Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament has explained that drummer Matt Cameron’s departure from the band was connected to the emotional impact of Chris Cornell’s death, which affected Cameron deeply and led him to consider leaving music altogether. Ament shared these comments in an interview with Under the Radar.
Ament discussed how Cornell’s passing influenced Cameron’s thinking about his future with Pearl Jam. The bassist described a period after Cornell’s death when Cameron questioned whether he wanted to continue playing at all.
“I think when Chris [Cornell] passed that was a massive hit for all of us, but in particular for Matt,” Ament said. “I know there was a period of time where he wasn’t sure he wanted to even play anymore, and pretty much since then he’s been talking about winding it down and wanting to do some other things.”
Ament acknowledged Cameron’s desire to pursue other interests while also expressing his own feelings about the drummer’s exit.
“He’s got some other itches to scratch but it was a pretty fucking sad moment. You’ve got years of traveling the world and making music together, but I’m stoked for him.”
On the search for a new drummer, Ament noted that the band has been exploring candidates but has not yet made a final decision. He mentioned that Abe Laboriel Jr. recently played with the group.
“Abe Laboriel Jr. was such an incredible drummer. But nothing’s locked in yet. We’re not in any massive rush but we want to play some shows next year. I’m 63, but I’m pretty fit. I think I can act like a young foolish guy up there for a few more years but I feel a little bit more urgency in terms of getting out there to play shows when we are physically young-ish.”
Ament’s comments came as Pearl Jam prepares to perform new shows while working through the drummer replacement process.
Cameron’s departure from Pearl Jam happened in July 2025 after 27 years with the band. Beyond the emotional toll of Cornell’s death in May 2017, Cameron cited the physical strain of touring and playing three-hour shows as reasons for his decision to leave and redirect his energy toward other creative pursuits.
Abe Laboriel Jr. performed with Pearl Jam at Ohana Festival in September 2026, making his debut with the band. Laboriel had previously played drums on Eddie Vedder’s 2022 solo album Earthling. His role with Pearl Jam remains to be officially confirmed, though his appearance with the band suggests he could become a permanent fixture in the lineup.
Since leaving Pearl Jam, Cameron has kept busy with several musical projects. Soundgarden is in the mixing stage of a final studio album featuring vocals recorded by Chris Cornell before his death, with eight completed songs. Cameron is also fronting a new band called Is This Real? and continuing work with Kim Thayil as part of 3rd Secret alongside Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic.
