Following the news of Matt Cameron stepping down from Pearl Jam last summer, his longtime Soundgarden bandmate Kim Thayil has offered his thoughts on the drummer’s enduring legacy and who could potentially fill the vacancy.
During a new conversation with Anita Stelmasiuk on the “90 The Original show“, Thayil was asked who he would choose as Pearl Jam‘s new drummer.
He replied: “If I had to pick… Well, I guess Josh Freese is free now that he’s no longer with Foo Fighters. Well, he’s damn good. Barrett Martin [Screaming Trees, Mad Season] would be damn good too. I don’t know. Apparently they have picked somebody, so…”
Thayil heavily praised his bandmate’s nearly thirty-year tenure with the Seattle rock titans. He pointed out that Cameron‘s deep, interconnected history with the local music scene made his initial hiring an absolutely flawless decision.
“Matt Cameron was the perfect pick for Pearl Jam because he had played on [Pearl Jam‘s] Stone [Gossard] and Jeff‘s [Ament] demo prior,” he explained. “He played with Temple of the Dog. They knew exactly his skill. And he is so talented, he can flesh out the best of other musicians, And I believe that’s what he did with Pearl Jam. I never heard Pearl Jam as good musically and as free as they were when Matt was drumming for them.”
Matt Cameron officially parted ways with Pearl Jam last July, concluding an incredible run that originally began when he was brought in to replace former drummer Jack Irons.
In his message to fans, Cameron characterized his time with the band as “an incredible journey.” He expressed profound gratitude to his bandmates, writing at the time: “After 27 fantastic years, I have taken my final steps down the drum riser for the mighty Pearl Jam.”
He continued: “Much love and respect to Jeff, Ed, Mike and Stone for inviting me into the band in 1998 and for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime… I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
Pearl Jam said: “From being one of our first musical heroes in the bands Skin Yard and the mighty Soundgarden, to playing on our first demos in 1990, Matt Cameron has been a singular and true powerhouse of a musician and drummer.” They emphasized his vital role: “He has propelled the last 27 years of Pearl Jam live shows and studio recordings. It was a deeply important chapter for our group… We love you Matt.”
Speaking with Billboard in September last year, Cameron detailed his decision to move on. He cited the immense physical demands of Pearl Jam‘s marathon live shows as a primary factor.
“I was having some issues with [Pearl Jam’s] three-hour shows and constant touring and stuff,” he said at the time. “That’s definitely an art form unto itself, to be able to do those types of shows… 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.”
“I definitely gave them a lot of notice,” he explained. “I’ve spoken with Jeff [Ament] and Stone [Gossard] a little bit… It’s been fine. Hopefully we’ll get back together at some point and have a beer or something.”
According to Spin, guitarist Stone Gossard confirmed earlier in May that a permanent replacement has already been chosen. However, the band has collectively decided to hold off on any grand announcements, choosing instead to unveil the new lineup when they make their highly anticipated live return on September 27 at the 10th annual Ohana Festival in Dana Point, California.
Reflecting on the band’s deliberate choice to keep the identity under wraps, Gossard said:
“I love the mystery of it all. It’s so exciting. There’s not enough mystery in the world. I think the band is very excited that we’re actually getting to play. It’s been a while and the fact that we get to do it at Ohana makes it even doubly exciting. And the fact that nobody knows who’s going to play drums with us even makes it triply exciting. So, it’s our mystery wrapped in an enigma and we’re relishing in it right now.”
Addressing the massive gap left by his departure and the immense challenge of moving forward, the guitarist offered nothing but praise and respect for his longtime bandmate.
“Matt Cameron has always come at things with an openness to all the people in the room and with grace and love for this process. His playing speaks for itself. Matt’s always going to be our brother.”
“He was ready for a shift and ready for a change,” he continued. “God bless him, and we love Matt always. But I think it’s also going to be good for us to in a sense of letting that unknown enter into the equation again [and] giving us a chance to to regroup and try to still be good. That’s a cool challenge. Where do you go after Matt Cameron? It’s a big question, and he always served the music [in an] outstanding [way]. He always played with power and with energy, and it’ll be a tough task to figure that out. But I’m confident that we’re going to be able to do it.”
