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Pearl Jam Still Auditioning Drummers: “We Want to Play Some Shows Next Year”
Pearl Jam are still auditioning drummers after Matt Cameron left in summer 2025, though bassist Jeff Ament said the band is not rushing to choose a permanent replacement. They hope to play some shows next year, and Ament said he feels a greater urgency to perform while the band members are still physically able.
The band played with Abe Laboriel Jr. at Eddie Vedder’s Ohana Fest in September, their first stage appearance since Cameron’s departure. Ament called him an “incredible drummer” and said Cameron had been considering winding down and pursuing other interests, particularly after Chris Cornell’s death. Pearl Jam have no shows scheduled; Vedder is due to perform solo in Brazil on 20 and 22 November.
In short
- Pearl Jam are continuing drummer auditions after Matt Cameron’s departure.
- Jeff Ament says the band hopes to play shows next year.
- Eddie Vedder has two solo gigs scheduled in Brazil.
Explained simply
Pearl Jam are an American rock band formed in Seattle in the early 1990s, with singer Eddie Vedder and bassist Jeff Ament among their longstanding members. Their drummer for many years was Matt Cameron, who left the band in 2025.
The band has continued to play after the departure of a member before, and a drummer helps shape both the sound and live performance. Pearl Jam’s return to the stage depends on finding someone to play with them, while the members weigh how and when to continue performing.