NEED TO KNOW
- Pearl Jam’s former drummer Dave Abbruzzese has addressed whether he would reunite with the band
- “The years since 1995 have served me well towards growing as a person and a player,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday, July 8
- Abbruzzese was dismissed from the group in 1994
Former Pearl Jam drummer Dave Abbruzzese is addressing whether or not he’d return to the band after Matt Cameron announced his departure.
In a lengthy Facebook post shared on Tuesday, July 8, Abbruzzese, 57, shared his gratitude for the fans’ support and revealed whether he would be rejoining the Grammy-winning band.
“Due to the announcement of the mighty Matt Cameron choosing to step down from the Pearl Jam throne he has had for the past 27 years, there has been much talk of my drumming, and the what if and would may never be, of late…,” he began.
Stone Gossard, Eddie Vedder, Dave Abbruzzese, Jeff Ament and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam in February 1992.
Paul Bergen/Redferns
After receiving several messages asking him whether he would “attempt to reconcile” with Pearl Jam, Abbruzzese decided to answer fans directly.
“To be clear, I have nothing to reconcile with them about,” he said.
He further claimed, “My firing from the band and the subsequent trials and tribulations caused by the actions of the band’s management and the band’s old label that made things challenging for me weren’t completely my doing.”
Abbruzzese continued: “With the exceptions of some petty comments and actions that I never quite understood or expected, I have never placed blame and harbored resentments towards the members of the band.”
While he was “blessed” to be in “remarkable music projects” over the last 30 years, he admitted that he “never truly understood what was so important to destroy the musical chemistry we had back then.”
“It is what it is, and I can’t do anything about it,” he said. “At least nothing that I can figure out. The years since 1995 have served me well towards growing as a person and a player.”
Abbruzzese added: “It seems the guys in the band matured and grew up as much as I did, but the fact that I haven’t had any personal contact with any of them leads me to believe the water under the bridge runs too deep and too icy for there to be any reconnection or reconciliation.”
He noted that it “saddens” him that this is the case.
“I know I could and would have much to contribute if indeed the call came, but sadly, I don’t see that happening,” said Abbruzzese.
After sharing a list of his musical achievements over the years, he shared what he’s been grateful for accomplishing in his life, including “a beautiful and talented daughter… overcoming substance abuse, embracing insanity and coming out on the other side, working in the field of recovery, legal issues, a failed marriage….”
Abbruzzese then emphasized how music is “still very important” to him.
“I wish Pearl Jam and its organization continued success and I do hope that there will come a day that we can again connect on some level. All that being said, I do ask that you please stop sending me messages asking & telling me to contact their management,” he said.
He concluded: “I appreciate and understand your desire to see what could come out of that reunion musically. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t curious, also.”
Reps for Abbruzzese and Pearl Jam have not yet responded to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
Abbruzzese joined Pearl Jam in 1991 and contributed to 1993’s Vs. and 1994’s Vitalogy.
In 1994, he was dismissed from the band after creative and personal tensions surfaced, per Rolling Stone. He was also excluded from Pearl Jam’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2017.
On Monday, July 7, Cameron, 62, announced his departure Pearl Jam after 30 years, in an Instagram post on Monday, July 7.
“After 27 fantastic years, I have taken my final steps down the drum riser for the mighty Pearl Jam. Much love and respect to Jeff [Ament], Ed [Vedder], Mike [McCready] and Stone [Gossard] for inviting me into the band in 1998 and for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, one filled with friendships, artistry, challenges and laughter,” he wrote.
Cameron continued, “I am forever grateful to the crew, staff and fans the world over. It’s been an incredible journey. More to follow. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Peace and Love, Matt Cameron.”