Matt Cameron News

Gern Blansten

THEBIBLEISTEN said:

Gern Blansten said:

THEBIBLEISTEN said:

Gern Blansten said:

I think it's more likely (as others have previously mentioned) that it was a "let's finish this tour and then give us your decision" type of thing.

Clearly there have been changes the last few years. Josh adding vocals, shorter set lists, short tours, less variety in the setlists (which means they aren't practicing)...my guess is that Matt just wants more family time and he doesn't like getting uprooted for albums, practice, tours, etc.

They’re not practicing? What are you talking about? Every opinion doesn’t need to be shared in some cases guy. 

I don't think they do (together that is)...it requires travel, they don't all live in the same city you know?

I think sound checks are the only time they work out the rare songs they play. 

Dude, stop assuming. I dont think a band goes to Wrigley or MSG and doesn’t practice. Just a foolish comment imo. 

I am talking about practicing routinely when they aren't touring. Of course they practice before a tour.

Gern Blansten

I remember thinking that the 2025 dates were odd....why just tour for a month?

probably overthinking it, lol

AfghanTwilight

This is in no way meant to minimize Matt's talent or work, but if Iron Maiden can survive the loss of Nicko McBrain touring with them, then the same will be true for Pearl Jam.

Wilco87

Gern Blansten said:

I remember thinking that the 2025 dates were odd....why just tour for a month?

probably overthinking it, lol

2023 was very similar, I'm not sure how the production of Dark Matter figured into that year.

I've always assumed, the short runs are as much to keep the entire Pearl Jam Corp going. Has to be a substantial amount of resources on payroll.

They also scratch the itch for the members to perform live music to their thirsty fanbase.

Gern Blansten

AfghanTwilight said:

This is in no way meant to minimize Matt's talent or work, but if Iron Maiden can survive the loss of Nicko McBrain touring with them, then the same will be true for Pearl Jam.

yeah it will all be fine....the unknown is what is driving some of us nuts

I've always been amazed at Matt's writing contributions. Both with SG and PJ

AfghanTwilight

I always wished PJ would have been more open to Matt's entire talent -- letting him infuse a bit of that chaotic energy he displayed with Soundgarden. 

GHOST26

Well, Hollywood #1 2025 was just my 3rd PJ show. I know, stupid. I saw them in Brasil in 2005 and 2011 in big stadiums, from the floor. But I was so amazed by this PIT experience. I love the D Matter cd. I really want to see them again. And relax PJ fans, Springsteen is 75 and playing for 2:40 - 3:00 hours, 27 song setlist (altough he may reduce it a little after 2023-2025 tour). I think bands like E Street Band (who lost sax and organ players already), U2, PJ, Stones and a few others really can't go on without the vocals (a little obvious) because they are so unique. So, after Hollywod show I said to myself: PJ is the band to follow after Bruce retires (well, he will probably tour solo and maybe with other small bands, and maybe even one more tour with E Street Band). So, I think Vedder and the guys are still young. Really really need to see them a few more times. Can't stop listening to the Nugs cd of this 2025 show. 

JG242853

Gern Blansten said:

I remember thinking that the 2025 dates were odd....why just tour for a month?

probably overthinking it, lol

Ha not crazy at all.  My bud and I had the same thought. We went into Pittsburgh expecting some kind of "we're going to be busy in the back half" sentiment from Ed.  We were half prepared for some kind of South America announcement OR another west coast mini city tour with Phoenix or Colorado... something like that.  

We dug that 2023 leg - in fact we had a thought the sets get weirder on the shorter legs in not-as-big cities. 

Pap

Wilco87 said:

Pap said:

Thank you so much for being the glue of this band when they most needed it, MFC! Thank you for being the engine of this plane for 27 consecutive years! Take it easy, and enjoy your time with your loved ones! Even if you're feeling that you don't have much to say these days, we'll always cherish your musics (Skin Yard, Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog, Pearl Jam, Harrybu McCage, Hater, Tone Dogs, Matt Cameron, 3rd Secret, Ten Commandos, Wellwater Conspiracy, Drumgasm, Nighttime Boogie Association)

I think we have a winner for the Visual Matt Cameron Tribute Contest.

Thanks! Photo by Geoff Whitman

Loujoe

josevolution said:

The only complaint I have about how this went down is, they should have in my honest opinion let the fans know that the 2025 spring shows would be his last! I bet some folks would have done anything to have seen him one last time! After the MSG show in September I thought ok I’ll get another shot at seeing them again. 

Maybe they didn't know

BF25394

Poncier said:

Merkin Baller said:

Gern Blansten said:

THEBIBLEISTEN said:

Gern Blansten said:

I think it's more likely (as others have previously mentioned) that it was a "let's finish this tour and then give us your decision" type of thing.

Clearly there have been changes the last few years. Josh adding vocals, shorter set lists, short tours, less variety in the setlists (which means they aren't practicing)...my guess is that Matt just wants more family time and he doesn't like getting uprooted for albums, practice, tours, etc.

They’re not practicing? What are you talking about? Every opinion doesn’t need to be shared in some cases guy. 

I don't think they do (together that is)...it requires travel, they don't all live in the same city you know?

I think sound checks are the only time they work out the rare songs they play. 

I would be very surprised if they don't schedule some time in advance of a tour to get together & practice. 

It's called tour rehearsal, and every band does it before hitting the road.

Yes. For example, in 2024, they rehearsed at Climate Pledge Arena before heading up to Vancouver to start the tour. Ed talked about it on stage.

My sense is that they don't practice much, aside from soundcheck, outside of the pre-tour prep.

Ernie Vedder

MFC!!!!

josevolution

Loujoe said:

josevolution said:

The only complaint I have about how this went down is, they should have in my honest opinion let the fans know that the 2025 spring shows would be his last! I bet some folks would have done anything to have seen him one last time! After the MSG show in September I thought ok I’ll get another shot at seeing them again. 

Maybe they didn't know

That’s a big maybe or more like a bombshell 

stuckinline

Loujoe said:

josevolution said:

The only complaint I have about how this went down is, they should have in my honest opinion let the fans know that the 2025 spring shows would be his last! I bet some folks would have done anything to have seen him one last time! After the MSG show in September I thought ok I’ll get another shot at seeing them again. 

Maybe they didn't know

I think the band knew. Ed alluded a few times it was an end of an era, or they don't know when they will play again. (I'm paraphrasing)

Loujoe

josevolution said:

Loujoe said:

josevolution said:

The only complaint I have about how this went down is, they should have in my honest opinion let the fans know that the 2025 spring shows would be his last! I bet some folks would have done anything to have seen him one last time! After the MSG show in September I thought ok I’ll get another shot at seeing them again. 

Maybe they didn't know

That’s a big maybe or more like a bombshell 

True. My friend planted that seed of speculation. Hits me as odd. Why not ride it out all the way? I guess I forget being a rock star is a job.
Definitely deserves a proper send off and yes disappointing way to end a relationship with all of us.

deb1211

bootlegger10

Gern Blansten said:

I remember thinking that the 2025 dates were odd....why just tour for a month?

probably overthinking it, lol

They did the same thing in 2023.  Not too far out of the norm.  But was a little odd after the big 2024 year they had.  Maybe they wanted his last run to be in the States.  

Gern Blansten

bootlegger10 said:

Gern Blansten said:

I remember thinking that the 2025 dates were odd....why just tour for a month?

probably overthinking it, lol

They did the same thing in 2023.  Not too far out of the norm.  But was a little odd after the big 2024 year they had.  Maybe they wanted his last run to be in the States.  

yeah they did....good point

Merkin Baller

bootlegger10 said:

Gern Blansten said:

I remember thinking that the 2025 dates were odd....why just tour for a month?

probably overthinking it, lol

They did the same thing in 2023.  Not too far out of the norm.  But was a little odd after the big 2024 year they had.  Maybe they wanted his last run to be in the States.  

2023 & 2025 make sense when compared to say, the 2014 US leg, but the 2 nights in ea city with a night off in between was a new thing. I always assumed that scheduling was to accommodate Ed's voice more than anything else, but for all we know, that could have been to accommodate Matt specifically.. not to mention the shortened setlists we've been getting post covid. 

Matt was also said in at least one interview earlier this year that he doesn't know how much touring he had left in him (paraphrased)... that was in public. For all we know, he could have been saying this in private to the band for the last 2 or 3 years. 

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they knew before DM was released hat it would be their last go around w/ Matt. 

dudeman

Wonder if Barrett Martin is available to step in.

Totally going to miss Matt! I can't think of anyone else who could have pulled off what he did in '98 to help the band. I will miss him and his future contributions but am so grateful that he gave the world so much. 

bluesuedeitzrad

Without zero insight from the band, here are things I am starting to believe are true:

• The band has known for quite some time—probably years—that this was Matt Cameron's final album/tour
• Matt Cameron is retiring, not quitting
• The band will go the R.E.M. route, and have a touring drummer but no official new member
• Setting Sun is their goodbye to Matt.
• We will never know why, so all we can do is enjoy the memories and keep listening

Merkin Baller

bluesuedeitzrad said:

Without zero insight from the band, here are things I am starting to believe are true:

• The band has known for quite some time—probably years—that this was Matt Cameron's final album/tour
• Matt Cameron is retiring, not quitting
• The band will go the R.E.M. route, and have a touring drummer but no official new member
• Setting Sun is their goodbye to Matt.
• We will never know why, so all we can do is enjoy the memories and keep listening

I agree 100% with points 1 & 5 and I think point # 2 is probably accurate in so much that he's retiring from PJ and being in a touring band. I don't think he's retiring from music, but i I will be surprised if he does any real sort of tours with another act. 

I'm coming around to #3... Jack Irons was behind the kit for my 2 favorite PJ albums... I couldn't see him rejoining them as their full time drummer, but if he were to do another studio album w/ them, I would be beyond excited. Outside of that, I'm really not on the "get one of the prior drummers" train. 

Point # 4 - it's entirely possible, and was one hell of a way to end the Live On Two Legs podcast from 2 days ago. 

Gern Blansten

Merkin Baller said:

bootlegger10 said:

Gern Blansten said:

I remember thinking that the 2025 dates were odd....why just tour for a month?

probably overthinking it, lol

They did the same thing in 2023.  Not too far out of the norm.  But was a little odd after the big 2024 year they had.  Maybe they wanted his last run to be in the States.  

2023 & 2025 make sense when compared to say, the 2014 US leg, but the 2 nights in ea city with a night off in between was a new thing. I always assumed that scheduling was to accommodate Ed's voice more than anything else, but for all we know, that could have been to accommodate Matt specifically.. not to mention the shortened setlists we've been getting post covid. 

Matt was also said in at least one interview earlier this year that he doesn't know how much touring he had left in him (paraphrased)... that was in public. For all we know, he could have been saying this in private to the band for the last 2 or 3 years. 

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they knew before DM was released hat it would be their last go around w/ Matt. 

Yeah I think all of the shorter set lists, short tours, etc, were to give Matt a break. Even the stretch where they sat for the first few songs seems like some sort of experiment.

pjl44

bluesuedeitzrad said:

Without zero insight from the band, here are things I am starting to believe are true:

• The band has known for quite some time—probably years—that this was Matt Cameron's final album/tour
• Matt Cameron is retiring, not quitting
• The band will go the R.E.M. route, and have a touring drummer but no official new member
• Setting Sun is their goodbye to Matt.
• We will never know why, so all we can do is enjoy the memories and keep listening

Given that we all assume it was amicable, I think it would be completely bizarre if we haven’t heard more about why over the next few months (if not sooner)

pdalowsky

pjl44 said:

bluesuedeitzrad said:

Without zero insight from the band, here are things I am starting to believe are true:

• The band has known for quite some time—probably years—that this was Matt Cameron's final album/tour
• Matt Cameron is retiring, not quitting
• The band will go the R.E.M. route, and have a touring drummer but no official new member
• Setting Sun is their goodbye to Matt.
• We will never know why, so all we can do is enjoy the memories and keep listening

Given that we all assume it was amicable, I think it would be completely bizarre if we haven’t heard more about why over the next few months (if not sooner)

The waiting drove me mad.......

THEBIBLEISTEN

I think soundgarden is doing a remake and he will devote his time to that. 

Merkin Baller

pjl44 said:

bluesuedeitzrad said:

Without zero insight from the band, here are things I am starting to believe are true:

• The band has known for quite some time—probably years—that this was Matt Cameron's final album/tour
• Matt Cameron is retiring, not quitting
• The band will go the R.E.M. route, and have a touring drummer but no official new member
• Setting Sun is their goodbye to Matt.
• We will never know why, so all we can do is enjoy the memories and keep listening

Given that we all assume it was amicable, I think it would be completely bizarre if we haven’t heard more about why over the next few months (if not sooner)

I won't be surprised if today's newsletter includes something written specifically by Matt.








I won't be surprised if it doesn't either, but he OWES us an explanation at least.

lastexitlondon

I think the statement could have been more information to stop all the hear say and guess work. 
Imo just say it as it is. More to follow? No need just make it plain and simple we all move on or we don't.
But flame me for thinking that if you will

Pap

Fun fact: At my very first PJ show (Athens 2006) he was wearing a yellow Johnny Ramone t-shirt, and at the last show I got to see him perform live with the boys (New Orleans 2025) he was wearing a black Wipers t-shirt

Merkin Baller

Merkin Baller said:

pjl44 said:

bluesuedeitzrad said:

Without zero insight from the band, here are things I am starting to believe are true:

• The band has known for quite some time—probably years—that this was Matt Cameron's final album/tour
• Matt Cameron is retiring, not quitting
• The band will go the R.E.M. route, and have a touring drummer but no official new member
• Setting Sun is their goodbye to Matt.
• We will never know why, so all we can do is enjoy the memories and keep listening

Given that we all assume it was amicable, I think it would be completely bizarre if we haven’t heard more about why over the next few months (if not sooner)

I won't be surprised if today's newsletter includes something written specifically by Matt.

No additional comment.... copy & paste of Monday's announcements, and then business as usual.