Matt Cameron has officially left Pearl Jam but insists he has not retired from music. The longtime drummer clarified his status after recent speculation followed his exit from the band.
Cameron had been a key part of Pearl Jam since 1998. He joined after Soundgarden, his former band, broke up in 1997. For over 25 years, he was a core member of the legendary Seattle rock group, playing drums on every album from Binaural in 2000 to Dark Matter in 2024.
On July 7, Cameron shared that his time with the band had ended. In an official message, he said, “After 27 fantastic years, I have taken my final steps down the drum riser for the mighty Pearl Jam.” He thanked the group’s members — Jeff Ament, Eddie Vedder, Mike McCready, and Stone Gossard — for giving him the chance to be part of their journey.
He also expressed deep gratitude to the fans and crew. “Much love and respect… for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, filled with friendships, artistry, challenges and laughter. I am forever grateful… It’s been an incredible journey. More to follow.”
His announcement led many to believe he might be retiring from music. However, Cameron quickly responded online. In a now-expired Instagram Story, he wrote, “Thank you for the kind words of support, and for the record, I’m still an active musician.”
This short but clear statement confirmed that while he is no longer part of Pearl Jam, he is not stepping away from music. He left his future open, hinting that more updates would come soon.
Cameron’s contributions to Pearl Jam were significant. He not only performed on all studio albums for over two decades but also became a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with the band in 2017.
His history in rock music goes further back. Before joining Pearl Jam, he was best known for his work with Soundgarden. He became the band’s drummer in 1986 and helped shape their iconic sound during the rise of grunge.
Though Soundgarden disbanded after the death of frontman Chris Cornell in 2017, Cameron and the surviving members have continued to perform together. In December, they played a special benefit concert using the name Nudedragons, joined by singer Shaina Shepherd.
Fans had also expected a Soundgarden reunion performance at the Back To The Beginning concert in Birmingham, England, on July 5. The event was a farewell show for Ozzy Osbourne at Villa Park. However, the band did not appear at the event.
In a message shared on Soundgarden’s official Instagram, they expressed their thanks for the invitation. “We are very grateful to Tony, Ozzy, Geezer and Bill, as well as Sharon Osbourne and music director, Tom Morello… We are super bummed and regret that we were unable to coordinate the schedules of our individual and collective projects to attend and contribute to the festival.”
Despite these recent changes, Cameron’s music career is far from over. With ongoing connections to Soundgarden and other projects likely ahead, fans can expect more from the veteran drummer in the future.
He is also on track to make history again. In November 2025, Cameron is expected to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for a second time — this time with Soundgarden. This rare achievement places him among a small group of artists honored twice.
While his departure from Pearl Jam marks the end of a long chapter, Cameron’s recent message makes it clear: he’s not done yet. For fans of rock music, that is welcome news.
