Former Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen has confirmed that the band has already found a replacement for Matt Cameron, as reported in a post on Instagram.
Krusen made the revelation while responding to a fan’s direct question on social media. He addressed speculation about both the band’s drummer search and his own potential return.
A fan commented on Krusen’s interview post asking, “So, Dave, are you coming back?”
“No they have a new drummer already,” Krusen responded.
The confirmation comes after Matt Cameron departed from Pearl Jam last summer following 27 years with the band. No further details about the identity of the new drummer have been announced at this time.
Krusen’s brief but direct reply puts an end to any lingering speculation about a possible reunion with the band’s founding drummer. It also sheds light on where Pearl Jam stands heading into their next chapter.
Cameron joined Pearl Jam in 1998 after Jack Irons departed. His tenure brought the band one of its longest and most stable lineup periods. Rolling Stone reported that Cameron had previously played with Soundgarden and Temple of the Dog before becoming Pearl Jam’s drummer — a role he held for nearly three decades.
When Cameron announced his exit in July 2025, he made clear it was not a retirement from music. Billboard reported that Cameron stated he was ending his run with Pearl Jam after 27 years but gave no indication he was stepping away from drumming or the music industry altogether.
Krusen, meanwhile, holds a unique place in the band’s history as the drummer on Pearl Jam’s debut album, Ten, released in 1991. He left the band that same year but remained connected to its legacy. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame noted that Krusen returned to perform alongside the band during their induction ceremony in 2017. It marked a rare reunion with his former bandmates.
With a new drummer now reportedly in place, Pearl Jam appears to be moving forward. The identity of the new member has yet to be officially revealed by the band.
