After an impressive journey spanning 27 years, Matt Cameron has officially parted ways with the iconic rock band Pearl Jam. Both the drummer and the band took to social media platforms to share heartfelt statements regarding this significant change in their musical partnership.

On July 7, Cameron posted a touching message on his social media accounts, announcing his departure from Pearl Jam. The band subsequently shared his heartfelt message on their Instagram page along with their own sentiments, emphasizing the impact he had on their musical legacy.

The message from the drummer articulates his emotions:

After 27 fantastic years, I have taken my final steps down the drum riser for the mighty Pearl Jam. Much love and respect to Jeff, Ed, Mike, and Stone for inviting me into the band in 1998 and for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime; one filled with friendships, artistry, challenges, and laughter. I am forever grateful to the crew, staff, and fans the world over. It’s been an incredible journey. More to follow. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

Pearl Jam’s heartfelt response included:

From being one of our first musical heroes in the bands Skinyard and the mighty Soundgarden, to playing on our first demos in 1990, Matt Cameron has been a singular and true powerhouse of a musician and drummer.

He has propelled the last 27 years of Pearl Jam live shows and studio recordings. This chapter was deeply important for our group, and we wish him well always. He will be deeply missed and is forever our friend in art and music.

We love you, Matt.

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Matt Cameron became a member of Pearl Jam roughly a year after the disbandment of Soundgarden in 1997.

“I was working on a record with John Mcbain. I called up Stone at the time, who had a record label called Loosegroove. I called to inquire about putting out my band with John, and then Eddie got on the phone and said, ‘Hey, what are you doing this summer?'” the drummer reminisced during an interview with Loudwire in a documentary.

“I would love to go on tour with Pearl Jam. I mean, who wouldn’t? It was sort of a fill-in for Jack Irons situation when I first joined. They had this tour booked, and Jack quit a month or two before the tour was going to start… It took me a while to get all the music learned properly, but it was a really fun challenge.”

Ultimately, Cameron transitioned into a full-time role within Pearl Jam. The first album he contributed to was 2000’s Binaural, and he has been part of every one of their releases since that time, even after Soundgarden reformed in 2010.

Currently, Pearl Jam has only one show scheduled for the remainder of 2025, and details can be found on their official website.