? For sure. Drummed on No Code and Yield, toured from early ’95 to spring ’98.

DAVE KRUSEN

  • The Ten drummer, baby.
  • Rejoined PJ onstage in 2022 when Cameron was out with COVID.
  • Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the band in 2017.

Pros: Big emotional pull with fans, iconic sound.
Cons: All comes down to Pearl Jam on this one.
Has he played with PJ? Hell yes. He’s the drummer on Ten and played PJ’s earliest gigs in 1990–1991.

DAVE ABBRUZZESE

  • Played on Vs. and Vitalogy.
  • Powerful, flashy, and a fan favorite — but never brought back for any band anniversaries.

Pros: Hugely loved by the fanbase. Would be a wild comeback.
Cons: Ugly fallout with the band in ’94.
Has he played with PJ? Duh. He toured from ’91 to ’94 and drummed on Vs. and Vitalogy.

BARRETT MARTIN

  • Drummer for Screaming Trees and Tuatara.
  • Already played and recorded with Mike McCready back in the Mad Season days.

Pros: Super Seattle vibes, seriously killer drummer.
Cons: Honestly, no real downside — unless he’s just not into joining the band.
Played with Pearl Jam before? No.

REGAN HAGAR

  • He was the drummer for Brad, Stone Gossard’s side project with the late Shawn Smith.
  • Together with Stone, he also runs Loosegroove Records.
  • He’s been working behind the scenes with Pearl Jam for years.

Pros: Super tight with the band — especially Stone.
Cons: He might not be down to jump in as the drummer for one of the biggest rock bands of all time.
Has he worked with PJ before? Yep — he’s handled a bunch of releases for them, but he’s never actually played live or in-studio with Pearl Jam.

JOSH KLINGHOFFER

  • Pearl Jam’s touring drummer since 2021, he actually rocked a full show on the kit in 2023, basically filling in for Matt Cameron for the whole night.
  • A well-known multi-instrumentalist, heavily influenced by Jack Irons.
  • Spent over a decade with the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Pros: He’s already in the Pearl Jam family.
Cons: If he jumps behind the kit… who’s gonna handle all the stuff he’s already doing? Keys, synths, textures…
Has he worked with PJ before? Yeah — he’s been part of their live crew since 2021, and also plays in Eddie Vedder’s solo band, the Earthlings.

WILLIAM GOLDSMITH 

  • Old-school Seattle guy from the legendary Sunny Day Real Estate.

Pros: Tons of energy, tight chops, got the right attitude behind the kit.
Cons: Might not totally click on the slower, moodier Pearl Jam stuff.
Played with Pearl Jam before? Nope.

Wild Cards

ZAK STARKEY

  • Son of Ringo Starr. Has played with The Who, Oasis, Johnny Marr.

Pros: Impressive résumé and a classic sound. Recently let go by The Who — currently available.
Cons: Often caught up in personal projects.
Has he played with PJ? Nope.

BRAD WILK

  • Drummer for Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave with Chris Cornell.
  • Longtime friend of Eddie’s — goes back to the ’80s.

Pros: Loud, tight, heavy — he hits hard.
Cons: Didn’t vibe with the band back in ’91.
Has he played with PJ? Kind of — auditioned after Matt Chamberlain left in ’91. He and Eddie were in one of Ed’s early bands, Indian Style, back in the day.

JAY WEINBERG

  • Son of E Street Band’s Max Weinberg, ex-Slipknot drummer.
  • Publicly shown love for Pearl Jam.

Pros: Young, high-energy, knows how to rock stadiums.
Cons: Very different style from PJ’s groove.
Has he played with PJ? Nah.

Killer Drummers… But Off The Market

JOSH FREESE

  • Just rejoined Nine Inch Nails after getting dropped by Foo Fighters.
  • Gossard almost picked him in ’94 post-Abbruzzese.
  • Dropped a solo album in 2024 on Gossard’s Loosegroove label.

Pros: Ridiculously versatile, long history with the band.
Cons: Already booked with NIN.
Has he played with PJ? No.

JOEY WARONKER

  • Ex-R.E.M., Beck, Atoms for Peace.
  • Currently on the road with the Oasis reunion tour.

Pros: Top-tier session guy.
Cons: Out touring the world.
Has he played with PJ? No.

A New Approach?

There’s a real chance PJ might go the flexible route — no permanent drummer. Maybe one for touring, one for the studio. Maybe different collaborators for different creative phases. Think Nine Inch Nails or King Crimson-style rotation.

They could even drop a total curveball: some unknown name, someone close to the band but invisible to the public. A “secret weapon,” maybe already in rehearsals as we speak.

One thing’s for sure: as of now, there’s no official word. No announcements. With Cameron gone, one chapter ends. The next one begins the moment we learn who’s taking over the drums.

So… who do you think should be behind the kit for Pearl Jam?