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Dave Abbruzzese Statement on The Drummer Situation

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  • VINNY GOOMBAVINNY GOOMBA Posts: 1,822
    edited July 9
    Being in a band is really difficult.  It's even more difficult if it's your livelihood.  I imagine a lot of us here joined bands largely because we were and are inspired by Pearl Jam and bands like them, so I know a lot of us can relate on a much smaller level.  I have always loved my bandmates like brothers, brothers can disagree and fight plenty, and playing in a band has never been part of how I put food on the table.  With that said, there's been plenty of times where one or two members behave in such a way that they alienate themselves from everyone else.  Goals, personalities, addiction, artistic vision, professionalism, there's dozens of things that need to be in alignment for it to not be a total shit show.  Sometimes you work through it, and sometimes you can't.  Dave contributed a lot to PJ when he was in it.  I would have liked to see him inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and to be on the level of some of the other guest musicians they have had, to call him up on stage for a song or 2 here and there.  With that said, none of us really know the truth, and it was a very tumultuous time for everyone in the band when he was fired.  I think we've all had close relationships with people that have had their blow-ups, and gone to the way side as a result.  Could some of them be mended?  Probably.  Life is short though, and it makes you question whether it is worth the energy to even find out if it's worth a fuller reconciliation.  It is likely that all parties feel the same way in this situation.     
    Post edited by VINNY GOOMBA on
  • mace1229mace1229 Posts: 9,753
    Go Animal said:
    Glorified G is about Dave A, correct, or just a rumor?
    It's an anti gun song that takes a couple shots at him. Great song.
    I heard an interview a year or two ago where Dave answers that. He said he bought 2 .22 guns to go camping. He was, and I think still is anti bigger guns and assault rifles. But wanted something small for he and his friend to have for protection against wildlife while camping. He said it was no big deal, he didn’t take the song personally. I’m not sure if I bought that, but that’s what he claimed anyway.
    The “always keep it loaded” I think he said was a line from Jeff’s dad, which I’ve heard before.
  • HughFreakingDillonHughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 39,434
    jwhjr17 said:
    My old eyes can't read that with the underline under the entire thing.  That's ok, guessing I would be wasting my time anyways.
    yeah, I have no idea why it did that. I just copied and pasted as plain text. I tried but couldn't get rid of it. 
    Hugh Freaking Dillon is currently out of the office, returning sometime in the fall




  • HughFreakingDillonHughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 39,434
    mace1229 said:
    Go Animal said:
    Glorified G is about Dave A, correct, or just a rumor?
    It's an anti gun song that takes a couple shots at him. Great song.
    I heard an interview a year or two ago where Dave answers that. He said he bought 2 .22 guns to go camping. He was, and I think still is anti bigger guns and assault rifles. But wanted something small for he and his friend to have for protection against wildlife while camping. He said it was no big deal, he didn’t take the song personally. I’m not sure if I bought that, but that’s what he claimed anyway.
    The “always keep it loaded” I think he said was a line from Jeff’s dad, which I’ve heard before.
    yes, he addressed this on his facebook page recently as well. The song started with those two lines, and the rest is a fictionalized version of what actually went down. (according to him)
    Hugh Freaking Dillon is currently out of the office, returning sometime in the fall




  • HughFreakingDillonHughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 39,434
    mcgruff10 said:
    Dude was in the band for three years over thirty years ago. Let it go.   
    just thought it would be of interest to some here. that's all. nothing to let go. 
    Hugh Freaking Dillon is currently out of the office, returning sometime in the fall




  • TahoeJeffTahoeJeff Seattle Posts: 155
    mace1229 said:
    Go Animal said:
    Glorified G is about Dave A, correct, or just a rumor?
    It's an anti gun song that takes a couple shots at him. Great song.
    I heard an interview a year or two ago where Dave answers that. He said he bought 2 .22 guns to go camping. He was, and I think still is anti bigger guns and assault rifles. But wanted something small for he and his friend to have for protection against wildlife while camping. He said it was no big deal, he didn’t take the song personally. I’m not sure if I bought that, but that’s what he claimed anyway.
    The “always keep it loaded” I think he said was a line from Jeff’s dad, which I’ve heard before.
    Yeah, I heard something like this. I heard that I think Dave and Jeff were having a conversation about those guns, and Dave joked, "Got a gun? Hell, I got two" and he said that he saw Ed out of the corner of his eye jotting down something in his notebook, and that's where the line came from.

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  • bootlegger10bootlegger10 Posts: 16,225
    Easy for Ed, Jeff, Stone and Mike to take the high road on it when they are still in the band making bank.   Dave A. is in the unfortunate spot where he can't help but see how great PJ's success turned out.  Would be tough not to hold a grudge.  Can't blame him for using this opportunity where eyes are on him to talk about his other successes and projects.   We have no idea of what went on behind the scenes with their individual relationships.

    The guy drummed on my favorite album of all-time, Vs.  
  • Ledbetterman10Ledbetterman10 Posts: 16,985
    Easy for Ed, Jeff, Stone and Mike to take the high road on it when they are still in the band making bank.   Dave A. is in the unfortunate spot where he can't help but see how great PJ's success turned out.  Would be tough not to hold a grudge.  Can't blame him for using this opportunity where eyes are on him to talk about his other successes and projects.   We have no idea of what went on behind the scenes with their individual relationships.

    The guy drummed on my favorite album of all-time, Vs.  
    I argue that Dave got a lot of undeserved writing credits on Vs. and Vitalogy that he's reaped benefits from for years (and still does). Vs. is the only PJ album where every band member is credited as a songwriter on every song. But we know that's not the case. Animal and Daughter are Vedder/Gossard songs. RVM and Small Town are Vedder songs. I know Dave deserves a credit on Go, and probably on WMA, but that's about it. And on Vitalogy, songs like Not For You, Corduroy, and Immortality, total Eddie songs, are credited to the entire band. My point is he's done alright for himself. Especially for someone who was in the band for under three years. 
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  • pdalowskypdalowsky Doncaster,UK Posts: 15,211
    Didnt think we'd be discussing Dave A in this detail again  this week. 

    Another of lifes little curveballs
  • Merkin BallerMerkin Baller Posts: 12,663
    edited July 9
    pdalowsky said:
    Didnt think we'd be discussing Dave A in this detail again  this week. 

    Another of lifes little curveballs
    I bet you didn't think we would be talking about PJ needing a drummer either. 
  • bootlegbootleg Posts: 1,205
    I just like to see fences get mended.  It’s not healthy on either side to hold a grudge that long.  We’ll probably never get the whole story on what happened with Dave A but the part that’s always felt odd is that it has never come across as something that was completely irreconcilable.  Maybe personalities just clashed and things just didn’t work out.  Maybe Dave wanted more fame, more money, maybe he was a complete jerk.  Of course you would move on from that but would any of that warrant a complete lifetime shunning?  You don’t have to invite him back in the band or anything but it wouldn’t hurt to at lease recognize that he existed and had some significant contributions in the early years.
  • mookeywrenchmookeywrench Posts: 6,033
    bootleg said:
    I just like to see fences get mended.  It’s not healthy on either side to hold a grudge that long.  We’ll probably never get the whole story on what happened with Dave A but the part that’s always felt odd is that it has never come across as something that was completely irreconcilable.  Maybe personalities just clashed and things just didn’t work out.  Maybe Dave wanted more fame, more money, maybe he was a complete jerk.  Of course you would move on from that but would any of that warrant a complete lifetime shunning?  You don’t have to invite him back in the band or anything but it wouldn’t hurt to at lease recognize that he existed and had some significant contributions in the early years.
    Mended fences keep good neighbors.
    Grudges can be tossed while respecting the notion that their personalities were not made for eachother and keep their boundaries.
    350x700px-LL-d2f49cb4_vinyl-needle-scu-e1356666258495.jpeg
  • Lerxst1992Lerxst1992 Posts: 7,598
    pdalowsky said:
    Didnt think we'd be discussing Dave A in this detail again  this week. 

    Another of lifes little curveballs
    it’s just a derivative of Matt retiring from the band. That’s the curveball…or slider?
  • ForceofNature101ForceofNature101 Posts: 1,293
    bootleg said:
    Of course you would move on from that but would any of that warrant a complete lifetime shunning?  You don’t have to invite him back in the band or anything but it wouldn’t hurt to at lease recognize that he existed and had some significant contributions in the early years.
    Although Ed did that very thing, no?   Watching the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Ed specifically gave him a shout out by name and said "we had the great Dave Abbruzzese, he was a great drummer, he IS.a great drummer, he's a great fucking drummer".  

    It isn't necessarily a shunning of Dave, it is just life moving on - it has been 30 years since Dave parted ways with the band.  I am not sure what else people are expecting a band that revels in their privacy of inter-personal relationships, to say about him in that regard
  • JK109224JK109224 Posts: 642
    I wouldn't be feeling sorry for Dave A in terms of finances. He'd do quite well from royalties alone. Does he have $10 million? No. But he would be very comfortable.
    Come to send, not condescend...
  • kmcmanuskmcmanus Posts: 888
    bootleg said:
    Of course you would move on from that but would any of that warrant a complete lifetime shunning?  You don’t have to invite him back in the band or anything but it wouldn’t hurt to at lease recognize that he existed and had some significant contributions in the early years.
    I am not sure what else people are expecting a band that revels in their privacy of inter-personal relationships, to say about him in that regard
    It’s possible the band is doing Dave a favor by not commenting 
  • sociopearljamsociopearljam Posts: 59
    This guy is a fucking clown. I get that it must have been tough getting fired from such a big time band because of your personality. It happens though. Dave A. was a shotgun marriage all along. 
    He's also a great drummer that put a lot of solid work into PJ
    Yeah, he was a good drummer that did work on two of the 12 studio albums. I know it was a particularly high profile period in the band's history, but we all know that was about the time period and not really that much about Dave. The amount of discussion this guy elicits relative to his time and contributions to the band is kind of crazy to me. I also feel like the pro-Dave folks don't ever acknowledge the shotgun marriage element of the whole. It wasn't like he toiled with the guys for years before the band made it big. It jumped onto a rocketship as it was taking off and, to what I think is obviously clear now, before the guys really knew each other well. It happens.  
  • KV4053KV4053 Mike's side, crushed up against the stage Posts: 1,510
    This guy is a fucking clown. I get that it must have been tough getting fired from such a big time band because of your personality. It happens though. Dave A. was a shotgun marriage all along. 
    He's also a great drummer that put a lot of solid work into PJ
    Yeah, he was a good drummer that did work on two of the 12 studio albums. I know it was a particularly high profile period in the band's history, but we all know that was about the time period and not really that much about Dave. The amount of discussion this guy elicits relative to his time and contributions to the band is kind of crazy to me. I also feel like the pro-Dave folks don't ever acknowledge the shotgun marriage element of the whole. It wasn't like he toiled with the guys for years before the band made it big. It jumped onto a rocketship as it was taking off and, to what I think is obviously clear now, before the guys really knew each other well. It happens.  
    100% agree with every element of your post.
    I know I was born and I know that I'll die. The in between is mine.
  • yosiyosi NYC Posts: 3,111
    This guy is a fucking clown. I get that it must have been tough getting fired from such a big time band because of your personality. It happens though. Dave A. was a shotgun marriage all along. 
    He's also a great drummer that put a lot of solid work into PJ
    I also feel like the pro-Dave folks don't ever acknowledge the shotgun marriage element of the whole. It wasn't like he toiled with the guys for years before the band made it big. It jumped onto a rocketship as it was taking off and, to what I think is obviously clear now, before the guys really knew each other well. It happens.  
    I never thought about it this way, but I think it’s 100% correct. 
    you couldn't swing if you were hangin' from a palm tree in a hurricane

  • Merkin BallerMerkin Baller Posts: 12,663
    This guy is a fucking clown. I get that it must have been tough getting fired from such a big time band because of your personality. It happens though. Dave A. was a shotgun marriage all along. 
    He's also a great drummer that put a lot of solid work into PJ
    Yeah, he was a good drummer that did work on two of the 12 studio albums. I know it was a particularly high profile period in the band's history, but we all know that was about the time period and not really that much about Dave. The amount of discussion this guy elicits relative to his time and contributions to the band is kind of crazy to me. I also feel like the pro-Dave folks don't ever acknowledge the shotgun marriage element of the whole. It wasn't like he toiled with the guys for years before the band made it big. It jumped onto a rocketship as it was taking off and, to what I think is obviously clear now, before the guys really knew each other well. It happens.  
    I think this is the best summary I've read to date, not only of Dave's time with and contribution to the band, but also the cult of Dave A. 
  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Mar-A-Lago Posts: 21,968
    Dave A joined PJ two days after Ten was released after both Krusen and Chamberlain quit. I'm not sure where the shotgun marriage thing comes from.

    There is no cult. He's a great drummer. 

    Ed talked very nicely about him at the R&R HOF induction. 
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)
    The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)

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  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Mar-A-Lago Posts: 21,968
    edited 3:56PM

    In 1991, Abbruzzese got a call from drummer and friend Matt Chamberlain, whom Abbruzzese knew through the Texas music scene, in regard to filling in for him in the band Pearl Jam when he left.[1] Chamberlain had his eyes set on G. E. Smith's band on Saturday Night Live. Abbruzzese left for Seattle, Washington to meet and become acquainted with the members of Pearl Jam. Although his musical tastes were far different from the other members, Abbruzzese chose to join Pearl Jam, playing his first show on August 23, 1991. Initially, Abbruzzese was reluctant to join the band full-time. Then after his second show with Pearl Jam, Abbruzzese went straight down to his local tattoo parlor and had bassist Jeff Ament's stick figure drawing from the sleeve of the "Alive" single tattooed onto his left shoulder.[5] Abbruzzese joined the group and played the rest of Pearl Jam's live shows supporting the Ten album. Abbruzzese toured extensively for Ten and performed on MTV Unplugged and a Saturday Night Live appearance. Abbruzzese made his studio debut with Pearl Jam when the band released the single "Even Flow" in April 1992. They re-recorded the song for its single release with Abbruzzese on drums instead of original drummer Dave Krusen. Two songs for the Singles Soundtrack and the b-side "Dirty Frank" also came from the same recording session.[1] The band found itself amidst the sudden popularity and attention given to the Seattle music scene and the genre known as grunge.

    With Abbruzzese, the band recorded its second studio album, Vs., released in 1993. Upon its release, Vs. set at the time the record for most copies of an album sold in a week,[6] and spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard 200Vs. was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 1995.[7] From Vs., the song "Daughter" received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and the song "Go" received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance.[8] Abbruzzese toured extensively for Vs. and performed on a Saturday Night Live appearance. Abbruzzese wrote the music for the Pearl Jam songs "Go", "Last Exit" and "Angel" (from the 1993 fan club Christmas single). He played with Pearl Jam through April 17, 1994. In 1994, the band began a much-publicized boycott of Ticketmaster.[9]

    Although Abbruzzese performed on the band's third studio album, Vitalogy, he was fired in August 1994 due to personality conflicts with the band members, four months before the album was released.[10] Ament stated, "Dave was a different egg for sure. There were a lot of things, personality wise, where I didn't see eye to eye with him. He was more comfortable being a rock star than the rest of us. Partying, girls, cars. I don't know if anyone was in the same space."[10] Guitarist Stone Gossard said, "It was the nature of how the politics worked in our band: It was up to me to say, 'Hey, we tried, it's not working; time to move on.' On a superficial level, it was a political struggle: For whatever reason his ability to communicate with Ed and Jeff was very stifled. I certainly don't think it was all Dave Abbruzzese's fault that it was stifled."[10] Abbruzzese stated, "I didn't really agree with what was going on. I didn't agree with the Ticketmaster stuff at all. But I don't blame anyone or harbor any hard feelings. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't furious and hurt for a long time. But now I just wish there was more music from the band I was a part of."[10]

    On October 18, 2016, Pearl Jam was named among the 2017 class of nominees for induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[11] In a departure from the protocol of previous years which included all members of bands who had contributed to commercially-released recordings, the Hall named which specific former members would be inducted from each nominated band. The only former member of Pearl Jam to be included was Dave Krusen. Reacting to the snub, Abbruzzese stated "The members of Pearl Jam have got to know what's the right thing to do. They can't justify ignoring my contributions. Like me or not. If there is still a part of that band that remembers how hard we worked, how much blood and how much sweat ... They will do the right thing."[12] He further stated "It’s just a fine opportunity to see what Pearl Jam has to say in response. Let’s see if they do the right thing. It’ll be interesting to see the spin that is put on it. That band and its management have never been ones to shy away when an injustice is done. Let’s see if they still have the courage to fight the good fight!"[13]

    Pearl Jam later responded with an open letter on Facebook inviting all their former drummers, including Matt Chamberlain and Jack Irons, to the induction. [14]


    ...from wiki

    Post edited by Gern Blansten at
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)
    The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)

    1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
    2020: Oakland, Oakland:  2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
    2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
    2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
  • JimmyVJimmyV Boston's MetroWest Posts: 19,572
    I coined the term #DaveATruthers around the time of the RRHOF induction because a segment of the fanbase was so crazy about it. Cult is not far off. 
    ___________________________________________

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  • Merkin BallerMerkin Baller Posts: 12,663
    Dave A wrote a couple great songs for them, for sure. Despite that. his contribution to this band has been greatly over romanticized, and to sociopearljam's point, not even remotely relative to the amount of discussion or agita it's generated. 

    He's good, but I wouldn't call him a great drummer... he's certainly no better than the 4th best to have played for this band. 
  • Gern BlanstenGern Blansten Mar-A-Lago Posts: 21,968
    Dave A wrote a couple great songs for them, for sure. Despite that. his contribution to this band has been greatly over romanticized, and to sociopearljam's point, not even remotely relative to the amount of discussion or agita it's generated. 

    He's good, but I wouldn't call him a great drummer... he's certainly no better than the 4th best to have played for this band. 
    Totally disagree....he's a great drummer

    I don't get the hate. 
    Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018)
    The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)

    1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
    2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
    2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
    2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
    2020: Oakland, Oakland:  2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
    2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
    2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
  • static111static111 Posts: 4,993
    Dave A wrote a couple great songs for them, for sure. Despite that. his contribution to this band has been greatly over romanticized, and to sociopearljam's point, not even remotely relative to the amount of discussion or agita it's generated. 

    He's good, but I wouldn't call him a great drummer... he's certainly no better than the 4th best to have played for this band. 
    Totally disagree....he's a great drummer

    I don't get the hate. 
    Yeah I mean listen to the versions of Breath and SOLAT before and after Dave.  If someone can't hear that he elevated the band with his playing I don't think they are being honest with themselves.
    Scio me nihil scire

    There are no kings inside the gates of eden
  • static111static111 Posts: 4,993
    static111 said:
    Dave A wrote a couple great songs for them, for sure. Despite that. his contribution to this band has been greatly over romanticized, and to sociopearljam's point, not even remotely relative to the amount of discussion or agita it's generated. 

    He's good, but I wouldn't call him a great drummer... he's certainly no better than the 4th best to have played for this band. 
    Totally disagree....he's a great drummer

    I don't get the hate. 
    Yeah I mean listen to the versions of Breath and SOLAT before and after Dave.  If someone can't hear that he elevated the band with his playing I don't think they are being honest with themselves.
    That said my favorite albums are the Jack Irons albums.
    Scio me nihil scire

    There are no kings inside the gates of eden
  • HughFreakingDillonHughFreakingDillon Winnipeg Posts: 39,434
    Dave A wrote a couple great songs for them, for sure. Despite that. his contribution to this band has been greatly over romanticized, and to sociopearljam's point, not even remotely relative to the amount of discussion or agita it's generated. 

    He's good, but I wouldn't call him a great drummer... he's certainly no better than the 4th best to have played for this band. 
    does this also then apply to Jack? 

    Dave actually was with them when they were still playing small clubs, as Gern pointed out. It's not super typical for a drummer to contribute to songwriting. I'm not one of "they should get dave back in the band" people, but his contributions shouldn't be limited just because of the time period he was in the band. I mean, people are also talking about Dave K, who was in the band an even shorter time and only drummed on 1 record. 
    Hugh Freaking Dillon is currently out of the office, returning sometime in the fall




  • Merkin BallerMerkin Baller Posts: 12,663
    Dave A wrote a couple great songs for them, for sure. Despite that. his contribution to this band has been greatly over romanticized, and to sociopearljam's point, not even remotely relative to the amount of discussion or agita it's generated. 

    He's good, but I wouldn't call him a great drummer... he's certainly no better than the 4th best to have played for this band. 
    Totally disagree....he's a great drummer

    I don't get the hate. 
    You're off base if you're inferring hatred from my comment. 

    I don't hate the guy, I just don't think he deserves all the fuss he inspires... especially not now, some 30+ years after the fact. 
  • eboweddieeboweddie Posts: 1,068


    i wish i wish i wish i wish, i guess it never stops
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