Matt Cameron Explains Why He Left Pearl Jam

Seattle, WA — Longtime Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron has revealed the personal and artistic reasons behind his departure from the iconic rock band, ending a decades-long tenure that spanned the entirety of the 21st century.

In a recent interview with Billboard, Cameron discussed his work with Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, as well as his involvement in side projects including 3rd Secret—a grunge supergroup—and Is This Real?, a tribute band dedicated to covering songs by punk pioneers Wipers.

The interview concluded with Cameron’s explanation for stepping away from Pearl Jam’s demanding live schedule. “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,” he said.

Known for marathon performances that often stretched beyond three hours, Pearl Jam has recently scaled back its setlists and show lengths. Cameron, however, indicated that he no longer feels aligned with the band’s current approach to live performance.

His departure marks a significant shift for Pearl Jam, whose lineup had remained largely consistent since the early 1990s. Cameron’s next steps appear focused on more flexible, creatively driven projects that allow him to explore new musical directions.