So, I'm at a friend's house (no pool, no dog, good beer), and we're exchanging music. He digs out some DVDs, and one is Pearl Jam live at the Garden, from 2002, 2003? I decline. I haven't been much of a PJ fan since Matt Cameron (drums) left the band and Jack Irons joined. Jack seemed to make the band too simple for me- Matt was a fricking powerhouse player, as far as I was concerned.

So Jim tells me he thinks Matt's back on drums for this concert- checks it, and sho nuff! What's the story? Is he back with the band, doing studio stuff as well? Did Jack leave for a bit, then come back? Was there bad blood between Matt & the band, now patched up? Will Lisa come back to James??

Thanks-

fp

if i'm not mistaken, jack played until "yield", and was replaced with matt from "live on two legs" onward. as far as i know, he's still with the band.

are you sure you didn't confuse them?

okay not to be a dick here....but you gave up on pearl jam because of the drummer? serious??

okay seriously?

really?

huh?

Yeah, I guess. As a drummer, I appreciate certain chops, and Jack didn't have what I was looking for.

What- you think you might like Queen when Paul Rogers sings for them?

fp

You know what? I am confused. I thought Cameron played on "10", but he didn't. Some guy named Dave Krusen does. Sure like the way he plays. Jack Irons is mentioned in the credits for something, tho. A guy named Dave Abbrusses (sp?) plays on the disc w/ "Go", "Animal", "Daughter", etc.

Jeez. Hand me the crack pipe. Please go back to what you were doing and disregard this entire thread.

fp

yeah they've had a few drummers. i only remember irons and cameron.

and as far as i'm concerned, they're still a darn good band, unfortunately, not as relevant as they once were.

Didn't Stumpy Pepys do some session work for them?

seriously....drummers take themselves way to seriously....

Matt Cameron is the current drummer for Pearl Jam. He played on Live on Two Legs and has appeared on the last two studio albums: Binaural and Riot Act. He's even written some songs for them.


For completeness' sake, here's the whole deal, from theskyiscrape.com:

1.2 What drummers have been in Pearl Jam?
The drummers of Pearl Jam have been:
Dave Krusen
Matt Chamberlain
Dave Abbruzzese
Jack Irons
Matt Cameron

1.3 Who is this Krusen guy that I have heard about?
Dave Krusen was the original drummer for Pearl Jam. It is him that you hear on the skins on the album Ten. Dave left the band in 1991 to attend to personal problems at the time.

1.4 Who is Matt Chamberlain?
Matt Chamberlain was Dave Krusen's replacement as the drummer for Pearl Jam. Matt was formerly in the Saturday Night Live band and can be seen in the earliest of Pearl Jam MTV videos such as Alive. Matt later left Pearl Jam, suggesting as he left that Pearl Jam check out a drummer named Dave Abbruzzese in the Texas funk band, Dr. Tongue. Chamberlain's previous efforts include Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians. He has fronted a band called Critters Buggin, which includes saxophonist Skerik formerly of Sadhappy and bassist Brad Houser. They play largely instrumental jazzy alternative music that is difficult to describe but excellent to listen to. They have an album named "Guest" which was co-produced by Stone Gossard, and released under Stone's Loosegroove label. Currently Matt has made quite a name for himself as drummer for Tori Amos as well as a session drummer for the likes of Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, the Wallflowers, and Fiona Apple.

1.5 Why was Dave Abbruzzese fired?
No one knows the exact story yet behind the firing of Dave A. All that is known so far is that he was fired by Stone around Aug. 1994. The story released to the media, at first, said that it was an amicable split and that Dave A. left the band to study music. Then Dave A. later released to the press his version of the story. According to Dave A., the band fired him for reasons that are still unclear to him. Why the band released the first statement that Dave left the band is still unknown. Jack Irons was his replacement, and Matt Cameron is now the drummer for the band.

1.6 What Happened to Jack Irons?
After the South Pacific tour of 1998, Pearl Jam announced that Jack would not be joining them for their summer tour because of medical reasons. Jack has now retired to raise his family.

1.7 So what is Matt Cameron's status? Is he the permanent drummer?
Matt is considered the drummer for the band now. After Jack decided not to play the '98 summer tour, PJ needed a tour drummer. Matt happened to have some free time, so he came on board as a temp drummer on 4/17/98. His first performance with PJ was on Letterman on 5/1/98. He toured with PJ over the summer, kicked some serious ass, and has gone on to help Pearl Jam record new albums in 1999 and 2002.

to sum up:

Two Matts
Two Daves
One Jack

what spizzle trunk said

i stopped listening after they kicked him out.
but not BECAUSE they kicked him out.

Thanks for that detailed response. Not sure I deserve it.

fp

Spinal Tap?

Just to clear things up, Matt Cameron is the current drummer for PJ, but he will always be the Soundgarden drummer to me. I'm surprised that no one's mentioned this yet, as Soundgarden rulez and always has.

Cameron was also behind the kit for the Temple of the Dog album and has released a few? albums with a band called Wellwater Conspiracy.

i'm not a big fan of Pearl Jam, but i have to respect them. They had the whole world looking on and the media in their hands, they complained they didn't like it. But unlike most who complain of the spotlight, they actually left it. They said goodbye to MTV and interviews.

They got their cake and ate it too. They have rabid fans who will buy what ever they make.

They might not sell a million records again, but they can be musicians and do what they want to do.

Dave Abbruzzese was fantastic, as were Matt Chamberlain and Matt Cameron.

For a band I don't like, they have great taste in drummers.

And how come no one refers to Jack Irons as The Chili Peppers drummer?!?!? I can't BELIEVE you guys didn't mention that inane piece of trivia.

Because it's not trivia. Everyone knows that already. 8)

fp

maybe on this board, but i doubt it.

weird, jack irons was my favorite of their drummers by far. he's got a real musical way of playing that i dig a whole lot. yield and no code, too, are my favorite pearl jam records -- all sprawling and whatnot.

i sure do love that band. still one of the best live rock bands i've ever seen.

Funny you should mention this...

I'm going to be reviewing the Jack Irons solo album this month.

Special guests: Flea
Eddie Vedder
Jeff Ament
The other two members of Eleven (besides Jack)
Les Claypool
Stone Gossard

Early reaction: Not at all what you would expect. Rather jazzy at times.