Matt Cameron missed his first Pearl Jam show last night (May 12) in his 24 years with the band due to testing positive for COVID. However, that didn’t stop Pearl Jam from pressing on with an array of drummers, including a fan from the audience.
Per Spin, “[Pearl Jam] touring member Josh Klinghoffer and longtime Jeff Ament collaborator Richard Stuverud filled in behind the kit throughout the set…Klinghoffer and Stuverud continued trading off every few songs as Pearl Jam stuck mostly to familiar favorites such as ‘Black,’ ‘Daughter,’ ‘Jeremy,’ ‘Porch’ and ‘Better Man.’”
However, the final drummer brought to the stage to fill in for Cameron was fan Josh Arroyo, who helped bring Pearl Jam’s first night of a two-night stand in Oakland, Calif. to a close with a performance of “Yellow Ledbetter,” which can be viewed below.
Pearl Jam play tonight (May 13) at the Oakland Arena, where Klinghoffer and Stuverud will likely continue to fill in for Cameron. Of course, any fan attending tonight’s show that happens to be a drummer might have to prepare to take to the stage.