Former Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron admitted that he was “having some issues” with Pearl Jam’s rigorous touring schedule as he spoke about his decision to leave the band in a new interview with Billboard.
The drummer — who announced his departure in July — cited Pearl Jam’s marathon three-hour shows and “constant touring” schedule when explaining why he felt it was time for him to step back. “That’s definitely an art form unto itself, to be able to do those types of shows,” he said.
Cameron also said he was eager to focus on different types of musical projects, saying, “I’m at a point in my life where I want to redirect my time and energy in a way that is a little bit based on what I want to pursue as an artist at this point.”
One of those projects is Is This Real?, a new band that began as a tribute to punk pioneers Wipers, but will also record original music that Cameron has “been writing over the years.” Cameron is serving as the band’s lead vocalist and guitarist, and he hopes to release an Is This Real? album soon.
Cameron is also working with 3rd Secret, a supergroup featuring Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil, Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic, and Void’s Jon “Bubba” Dupree. That band may hit the road soon, too, Cameron said, though they won’t be playing the same kind of shows as Pearl Jam.
“I’m at a point now where I want to do a face-melting 70-minute set, and that’s kind of what I’m focusing on right now,” Cameron said.
Cameron stressed that his decision to leave Pearl Jam was amicable, adding, “I definitely gave them a lot of notice.” He went on to say he’d spoken with his former bandmates, guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament, “a little bit” and that “it’s been fine.”
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“Hopefully we’ll get back together at some point and have a beer or something,” Cameron said.
Pearl Jam have yet to reveal their new drummer, and it’s unclear when a decision will be made. The band currently has no tour dates lined up for the rest of 2025, with nothing yet on the schedule for 2026 either.
