This Dave A quote...

It's 3 months old, so pretty new. I don't know really what it means, but maybe someone will find it interesting (and can decipher it). It's from youtube.

"It hit me like a ton of bricks.
Ive been asked over and over, I heard all of the wack-ass theories...
This is the one that allows me to sleep at night;
Pearl Jam was never intended to be a hard driven, aggressive, rock band.
The biggest difference i see in the Pearl Jam that I was a part of, and every other version of the band is that when I was in this band, I gave the band, the music, and everyone involved from the audience to the townspeople in the city that hosted the show... I gave it all I had. Good or bad, I wanted to make sure that I felt every moment was appreciated for what was to me and every person that it would effect. THE REASON THAT THE EARLY PEARL JAM RECORDS ARE STILL A VITAL PART OF THE CATALOG IS BECAUSE THOSE ARE GREAT RECORDS. NO SLOUCHING MATT OR JACK OR DAVE C. THEY PLAY THIER PARTS VERY WELL. .THE REASON THE EARLY SONGS ARE TO SLOPPY, TO FAST, AND LACKING THAT POWERI S BECAUSE THAT BAND IS ONLY AS POWERFUL AS THEIR DRUMMER. And their drummers are only going to be as powerful as they are allowed. I still think if that the powers that be, who were behind the band... If they were professionals in there fields instead of just amicable first timers , they would've had the character needed to have kept something so powerful together. For the sake of the music & the fans. "
"Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
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Comments

  • Sour grapes. Matt C is the best drummer pearl jam has had. Get over it Dave.
    looking to hear of the earth
  • cp3iversoncp3iverson Posts: 8,680
    Love his drumming but i have no idea what he's even attempting to say
  • PJammer4lifePJammer4life Posts: 2,646
    In sports analogies he was traded(fired), and the team(band) began to play using a different system(diverse musical styles)rather than rely on their athleticism(raw hard rock aggressive energy). That's why they are still here after 25 years, whereas with him it would have been great for 5-7 but burned out.
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  • mikerlmikerl Posts: 580
    I don't disagree with some of this. Lots of the Dave A era material is lacking power, sloppy, and too fast when played live. Pearl jam changed a lot when he was fired. Some change has been great, other change not great. He admits that all the drummers have been good, and play THIER parts well, but they don't always play his parts that accurately.

    I am glad they were able to diversify their style and grow as a band, but as they have become a "jack of all trades" rock band, perhaps they are no longer masters of the early/old style.
    Hartford 1996, Hartford 1998, Mansfield 1 1998, Mansfield 1 2000, Mansfield 2 2000, Albany 2003, MSG 2 2003, Mansfield 3 2003, Boston 2 2004, Albany 2006, Boston 2 2006, Mansfield 2 2008, Boston 2010, Worcester 1 2013, Worcester 2 2013
  • Pearl Jam has been very fortunate to have had amazing drummers. The different drummers are part of why the catalog is diverse. Love Dave A. Love that era of Pearl Jam. But they couldn't continue that style forever. Even if I selfishly wanted that. But then think of what we would have missed with Jack & Matt.
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  • TWHoltTWHolt Posts: 404
    mikerl said:

    I don't disagree with some of this. Lots of the Dave A era material is lacking power, sloppy, and too fast when played live. Pearl jam changed a lot when he was fired. Some change has been great, other change not great. He admits that all the drummers have been good, and play THIER parts well, but they don't always play his parts that accurately.

    I am glad they were able to diversify their style and grow as a band, but as they have become a "jack of all trades" rock band, perhaps they are no longer masters of the early/old style.

    image
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  • jp307677jp307677 Posts: 417
    Dave who? Ha!
    In my opinion, the band didn't reach their full potential until he left! No Code and Yield are two of the best records, not just by Pearl Jam...but best period. Jack Irons is my personal favorite, but Matt is damn great and has been part of the family for a long time.
  • Spiritual_ChaosSpiritual_Chaos Posts: 30,188
    edited July 2016
    jp307677 said:

    Dave who? Ha!

    image
    jp307677 said:


    In my opinion, the band didn't reach their full potential until he left!

    Not to turn this into a boring "Dave A or not Dave A"-discussion, but...

    ... we only got 2 (amazing) records whit him behind the kit. Who knows how the third would have sounded. Could have been as much "full potential" as what we got with Jack, maybe in the same directon – maybe in another. Maybe Dave would have written a song that would have been an all time favorite. Maybe it would have been Pearl Jams "Scream".

    Who knows. But I doubt a third album with him wouldn't have been amazing. The two albums he played on together with how he handled the Ten songs sort of proves that.

    Just because Eddie wanted him out, doesn't mean he wasn't a great drummer, musician and collaborator.
    Post edited by Spiritual_Chaos on
    "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
  • mikerlmikerl Posts: 580
    jp307677 said:

    Dave who? Ha!
    In my opinion, the band didn't reach their full potential until he left! No Code and Yield are two of the best records, not just by Pearl Jam...but best period. Jack Irons is my personal favorite, but Matt is damn great and has been part of the family for a long time.

    No Code and Yield are my favorites too, and I agree they never would have sounded like they did with anyone but Jack (my favorite too) but you can also say the same about Vs. and Vitalogy. The power, groove, and overall mastery of the heavier style has not been replicated since.
    Hartford 1996, Hartford 1998, Mansfield 1 1998, Mansfield 1 2000, Mansfield 2 2000, Albany 2003, MSG 2 2003, Mansfield 3 2003, Boston 2 2004, Albany 2006, Boston 2 2006, Mansfield 2 2008, Boston 2010, Worcester 1 2013, Worcester 2 2013
  • whoanelly15whoanelly15 Posts: 740
    Being a drummer myself, Dave A. will always be my favorite to play along with. I was a 10 year old just learning to play a full kit when VS came out, and that's really what drove my PJ fandom in the beginning. His parts were so much a part of that POWER sound and songwriting in those days. Not just a hard-hitter with "four feet", his style is incredibly underrated and he had a great feel for what Jeff and Stone did rhythmically.

    That said, Matt Cameron is just as vital to this equation. While I loved the energy of the early years, MC is a big part of the reason why their live sound and performances from 2000 on are SO much tighter and more diverse. He is a consummate timekeeper and professional, can technically play anything, and brings enough unique style and flare to make me still listen to the drums first. He never fails to make the big moments BIGGER. He's the best back-up vocalist the band has ever had, and his character and chemistry with the other band members has helped the group survive. It seems doubtful that would have happened with any of the other drummers.

    Simply put, they wouldn't be Pearl Jam without these two.
  • JammalamboJammalambo Posts: 1,321

    Sour grapes. Matt C is the best drummer pearl jam has had. Get over it Dave.

    He's one of the best drummer around, sure.
    But it's not the best drummer for PJ, that would have been Dave Abbruzzese.
    Matt C, again, is a beast, but his place has alway been in Soundgarden, not PJ.
  • FrankY59FrankY59 Posts: 1,049
    How old should I start my kid on drums? Everyone says start him with piano. Thoughts?!
  • whoanelly15whoanelly15 Posts: 740
    Agree. Better to learn to read music first. Drums are easy to pick up when you're a little older if you have that foundation.
  • mikerlmikerl Posts: 580
    Link to YouTube video? I didn't see it.
    Hartford 1996, Hartford 1998, Mansfield 1 1998, Mansfield 1 2000, Mansfield 2 2000, Albany 2003, MSG 2 2003, Mansfield 3 2003, Boston 2 2004, Albany 2006, Boston 2 2006, Mansfield 2 2008, Boston 2010, Worcester 1 2013, Worcester 2 2013
  • igotid88igotid88 Posts: 27,814
    Wonder what would have happened if Dave K. had still been the drummer
    I miss igotid88
  • on2legson2legs Posts: 14,982
    It comes of as slightly sour grapes, but I give him credit for being honest and trying to put it somewhat nicely. It's as close to an honest answer we've ever gotten from someone connected to the band about that situation.
    1996: Randall's Island 2  1998: East Rutherford | MSG 1 & 2  2000: Cincinnati | Columbus | Jones Beach 1, 2, & 3 | Boston 1 | Camden 1 & 2 2003: Philadelphia | Uniondale | MSG 1 & 2 | Holmdel  2005: Atlantic City 1  2006: Camden 1 | East Rutherford 1 & 2 2008: Camden 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Newark (EV)  2009: Philadelphia 1, 2 & 4  2010: Newark | MSG 1 & 2  2011: Toronto 1  2013: Wrigley Field | Brooklyn 2 | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore  2015: Central Park  2016: Philadelphia 1 & 2 | MSG 1 & 2 | Fenway Park 2 | MSG (TOTD)  2017: Brooklyn (RnR HOF)  2020: MSG | Asbury Park  2021: Asbury Park  2022: MSG | Camden | Nashville  2024: MSG 1 & 2 (#50) | Philadelphia 1 & 2 | Baltimore


  • jp307677jp307677 Posts: 417
    igotid88 said:

    Wonder what would have happened if Dave K. had still been the drummer

    You wouldn't be listening to them today
  • igotid88igotid88 Posts: 27,814
    jp307677 said:

    igotid88 said:

    Wonder what would have happened if Dave K. had still been the drummer

    You wouldn't be listening to them today
    jp307677 said:

    igotid88 said:

    Wonder what would have happened if Dave K. had still been the drummer

    You wouldn't be listening to them today
    How do you know?
    I miss igotid88
  • RS65573RS65573 Posts: 2,467
    FrankY59 said:

    How old should I start my kid on drums? Everyone says start him with piano. Thoughts?!

    Right now in my opinion. The younger the better.
  • Go BeaversGo Beavers Posts: 8,972
    He's calling Matt sloppy? Dave likes himself a lot.
  • RS65573RS65573 Posts: 2,467
    Jack is groove.
    Matt is subdued on purpose in pj. I think that's what he means.
    Dave was just pure energy. Dat snare.
  • edited July 2016

    Sour grapes. Matt C is the best drummer pearl jam has had. Get over it Dave.

    He's one of the best drummer around, sure.
    But it's not the best drummer for PJ, that would have been Dave Abbruzzese.
    Matt C, again, is a beast, but his place has alway been in Soundgarden, not PJ.
    Matt could play with any band and fit in. I think I just heard somewhere he was on the original QOTSA demo. To me Dave A was a little too cymbal heavy. Jack was great but always sounded frantic to me. Matt just knows howl to play period. And yes he is subdued in PJ. I learned that a couple years ago when I saw him with Soundgarden.

    I do also remember though, the first time I heard live in two legs, which was my first time hearing them recorded with Matt. It was mind blowing. I remember thinking to myself that this is how they're supposed to sound.

    Post edited by Dr.Teeth and the Electric Mayh on
    looking to hear of the earth
  • PoncierPoncier Posts: 16,710

    Sour grapes. Matt C is the best drummer pearl jam has had. Get over it Dave.

    Chamberlain?


    ;)
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  • drakeheuer14drakeheuer14 Posts: 4,453
    Interesting Dave A is talked about tonight since they played Angel in Telluride. Didn't he write it with Ed? And first time they played it he was on the guitar, correct?
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  • joseph33joseph33 Posts: 1,247
    It hurts not to become something that is Icon.
  • Pearl34JamPearl34Jam Posts: 1,102
    Wah wah waahh.

    It's unnecessary for him to come out and say this. Only makes him look like a crybaby.
    "Must I keep explaining my decisions to you strangers of the Internet?" - Merch tent 8/19/16

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  • UndrakanUndrakan Posts: 113
    FrankY59 said:

    How old should I start my kid on drums? Everyone says start him with piano. Thoughts?!

    When he wants to.
  • oftenreadingoftenreading Posts: 12,845
    Oh geez - are we still talking about this. Is he still talking about this?

    Sad to think that the high point of his life happened more than 20 years ago and now all he has is sour grapes.
    my small self... like a book amongst the many on a shelf
  • Spiritual_ChaosSpiritual_Chaos Posts: 30,188

    Oh geez - are we still talking about this. Is he still talking about this?

    Sad to think that the high point of his life happened more than 20 years ago and now all he has is sour grapes.

    I believe you are simplifying the man. Don't do that. You know nothing about what his high points are.
    "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
  • Spiritual_ChaosSpiritual_Chaos Posts: 30,188
    FrankY59 said:

    How old should I start my kid on drums? Everyone says start him with piano. Thoughts?!

    Let him decide the instrument instead.

    Like my parents did for me. I choose Nintendo.
    "Mostly I think that people react sensitively because they know you’ve got a point"
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