Matt Cameron has offered more insight into his decision to leave Pearl Jam after 27 years in the band. The drummer explains in a new interview that the legendary rock act’s marathon shows were taking a toll on him, among other reasons.
Back in July, Cameron announced his departure from Pearl Jam, but didn’t really delve into any details. In a new conversation with Billboard, he revealed that the physical demands of their live show as well as his desire to pursue other musical projects were among the major contributing factors behind his exit from the band.
Cameron began by saying he didn’t just blindside Pearl Jam with his decision, noting, “I definitely gave them a lot of notice. 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.”
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He continued, “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.”
As for the physical challenges of Pearl Jam’s concerts, Cameron remarked, “I was having some issues with [Pearl Jam’s] three-hour shows and constant touring and stuff. 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.”
Among Cameron’s various projects is an act he is fronting called Is This Real?, which started out as a tribute to the band Wipers, but has evolved into project that is writing and recording original material. He’s also continuing to drum in the band 3rd Street with Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic and others.
On top of that, Cameron is in the middle of working with the fellow surviving members of his other famous band, Soundgarden, on a new album that features vocals recorded by Chris Cornell prior to the singer’s death in 2017.
Cameron will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with Soundgarden during a ceremony in Los Angeles on November 8th. It will mark the drummer’s second induction into the Rock Hall, after getting enshrined with Pearl Jam in 2017.