Pearl Jam – Jack Irons & Matt Cameron

Posted by Albert Costill on May 25, 2007 in General | Comments

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Funny how things in life are so interconnected and we see that with Pearl Jam’s next set of drummers.

Jack Irons replaced Dave A. in 94′ and performed on Mirror Ball (The album PJ did with Neil Young), No Code and Yield. He also also wrote or co-wrote tracks that include: Who You Are, In My Tree, Red Dot or Untitled (from Yield), Happy When I’m Crying (from the 1997 X-Mas single) and Whale Song, which Irons also sings.

Jack was originally in Red Hot Chili Peppers, but left after the death of original guitarist Hillel Slovak in 1988. He then formed Eleven in 1990, but left to join PJ in 94′. Eleven would go on to be Chris Cornell‘s backing band for Euphoria Morning and oddly enough when Irons left, Matt Cameron came in to finish the tracks for Eleven’s third album Thunk.

Back in 1990, Jack was asked to join Mookie Blaylock, but Irons turned it down to focus on Eleven. Irons did pass the demo tape along to one Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam was on their way.

Irons has a unique style of drum playing; he uses a trash can lid as cymbal for example. He suffers from depression, which forced him to leave PJ before the Yield tour even started. Who came in to replace him? Why Matt Cameron of course. Since Irons departure, he has rejoined Eleven and released a solo album Attention Dimension. And he still jams with Pearl Jam ,or at least just Eddie, from time to time.

Check out the video for Eleven’s Reach Out

Pearl Jam’s current drummer is the incredible Matt Cameron, from Soundgarden. Matt has a long history with the band. He recorded the drum tracks on the Alive demo and was part of Temple of the Dog. He was asked to fill in for the Yield Tour in 98′, but was soon in the band for good.

Matt has recorded the albums Binaural, Riot Act and Pearl Jam, as well as Live On Two Legs, Live At Benaroya Hall, all the bootlegs from 2000 and on, and the tracks Last Kiss and Man of the Hour. He has written or co-written the tracks: Evacuation, Save You, Cropduster, You Are, Get Right, In The Moonlight, and Unemployable and he also does back up vocals, check out Severed Hand for example. His solos and fills during concerts complete an already amazing band and his backing vocals add great harmonies.

Besides Soundgarden and PJ, Matt has jammed with Queens of the Stone Age, Toni Iommia (from Black Sabbath), Geddy Lee (from Rush), Smashing Pumpkins, Our Lady Peace and Peter Frampton (he plays drums on Framptons cover of Black Hole Sun). He also played drums on Cornell’s solo track Disappearing One and was, unfortunately, the drummer on Hero from the Spiderman soundtrack. He also has a side project called Wellwater Conspiracy, where he is the drummer and singer. Needless to say, Matt is one busy guy.

Check out Wellwater Conspiracy’s performance on Letterman:

Let’s give a hand to all of PJ’s drummers, they deserve it. Fans may argue who was the best one or who their favorite is/was, but let’s face it, PJ manages to find amazing drummers, which is something to be thankful for.