Former Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen recently opened up about his departure from the band in a new interview.
The conversation focused on Krusen’s exit from Pearl Jam after the band recorded its debut album, “Ten.” It also touched on how he has come to view the band’s decision at the time. Asked about that period, the interviewer said: “I want to know little bit about the time when you recorded the record ‘Ten,’ and then due to personal reasons, you had to step away. What was like that for you at that time?”
“You know, it’s, not to get too into the weeds, but I’m an alcoholic and I was really struggling with my addiction,” Krusen said. “And kind of demonstrates the power of addiction.”
“When you don’t take care of that and do something about it, you know, you have what you dreamt of your whole life and worked your ass off your whole life to get to, and you still can’t get it together,” he continued. “It’s just, you know, it just, it demonstrates the absolute power of, you know, when something has a hold on you, something.”
Krusen went on to reflect on how the band’s actions ultimately helped him.
“They saved my life. They continue to, whether, you know, they realize it or not, but I don’t think I’d be here,” he said. “I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be here if they hadn’t said, you know, you need to like take care of yourself.”
“It’s weird, because I look back and it wasn’t just like I was upset, like, I wanna do this, and I never once was like, how dare you, you know what I mean?” he added. “I was never upset with them. I totally understood. I think deep down I knew they were doing me a favor. You know, I did need to take care of myself.”
“And I did. It took a couple of years, but I got it together and by far the majority of my adult life has been, you know, sober, and they really catapulted me into making the right decision,” Krusen said. “Ultimately taking care of my addiction, so.”
Krusen’s comments offer a rare, candid look back at a pivotal moment in his life and career, more than three decades after leaving Pearl Jam. That moment came sooner than many fans realize. The circumstances surrounding it reveal just how difficult that period truly was for the drummer.
Krusen exited Pearl Jam in May 1991, mere weeks after the band wrapped recording sessions for “Ten” at Seattle’s London Bridge Studios. He checked himself into rehabilitation almost immediately after leaving, a decision that set the course for the rest of his life. The band moved quickly to fill the gap he left behind. They brought in Matt Chamberlain, formerly of Edie Brickell and New Bohemians, to take over on drums.
The split was not marked by bitterness on either side. Eddie Vedder publicly defended Krusen in the aftermath of his departure. He called him “a real hero” and noted that Krusen “was going through a lot, but he had something really special.” Those comments underscore the same sentiment Krusen expressed in his recent interview, that the band’s decision came from a place of genuine concern rather than conflict.
Krusen has remained active in music in the years since leaving Pearl Jam. He has drummed for the band Luma and previously played with Candlebox and Hovercraft, the group fronted by Beth Liebling, Vedder’s former wife. His continued presence in the music world stands as a testament to the recovery he described in his recent remarks.
Krusen’s reflections paint a picture of a decision that was painful at the time but ultimately became the turning point that allowed him to rebuild both his health and his career.
