Matt Cameron has officially shared some thoughts about leaving Pearl Jam and he’s given an update on the long-awaited final Soundgarden album featuring vocals from the late Chris Cornell.
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Cameron, who joined Pearl Jam in 1998 and played with them for 27 years, confirmed earlier this summer that he’d moved on from the band.
At the time, he thanked his bandmates for “the opportunity of a lifetime, filled with friendships, artistry, challenges and laughter,” and also gave a nod to “the crew, staff and fans the world over,” adding, “It’s been an incredible journey. More to follow. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”
That sparked rumours Cameron had quietly retired. But that’s not the case. “Thank you for the kind words of support and for the record, I’m still an active musician,” he said.
Now, in a new Billboard interview, Cameron explained why he stepped away: “I was having some issues with (Pearl Jam’s) three-hour shows and constant touring and stuff. That’s definitely an art form unto itself, to be able to do those types of shows… I’m at a point now where I want to do a face-melting 70-minute set, and that’s kind of what I’m focusing on right now.”
He stressed that the split was friendly: “I definitely gave them a lot of notice. I’ve spoken with Jeff (Ament) and Stone (Gossard) a little bit… It’s been fine. Hopefully we’ll get back together at some point and have a beer or something.”
As for Soundgarden, Cameron says the long-in-the-works album is moving forward: “There’s not a set release date or anything as of yet. There were a couple schools of thought, like, ‘Hey, let’s put out a single’. I think eventually we decided we want to make sure the whole thing is completed before we start releasing singles. I’m excited for people to hear it.”
He revealed the project is “over halfway done” with Kim Thayil still refining guitar parts. And yes, hearing Chris Cornell’s voice still cuts deep. “Hearing (Cornell’s) voice on these powerful hard rock songs is the most empowering thing in the world for me. Then I listen to his voice soloed up when I’m working on stuff… and it all comes back to the fact that he’s not with us and he left us in a way that has so many questions. It’s been gut-wrenching but at the same time very empowering.”
The album will be Soundgarden’s first since 2012’s King Animal. Its release was delayed for years by legal disputes with Cornell’s estate, settled in 2023.
Meanwhile, Matt’s not slowing down. He’s fronting a new band called Is This Real? and working with Thayil and Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic in 3rd Secret, which he hopes to take on the road. Later this year, he’ll make history as a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee: Soundgarden will be enshrined in November, following his 2017 induction with Pearl Jam.
The surviving members of Soundgarden are set to perform at the ceremony. As Thayil put it earlier this year: “It’s a high bar, not just technically, but emotionally.”
