Matt Cameron has shared details about his departure from Pearl Jam in a recent interview. After 27 years with the band, the drummer announced in July that he was leaving. Cameron, who previously played in Soundgarden, said he gave the band plenty of notice. He mentioned that he has talked with bassist Jeff Ament and guitarist Stone Gossard, and everything has been amicable. “Hopefully we’ll get back together at some point and have a beer or something,” he added.
Cameron clarified that he is still an active musician and is currently working on new original material. “I want to redirect my time and energy toward what I want to pursue as an artist,” he explained. He also plans to hit the road again but is not interested in replicating Pearl Jam’s lengthy performances. “I was having some issues with their three-hour shows and constant touring,” he said. “Now, I want to focus on a face-melting 70-minute set.”
In the interview, Cameron also discussed the progress of the new Soundgarden album, which they were working on before frontman Chris Cornell’s death in 2017. “We’re definitely over halfway done with it,” he revealed. Guitarist Kim Thayil is currently finishing his guitar parts to ensure they are just right. Fans can look forward to more updates from Cameron as he embarks on this new chapter in his music career.
