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Pearl Jam Announce Paul McCartney Drummer as New Full-Time Member
The band brought Abe Laboriel Jr. onstage in a surprise reveal after Matt Cameron’s 2025 departure, ending months of speculation over the lineup change.
- On Friday, Pearl Jam made a surprise appearance during Eddie Vedder's solo set at the Ohana Festival in Dana Point, California, introducing drummer Abe Laboriel to the world.
- The reveal ends a year-long mystery following long-time drummer Matt Cameron's departure in July 2025 after 27 years with the group, during which the band kept their replacement's identity private.
- Laboriel, best known as Paul McCartney's touring drummer since 2001, previously collaborated with Vedder on the 2022 solo album Earthling and has toured with Sting and Eric Clapton.
- Although billed as "Eddie Vedder and Friends," the band performed favorites including "Corduroy" and "Dark Matter," yet Vedder introduced Laboriel as "filling in tonight," leaving his permanent status unclear.
- The Ohana Festival continues across the 26th and 27th of September, with Pearl Jam scheduled to headline on Sunday night for their only other confirmed performance of 2026.
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16 Articles
16 Articles
The Pearl Jam performed at a California festival this Friday with Abe Laboriel Jr., a drummer who could be the substitute for Matt Cameron, who left the band in 2025.
·Paço de Arcos, Portugal
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution71% Center
Bias Distribution
- 71% of the sources are Center
71% Center
L 29%
C 71%
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