Yesterday Matt Cameron, Pearl Jam’s fifth and longest-serving drummer, introduced he was leaving the band after 27 years. Followers have been speculating about who might substitute him, suggesting axed Foo Fighters drummer Josh Freese and authentic PJ drummer Dave Krusen, who carried out some exhibits with them a few years in the past when Cameron acquired COVID. One drummer it most likely received’t be is Dave Abbruzzese.
“Because of the announcement of the mighty Matt Cameron selecting to step down from the throne he has had for the previous 27 years, there was a lot discuss of my drumming, and the what if and would might by no means be, of late,” Abbruzzese wrote on Fb at this time, persevering with:
I assumed I might take the chance to share some latest and previous works with all of you which have bombarded my Fb & Instagram pages with actually 1000’s of posts, messages and emails, hoping I might name Pearl Jam and try to reconcile with them. To be clear, I’ve nothing to reconcile with them about.
My firing from the band and the following trials and tribulations brought on by the actions of the band’s administration and the band’s outdated label that made issues difficult for me weren’t utterly my doing. With the exceptions of some petty feedback and actions that I by no means fairly understood or anticipated, I’ve by no means positioned blame and harbored resentments in the direction of the members of the band.
I’ve been blessed to have participated in some exceptional musical initiatives with exceptional folks during the last 30 submit Pearl Jam years. Though I by no means really understood what was so necessary to destroy the musical chemistry we had again then, it’s what it’s, and I can’t do something about it. No less than nothing that I can work out. The years since 1995 have served me nicely in the direction of rising as an individual and a participant.
It appears the blokes within the band matured and grew up as a lot as I did, however the truth that I haven’t had any private contact with any of them leads me to imagine the water underneath the bridge runs too deep and too icy for there to be any reconnection or reconciliation.
It is a disgrace and saddens me, drastically.
I do know I might and would have a lot to contribute if certainly the decision got here, however sadly, I don’t see that occuring.
Abbruzzese performed with Pearl Jam on the albums Vs. and Vitalogy, on SNL and MTV Unplugged, and on excursions from 1991 to 1994, earlier than he acquired unceremoniously fired (There have been the competing statements from the band and him on the time). We final posted about Abbruzzese when he complained about not being invited to Pearl Jam’s Rock & Roll Corridor Of Fame induction.
In a 2001 Spin oral historical past, bassist Jeff Ament talked a little bit about in regards to the band’s cut up with him. “There have been a number of issues, character sensible, the place I didn’t see eye to eye with [Dave],” he mentioned. “He was extra comfy being a rock star than the remainder of us. Partying, women, automobiles.”
A decade later, within the ebook Pearl Jam 20, guitarist Mike McCready admitted, “I believe Dave and Ed by no means actually acquired alongside.” Producer Brendan O’Brien recommended Abbruzzese’s response to damaging of Eddie Vedder’s ’69 Les Paul was a part of it.
“He says to me, ‘I knocked this guitar over. I’ll pay to have it fastened,’” O’Brien mentioned. “He’d knocked the headstock off. It was a whole and whole accident. I bear in mind saying, ‘Perhaps you need to cling round and discuss to Eddie about it.’ However he’s like, ‘I’ve gotta go.’ Eddie got here later, and I confirmed him the guitar. The look on his face was one in every of such contempt. I’ll always remember it.”
In 1994, when Abbruzzese was fired, followers utilizing the early Web discussion board Usenet speculated {that a} post-Nirvana/pre-Foo Fighters Dave Grohl would substitute him. This all feels very déjà vu. Perhaps Abbruzzese can be part of Foo Fighters?
Right here’s the second half of Abbruzzese’s submit, by which he writes about what he’s been as much as since Pearl Jam:
I’ve been concerned in so many wonder-filled initiatives. The manufacturing of The Inexperienced Romance Orchestra albums with my pricey household of Gary J. Muller , Paul Slavens , Doug Neil , Darrell Phillips, Jimmy Shoaf and the extraordinary mastering engineer and one in every of my finest pals Joe Gastwirt , all close to and pricey to my coronary heart. Working with Roger Hodgson of Supertramp fame, and attending to kind and preserve loving relationships with Rogers beautiful household, Heidi Hodgson and Andrew Hodgson. G & R. Working with Eddie Kramer , Noel Redding, William Cox, Doug Pinnick , Corey Cornell James Glover and Eric Schenkman … Some co-production, drumming and mixing for albums by Stevie Salas that launched me to my brothers Bernard Fowler , Tm Stevens, Jara Harris Melvin Jr. Brannon, Kevin W Smith, Vincent Ruby p. Huxley Jamie Seyberth, Matt Sorum .. and the thrill of touring performing reside music with the IMFs. Working with the incomparable Waddy Wachtel Carmine Rojas , Reeves Gabriel, Rick The Bass Participant, & Robi Banerji . Mr. Peter Cornell , who I had the fortune of engaged on some contact up mixes for Peter, Joseph Shaughnessy and Will Evankovich once they have been a band named Grace. My heroes, Mike Dillon , JJ Jungle , Zac Baird, John IV Speice gathering at my studio in Seattle’s Magnolia district for the HABMX “Out Demons” album. Jeff Fielder, Zach Harjo Perry Morgan , John Bush and the Speakeasy Junction jams. Peter Cornell’s “Champion” album. Pseutopia music with Shyam Narayan , Laji George & Mithun Raju . The Shy Blossom album. Numerous one off tracks. Carlos Garcia-Menocal. The works with John X Volaitis , Scott Reeder and Royston Langdon. To not point out the nice occasions shared with engaged on quarantine jams with an extremely gifted line up of Marcus Nand , Carmine Rojas, Bernard Fowler, Cici Von Strangelove , Eric Schenkman , Benny Goodman, Jeff Fielder, James Mauri, Shani Kimelman , Aubrey Seaton , Lynn Seaton , Rob van den Biggelaar Taryn Taryn , Joanna Connor , Jeff Nolan , Jeff Weiss, Charlie Berezansky , Daniel James, Jim Regan , Brian Dahlen … Stacy Hogan & Sin SHAKE Sin.
Contributing drum tracks for the album by the distinctive Joanna Connor.
The Misplaced Symphony with Jimi Bell , Brian Goodman , Benny Goodman , Siobhán Cronin | Violinist Joey Concepcion, and a solid of exceptionally gifted gamers. The time shared writing and planning with my buddy Shawn Smith earlier than his premature passing.
And so many extra…
Plus add to that the private elements of my life, blessed with a stupendous and gifted daughter… overcoming substance abuse, embracing madness and popping out on the opposite aspect, working within the area of restoration, authorized points, a failed marriage…
Evidently, music remains to be essential and a continued ardour with none doubt.
My drumming and fervour for giving it my all remains to be as highly effective as ever.
I want Pearl Jam and its group continued success and I do hope that there’ll come a day that we will once more join on some degree. All that being mentioned, I do ask that you simply please cease sending me messages asking & telling me to contact their administration.
I admire and perceive your need to see what might come out of that reunion musically. I might be mendacity if I mentioned I wasn’t curious, additionally.
With a lot love and appreciation,
Dave
PS…all of you music “information” websites, should you’re going to make use of this message as click on bait, please submit it in its entirety.
