Pearl Jam Plays First Shows After Cameron Exit

Pearl Jam gave its first concerts after Matt Cameron left the band at Eddie Vedder's Ohana Festival. Paul McCartney's drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. played drums for Pearl Jam at the festival in Cameron's place. Cameron announced that he had left Pearl Jam in July 2025 after 27 years with the band.

Dave Krusen, who played drums on Pearl Jam's first album Ten, said that the band had hired a new drummer before May of this year. Pearl Jam's next two performances will take place at the Best of Rock and Blues Festival in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Cameron said that the main reasons for his departure were Pearl Jam's intensive touring schedule and the length of the band's concerts.

Cameron is also busy completing the final Soundgarden album with his bandmates Kim Thayil and Ben Shepherd. The departure from Pearl Jam followed Cameron's 27 years with the band, while Laboriel Jr. performed at the Ohana Festival in his place. Krusen's statement also placed the hiring of a new drummer before May of this year.