Matt Cameron

American drummer

For the Australian playwright, see Matt Cameron (playwright).

Matt Cameron

Cameron drumming with Soundgarden in 2013

Background information
Birth name| Matthew David Cameron
Also known as| Foo Cameron III
Ted Dameron[1]
MFC
Born|  (1962-11-28) November 28, 1962 (age 62)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Genres|

* Alternative rock
* grunge
* alternative metal
* heavy metal
* hard rock

Occupations|

* Musician
* songwriter

Instruments|

* Drums
* vocals

Years active| 1975–present
Labels|

* Monkeywrench
* Cruz
* Sub Pop
* SST
* A&M
* C/Z
* Third Gear
* Epic
* Time Bomb
* TVT
* Megaforce
* J

Member of|

* 3rd Secret

Formerly of|

* Pearl Jam
* Bam Bam
* Soundgarden
* Skin Yard
* Temple of the Dog
* Tone Dogs
* Hater
* Wellwater Conspiracy

Signature

Musical artist

Matthew David Cameron (born November 28, 1962) is an American drummer from San Diego, California.[2][3] He is most known for his work with the Seattle-based rock bands Soundgarden and Pearl Jam.

Cameron joined Soundgarden in 1986 and appeared on each of the band's studio albums. He joined Pearl Jam in 1998 after Soundgarden's initial breakup the year prior and remained a member of the band until announcing his departure on July 7, 2025. Following Soundgarden's reunion in 2010, Cameron was simultaneously a member of Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. He remained with Soundgarden until its second break-up after the death of lead singer Chris Cornell in 2017.

Additionally, Cameron was a member of Temple of the Dog (with fellow Soundgarden and Pearl Jam bandmates) and has served as the drummer for the side project bands Nighttime Boogie Association, Hater and Wellwater Conspiracy, also acting as the lead singer for the latter. Prior to joining Soundgarden, Cameron was a member of the Seattle rock bands Bam Bam and Skin Yard.

In 2016, Rolling Stone ranked Cameron 52nd on its list of the "100 Greatest Drummers of All Time".[4] Cameron is a two-time inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: he was inducted with Pearl Jam in 2017, and with Soundgarden in 2025.[5][6] Cameron has won two Grammy Awards as a member of Soundgarden.[7]

## Early life

[edit]

Matt Cameron was born and raised in San Diego, California. He also grew up in Chula Vista, California.[8][9] Cameron began playing drums at an early age. At the age of thirteen, he and some friends played in a cover band called "Kiss" (with the word imitation written underneath the name, in small print). During this stunt, he met Paul Stanley. However, after a letter from the management of the band Kiss threatened the boys with legal action if they did not cease their infringement, the band melted away.

Cameron attended Bonita Vista High School.[10] In 1978, under the pseudonym "Foo Cameron", Cameron sang the song "Puberty Love", which was featured in the movie Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. The nickname "Foo" came from Cameron's older brother Pete, who pronounced Matthew as "Ma Foo".[11]

## Musical career

[edit]

### Bam Bam (1983-1984) & Skin Yard (1985-1986)

[edit]

Main articles: Tina Bell and Skin Yard

In 1983, Cameron moved to Seattle, Washington,[12] where he got a job working at a Kinko's.[13] His first professional work as drummer was for Bam Bam, fronted by early grunge lead singer Tina Bell and guitarist Tommy Martin, the parents of Academy Award winning documentary film director TJ Martin.

He next played in the local instrumental band feeDBack with musician Daniel House. Following feeDBack, Cameron joined House in 1985 in the newly formed Skin Yard. The band had been formed in January 1985 by House and Jack Endino. Cameron stayed with the group for almost a year. In 1986, Skin Yard contributed two songs to the now-legendary Deep Six compilation. This album was the first to showcase the early grunge sound. The band released its first album in 1986, the eponymous Skin Yard. Cameron wrote the song "Reptile" for the band, which appears on its first record. (More of Cameron's work with Skin Yard can be found on the 2001 rarities compilation, Start at the Top.) Shortly after the release of Skin Yard, Cameron left the band, later joining Soundgarden.

### Soundgarden (1986-1997; 2010-2017)

[edit]

Main article: Soundgarden

Cameron (left) as a member of Soundgarden in 1987

By September 1986, Cameron had gained so much notoriety in the local music scene that he was chosen to play for Soundgarden, replacing drummer Scott Sundquist. Soundgarden was made up of vocalist/guitarist Chris Cornell, guitarist Kim Thayil, and bassist Hiro Yamamoto. Cornell said, "When I first met Matt, he was already the best drummer in town ... He just seemed very confident and well-adjusted."[14] The band signed with the independent label Sub Pop and released the Screaming Life EP in 1987 and the Fopp EP in 1988. In 1988, the band signed with legendary punk record label SST Records and released its debut full-length album Ultramega OK. The album earned the band its first major award nomination, a Grammy Award, in 1990.[15] The band subsequently signed with A&M Records, becoming the first grunge band to sign to a major label. In 1989, the band released its first album for a major label, Louder Than Love. Following the release of Louder Than Love, Yamamoto left the band to finish his master's degree in Physical Chemistry at Western Washington University. He was replaced by former Nirvana guitarist Jason Everman. Everman was fired following Soundgarden's tour supporting Louder Than Love.

In 1990, the band was joined by a new bassist, Ben Shepherd. The new line-up released Badmotorfinger in 1991. The album brought the band to a new level of commercial success, and the band found itself amidst the sudden popularity and attention given to the Seattle music scene and the genre known as grunge. Badmotorfinger was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1992.[15] The band's next album was to be its breakthrough. Superunknown, released in 1994, debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and launched several successful singles, including "Spoonman" and "Black Hole Sun". Cameron's drumming is showcased throughout the album, as he provides the complex backbeat (and plenty of improvisation) to the unusual time signatures present on many of the tracks. The album was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 1995.[16] Two singles from Superunknown, "Black Hole Sun" and "Spoonman", won Grammy Awards, and the music video for "Black Hole Sun" won a MTV Video Music Award and a Clio Award.[15][17] Superunknown was ranked number 336 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time,[18] and "Black Hole Sun" was ranked number 25 on VH1's list of the 100 greatest songs of the '90s.[19] In 1996, the band released its fifth studio album, Down on the Upside; while successful, the album could not emulate the precedent set by Superunknown. Tensions within the group arose during the Down on the Upside sessions, with Thayil and Cornell reportedly clashing over Cornell's desire to shift away from the heavy guitar riffing that had become the band's trademark.[20] In 1997, Soundgarden received another Grammy nomination, for the lead single "Pretty Noose".[21] In 1997, the band broke up due to internal strife over its creative direction. In a 1998 interview, Thayil said, "It was pretty obvious from everybody's general attitude over the course of the previous half-year that there was some dissatisfaction."[22] Cameron later said that Soundgarden was "eaten up by the business."[23]

On January 1, 2010, Cornell announced on his Twitter that Soundgarden would be reuniting.[24] The official website relaunched soon thereafter. The band had begun recording a new album in February 2011, which was later released in November 2012, known as King Animal.

While a member of Soundgarden, Cameron wrote the following songs for the band:

* "He Didn't" (Ultramega OK) ... music
* "Jesus Christ Pose" (Badmotorfinger) ... music (co-written)
* "Room a Thousand Years Wide" (Badmotorfinger) ... music
* "Drawing Flies" (Badmotorfinger) ... music
* "New Damage" (Badmotorfinger) ... music (co-written)
* "Birth Ritual" (Singles soundtrack) ... music (co-written)
* "Exit Stonehenge" ("Spoonman" single) ... music (co-written)
* "Mailman" (Superunknown) ... music, and played mellotron
* "Limo Wreck" (Superunknown) ... music (co-written)
* "Fresh Tendrils" (Superunknown) ... lyrics (co-written) and music
* "Jerry Garcia's Finger" (Songs from the Superunknown) ... music (co-written)
* "Rhinosaur" (Down on the Upside) ... music
* "Applebite" (Down on the Upside) ... music, and played Moog synthesizer
* "A Splice of Space Jam" ("Blow Up the Outside World" single) ... music (co-written)
* "By Crooked Steps" (King Animal) ... music (co-written)
* "Eyelid's Mouth" (King Animal) ... music

The task of figuring out the time signatures for Soundgarden's songs was usually left to Cameron.[25] Regarding his drumming with Soundgarden, Modern Drummer stated that Cameron "always injected a maturity into Soundgarden's music. His ghost-note grooves and the uncanny ability to make odd time feel like straight time have already earned him status among rock's drumming's elite pacemakers."[26]

On November 15, 2013, Cameron announced that he would not be touring with Soundgarden in 2014, due to prior commitments promoting Pearl Jam's album Lightning Bolt.[27]

### Pearl Jam (1998-2025)

[edit]

Main article: Pearl Jam

Cameron with Pearl Jam in 2009

Almost a year after Soundgarden's break-up, in summer 1998, Cameron was invited by rock-colleagues Pearl Jam to drum on its U.S. Yield Tour after the band's drummer Jack Irons left due to the touring scheduling conflicting with his health issues and a desire to spend more time with his family.[28] Cameron had worked with members of the band before on the Temple of the Dog project and had helped them record some early instrumental demos in 1990.[29] Cameron said, "I got a phone call out of the blue, from Mr. Ed Ved, Stoney and Kelly (Curtis, Pearl Jam's manager). I was ambushed. It was really short notice. He called and said 'hey what are you doing this summer?'"[30] Guitarist Mike McCready said, "We knew him from being around the same scene and seeing him on tour. It had a lot to do with it. We knew he was a normal cat too, a normal guy."[31] Cameron learned over 80 songs in two weeks.[31] [dead link] He was hired on an initially temporary basis,[32] but soon, during the tour, he was invited to become a full-time member. Cameron stated, "The guys made me feel real welcome and it wasn't a struggle to get it musically, but my style was a little bit different, I think, than what they were used to. And they've been through so many different drummers, I don't even know if they knew what they wanted. So, I just kind of played the way I played and then eventually we kind of figured out what worked best for the band."[33]

Cameron with Pearl Jam in 2018

Cameron has since become the longest serving drummer of the band. McCready stated that Cameron has made Pearl Jam "into a way better band."[31] In 1998, Pearl Jam, with Cameron on drums, recorded "Last Kiss", a cover of a 1960s ballad made famous by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers. It was released on the band's 1998 fan club Christmas single; however, by popular demand, the cover was released to the public as a single in 1999. "Last Kiss" peaked at number two on the Billboard charts and became the band's highest-charting single. In 2000, the band released its sixth studio album, Binaural, and initiated a successful and ongoing series of official bootlegs. The band released seventy-two such live albums in 2000 and 2001, and set a record for most albums to debut in the Billboard 200 at the same time.[34] "Grievance" (from Binaural) received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance.[35] The band released its seventh studio album, Riot Act, in 2002. Pearl Jam's contribution to the 2003 film, Big Fish, "Man of the Hour", was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 2004.[36] The band's eighth studio album, the eponymous Pearl Jam, was released in 2006. The band released its ninth studio album, Backspacer, in 2009. Their tenth studio album Lightning Bolt was released in 2013. Their eleventh studio album Gigaton was released March 27, 2020. In May 2022, Cameron was forced to miss his first shows in 24 years since joining Pearl Jam due to testing positive for the COVID-19 virus. Josh Klinghoffer and Richard Stuverud filled in on drums for Cameron. He tested positive again In September 2023 whilst the band were on a US tour forcing him to miss out on the first night in Indianapolis with Klinghoffer once again filling in for him this time for the whole show.[37]

Since joining Pearl Jam, Cameron has written the following songs for the band:

* "Evacuation" (Binaural) ... music
* "Save You" (Riot Act) ... music (co-written)
* "Cropduster" (Riot Act) ... music
* "You Are" (Riot Act) ... lyrics (co-written), music, played rhythm guitar, and sang background vocals
* "Get Right" (Riot Act) ... lyrics and music
* "In the Moonlight" (Lost Dogs) ... lyrics and music
* "Unemployable" (Pearl Jam) ... music (co-written)
* "The Fixer" (Backspacer) ... music (co-written)
* "Johnny Guitar" (Backspacer) ... music (co-written)
* "Dance of the Clairvoyants" (Gigaton) ... music (co-written)
* "Take the Long Way" (Gigaton) ... lyrics, music, played guitar, and sang background vocals

While not as frequent as the other members' written contributions, Cameron's are held in high regard by the band, as are his performances. In the liner notes of the 2003 Lost Dogs compilation, Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder says:

> Matt Cameron writes songs and we run to find step stools in order to reach his level, ... what comes naturally to him leaves us with our heads cocked like the confused dogs that we are, ... eventually getting it. Did we mention he's the greatest drummer on the planet?[38]

On July 7, 2025, Cameron announced his departure from Pearl Jam on his Instagram account, stating that he was "forever grateful to the crew, staff and fans the world over."[39]

### Other musical projects (1990-present)

[edit]

Cameron sitting in with Wayne Horvitz's Pigpen (not shown), February 2016

Along with Cornell, Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament, McCready, and Vedder, Cameron appeared on the 1991 Temple of the Dog album. The album paid tribute to Mother Love Bone vocalist Andrew Wood, who died of a heroin overdose at age 24.

He has played in two jazz-influenced side projects: Tone Dogs in the early 1990s, and Harrybu McCage, which formed in 2008. He recorded with the Tone Dogs for their debut album Ankety Low Day, which was released in 1990. Cameron also has a fondness for psychedelic garage rock, and his side projects Hater and Wellwater Conspiracy reflect this. Cameron formed Hater in 1993 with Soundgarden bassist Ben Shepherd. The band released a self-titled album in 1993 and recorded a second album in 1995 following Soundgarden's Superunknown tour. The band's second album, The 2nd, would not see release until 2005. Cameron founded Wellwater Conspiracy with Shepherd and guitarist John McBain. The band's debut album, Declaration of Conformity, was released in 1997. Following Shepherd's departure from the band in 1998, Cameron took over lead vocal duties for the band. Cameron and McBain maintained the group after Cameron joined Pearl Jam, and a further three Wellwater Conspiracy albums were released following the band's debut album (Brotherhood of Electric: Operational Directives (1999), The Scroll and Its Combinations (2001), and Wellwater Conspiracy (2003)).

He worked with electronic punk act The Prodigy on their album The Fat of the Land, playing on the track "Narayan".

Cameron appears on the Gamma Ray 7", which would become the first recorded material by Queens of the Stone Age.[40] Cameron played drums at the band's first show on November 20, 1997, at the OK Hotel in Seattle, however he did not join the band as its drummer. He also appeared with them in 2008, at the memorial concert for Natasha Shneider, playing double drums along with their then-current drummer Joey Castillo, of which various Queens of the Stone Age and Desert Sessions songs, as well as covers by artist including The Doors and Cream were played.

Cameron contributed his drumming on seven tracks considered for The Smashing Pumpkins' 1998 album, Adore, though only "For Martha" appeared on the album. Another studio track, "Because You Are", surfaced on the 2001 B-sides and rarities collection, Judas O. Rumors circulated in the beginning of 1998 that he was considered as a permanent drummer replacement for Jimmy Chamberlin, but Cameron denied this.

Other drumming contributions by Cameron include four tracks on Eleven's 1995 album, Thunk, the track "Disappearing One" on former bandmate Chris Cornell's 1999 solo album, Euphoria Morning, and Geddy Lee's 2000 solo album, My Favourite Headache.

Cameron has enjoyed a friendship with fellow drummer Jeremy Taggart of Canadian rock group Our Lady Peace. When Taggart was sidelined with an ankle injury during the recording of that group's 2000 album, Spiritual Machines, Cameron played drums on two songs on the album, "Right Behind You (Mafia)" and "Are You Sad?". Cameron contributed to the soundtrack for the 2002 film Spider-Man, playing on "Hero" with Chad Kroeger and Josey Scott.[41] As Cameron was unable to attend the shoot, Jeremy Taggart returned the favor and is shown in Cameron's place in the video.

Cameron, along with Pearl Jam bandmate Mike McCready, contributed two songs to Peter Frampton's instrumental album, Fingerprints (2006). These include a cover of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" and "Blowin' Smoke".

Cameron has lent his talents to Submersible Music's DrumCore software.[42]

In 2013, Cameron performed with drummers Janet Weiss of Sleater Kinney, and Zach Hill of Death Grips on an all-drum album entitled Drumgasm.[43]

In 2020, Nighttime Boogie Association released their first two singles. The supergroup formed by Cameron, Taylor Hawkins, Buzz Osborne and Steven McDonald plans to release more music in 2021.[44]

In 2021 Cameron, along with Kim Thayil, bassist Krist Novoselic (Nirvana, Giants in the Trees), guitarist Bubba Dupree (Hater, Void), and vocalists Jennifer Johnson and Jillian Raye (Giants in the Trees) formed the group 3rd Secret. Their self-titled debut album, which they recorded at The Bait Shop in Bellevue, Washington with producer Jack Endino was released in April 2022. The group also performed at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle.[45]

Also in 2021, Cameron and Thayil were featured on the track Only Love Can Save Me Now on the Pretty Reckless album, Death by Rock and Roll, with both appearing in the video for the song.

On July 7, 2025, Cameron announced his retirement from Pearl Jam.

### Career timeline

[edit]

## Musical style and influences

[edit]

Cameron was described by Greg Prato of AllMusic as "unquestionably one of rock's finest and most versatile drummers".[46] Known for his creativity, power, and precision, Cameron's style is one that does not instinctively seek to dominate a song, but rather tease out a groove that will complement and support its atmosphere. Examples of this can be clearly heard in Temple of the Dog's "Wooden Jesus" or Soundgarden's "Mind Riot" and "Applebite". Cameron's time in Pearl Jam has helped see his technique mellow to a more modest backing role, providing support for the more straightforward nature of Pearl Jam's matured style compared to Soundgarden's more extreme and unusual tendencies, e.g., the song "Face Pollution". Despite a career in rock music, Cameron stated in a 1989 radio interview that growing up he "wasn't a big rock fan ..." and that his musical tastes during his youth were "more into jazz." Cameron has professed that his primary musical interests lie in progressive rock and various jazz subgenres, including hard bop, both of which are characterized by a much busier playing style than Cameron typically exhibits, especially in the aforementioned matured Pearl Jam. Cameron has cited Keith Moon of the Who as his biggest musical influence.[47][48]

Cameron tends to revisit the paradiddle for effect. Examples include the spreading of the RLRR-LRLL pattern amongst ride and snare on Soundgarden's "Never the Machine Forever" (from Down on the Upside), "Unemployable" (from Pearl Jam), creating a driving shuffle; and "You Are" (from Riot Act). This pattern can also be heard during the bridge of "Bleed Together" (from the "Burden in My Hand" single). Cameron also is well known for his use of tom grooves and tribal patterns, the most famous of which being the tour-de-force "Jesus Christ Pose" figure, as well as "Little Joe", "Gun", and "Spoonman". Cameron also incorporated the technique of open-handed drumming into his playing, particularly around the Badmotorfinger period in Soundgarden, specifically the tracks "Slaves & Bulldozers", the outro of "Rusty Cage", and "Somewhere", and used the technique later on Superunknown's "Limo Wreck."

## Equipment

[edit]

Throughout the 80s and 90s, Cameron favored two to three crashes (generally matching 19-inch Zildjian Avedis Rock crashes and eventually Z Customs by Superunknown touring period), an A or K ride of 20 or 21 inches, and 15-inch hi hats with an occasional 10-inch splash or bell. China cymbals were used throughout the '80s but infrequently in the '90s, and were eliminated from his live setup by Badmotorfinger. Even after becoming a full-time member of Pearl Jam, Cameron's cymbal setup did not change radically from his Soundgarden days. Currently, the most noticeable difference is his use of the A and K series as opposed to the heavier Z Custom series.[49]

Though Cameron is best known for his use of equipment from California-based Drum Workshop during his initial time with Soundgarden, he used his own Yamaha kit before 1990 when he started using DW, which he later admittedly approached after Yamaha first turned down his endorsement. Most early Soundgarden records up until Badmotorfinger including the Temple of the Dog record were done with an 8000 series kit in a "real wood" finish. By the autumn of 1991, however, Cameron started playing copper gloss finished DW's with 12 and 13-inch rack toms, a 15-inch floor tom, and a 22-inch bass drum with black gloss hoops and a 14-inch knurled steel snare. By 1993 his Superunknown era kit arrived, a black gloss kit with 12, 13, and a 14-inch hanging tom, which Cameron would mount on a snare stand, a 16-inch floor tom and a 24x16 inch bass drum. Cameron revealed in a 1994 interview with Modern Drummer magazine that to greater emphasize the dynamic shift on the song "Like Suicide", both kits were used, the latter having shells both larger in depth and diameter.[26] Superunknown is well known for its huge drum sound and practices such as this brought attention in the drumming world. Other examples include the use of all ride cymbals on "Black Hole Sun" and 3 drummers playing at the same time at the end of "Head Down", being Cameron, Soundgarden bassist Ben Shepherd and drum technician and craftsman Gregg Keplinger. Cameron, along with fellow Northwesterner William Goldsmith (Sunny Day Real Estate and Foo Fighters), was an early user of Keplinger's snares, famous for perhaps being the heaviest stainless steel snare drum available.

By the recording of 1996's Down on the Upside, and the album's subsequent tour, Cameron endorsed the Canadian custom outfit Ayotte,[50] a company Keplinger had teamed with offering mass-produced steel snares, and soon cohorts and fellow Keplinger fans Jeremy Taggart (Our Lady Peace), Matt Chamberlain (Pearl Jam, session), and Joey Waronker (Beck, Atoms for Peace) joined as well. During the recording of Down on the Upside in 1995 and a short European tour in the middle of making it, Cameron used natural maple finished Ayotte's with wood hoops with 10, 12, and 13-inch rack toms, 16 and 18-inch floor toms, and a 22-inch bass drum, with Ayotte/Keplinger snares or his longtime favorite Keplinger 14x7 stainless steel snare. By the album's official tour in 1996, a new kit with updated OEM hardware made by Tay-e, including bass drum mounted tom mounts, in the same sizes but with dark purple sparkle finish and a 24-inch silver sparkle bass drum was used all the way up to Soundgarden's breakup. Following his hiring for Pearl Jam's U.S. Yield Tour in 1998 Cameron continued using his purple Ayotte kit, which would stay intact for the most part for the next 4 years including touring for Binaural in 2000. All throughout this period Cameron continued using equipment manufactured by DW, including pedals, cymbal stands, and snare stands.

Following a corporate mutiny resulting in the resignation of Ray Ayotte from his own company and the subsequent end in partnership with Gregg Keplinger, Cameron switched to Yamaha in 2002, and Cameron's subsequent time with Pearl Jam is notable for his shift away from maple-shelled drums, arguably the most popular drum material for its overall even frequency response and overall melodic tone. Cameron began endorsing and using Yamaha's Birch Custom Absolute drums in a vintage natural finish that year. Compared to maple shelled drums, birch is higher-pitched with a quicker attack and produces fewer overtones.[51] By 2009, he began experimenting with another type of wood, the Yamaha Oak Custom in a black gloss finish with Yamaha Vintage Maple hoops, similar to his old Ayotte's. Oak drums are noted for their additional attack and projection, with a similar fundamental tone to maple. He used this kit through the period of Soundgarden's reformation.

In 2018 Cameron returned to maple with Yamaha's Absolute Hybrid Maple in a satin black stain but with stock steel hoops. His current setup continues his longtime use of 12, 13, 16-inch toms, with a shallow 24 bass drum, more specifically 12×8, 13×9, 16×16, and 24×14. He occasionally uses a 14×14 floor tom on his left side and an 18×16 floor tom when not using 14×7 Alex Acuña timbale for certain songs in Pearl Jam. His switches his snares between his various Gregg Keplinger built models and Yamaha productions, varying from copper and aluminum shelled models to discontinued signature snares for David Garibaldi, Roy Haynes, and Steve Gadd. Lately he has also experimented with Kapur shelled Yamaha Club Customs and his Yamaha/Steve Gadd 30th anniversary drum set. He has also used a Yamaha Steve Jordan signature cocktail kit live occasionally.

Matt endorses Yamaha drums and hardware,[52] Zildjian cymbals,[53] Vic Firth drumsticks,[54] and Remo Drumheads.[55][56][57]

## Personal life

[edit]

Cameron married his longtime girlfriend April Acevez on October 25, 1997.[58][59] They reside in Woodway, Washington with their two children.[60][61][62][63][64] Outside of his music career, Cameron is an avid runner.[65]

Cameron's favorite literary author is Franz Kafka.[66]

## Discography

[edit]

Main article: Matt Cameron discography

Soundgarden

Main article: Soundgarden discography

* Ultramega OK (1988)
* Louder Than Love (1989)
* Badmotorfinger (1991)
* Superunknown (1994)
* Down on the Upside (1996)
* King Animal (2012)

Pearl Jam

Main article: Pearl Jam discography

* Binaural (2000)
* Riot Act (2002)
* Pearl Jam (2006)
* Backspacer (2009)
* Lightning Bolt (2013)
* Gigaton (2020)
* Dark Matter (2024)

Solo

* Cavedweller (2017)
* Gory Scorch Cretins (2023)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Declaration of Conformity" Archived April 17, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Official Wellwater Conspiracy Website.
2. ^ "2025 Grammy nominees include La Jolla's Alicia Keys, Oceanside's Shemekia Copeland and other San Diegans". San Diego Union-Tribune. November 8, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
3. ^ "How Pearl Jam Helped Define the Grunge Music Movement". Biography. June 1, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
4. ^ Greene, Christopher R. (March 31, 2016). "100 Greatest Drummers of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
5. ^ "Pearl Jam". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
6. ^ "Soundgarden". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 28, 2025.
7. ^ "GRAMMY Award Results for Matt Cameron". Grammy.com. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
8. ^ Cameron, Matt. "Matt Cameron | San Diego Reader". www.sandiegoreader.com. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
9. ^ Varga, George (November 8, 2024). "2025 Grammy nominees include La Jolla's Alicia Keys, Oceanside's Shemekia Copeland and other San Diegans". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
10. ^ "Notable Alumni". BVHS Museum. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
11. ^ Papineau, Lou. "20 Things You Should Know About Pearl Jam" Archived June 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. VH1.com. June 30, 2006.
12. ^ "The Real Thing". Spin. July 1996.
13. ^ Atkinson, Peter. "Soundgarden: From Superunknown to Superstars". Jam. May 24, 1996.
14. ^ "Soundgarden". Kerrang!. May 29, 1996.
15. ^ a b c "Awards Database". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
16. ^ Pareles, Jon (February 26, 1995). "POP VIEW; Playing Grammy Roulette". The New York Times. Retrieved August 3, 2008.
17. ^ Macdonald, Patrick. "Music Notes". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 3, 2008.
18. ^ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 14, 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2008.
19. ^ "VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s". VH1. Archived from the original on December 16, 2007. Retrieved August 9, 2008.
20. ^ Colopino, John. "Soundgarden Split". Rolling Stone. May 29, 1997.
21. ^ "GRAMMY NOMINEES FOR OTHER ROCK AND ALTERNATIVE CATEGORIES". CNN.com. Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. Retrieved August 4, 2008.
22. ^ Gilbert, Jeff. "Sound of Silence". Guitar World. February 1998.
23. ^ Simpson, Dave (August 13, 2009). "Pearl Jam: 'People get that this means something'". The Guardian. London. Retrieved August 13, 2009.
24. ^ "Soundgarden reunion is official". Rolling Stone. January 1, 2010. Archived from the original on January 3, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
25. ^ Woodard, Jodef. "Soundgarden's Kim Thayil & Chris Cornell". Musician. March 1992.
26. ^ a b Peiken, Matt. "Soundgarden's Matt Cameron: Breaking New Ground". Modern Drummer. June 1994.
27. ^ "Soundgarden to Tour in 2014 Without Matt Cameron". Billboard. November 15, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
28. ^ "Ten Past Ten (archive on web site Five Horizons)". Archived from the original on December 16, 2010.
29. ^ Greene, Jo-Ann. "Pearl Jam and the Secret History of Seattle Part 2". Goldmine. August 1993
30. ^ Weisbard, Eric, et al. "Ten Past Ten". Spin. August 2001.
31. ^ a b c Cartwright, Keith Ryan. "Mike McCready of Pearl Jam" Archived March 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. theywillrockyou.com. March 2003. Retrieved on September 18, 2008.
32. ^ Fischer, Blair R (April 17, 1998). "Off He Goes". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 2, 2007. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
33. ^ Slowikowski, Tim (June 24, 2003). "From Mookie Blaylock to Pearl Jam: The Matt Cameron Interview". PopMatters. Archived from the original on February 11, 2009. Retrieved May 23, 2007.
34. ^ Davis, Darren (March 7, 2001). "Pearl Jam Breaks Its Own Chart Record". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on September 12, 2006. Retrieved June 28, 2007.
35. ^ Moss, Corey. "Pearl Jam DVD Compiles Tour Footage". MTV.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2001. Retrieved August 3, 2008.
36. ^ "Golden Globes Nominations & Winners". goldenglobes.org. Archived from the original on February 1, 2008. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
37. ^ Cohen, Jonathan (May 13, 2022). "Matt Cameron Out With COVID, Josh Klinghoffer, Richard Stuverud Drum For Pearl Jam In Oakland". Spin. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
38. ^ (2003) Album notes for Lost Dogs by Pearl Jam, [CD booklet]. New York: Sony Music.
39. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved July 7, 2025.
40. ^ "Discography entry for Gamma Ray". TheFade.net. Retrieved May 9, 2007.
41. ^ Wiederhorn, Jon. "Nickelback, Saliva, Pearl Jam Members Make 'Hero' Sandwich For Spidey". MTV.com. March 28, 2002.
42. ^ "Matt Cameron Kitpack". submersiblemusic.com.
43. ^ Misnker, Evan (June 5, 2013). "Zach Hill, Janet Weiss, and Pearl Jam's Matt Cameron to Release Album as Drumgasm". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
44. ^ Kohn, Daniel (December 18, 2020). "Matt Cameron's New Project Aims to Make Up for a Lost Year". Spin Magazine. NYC. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
45. ^ Bouza, Kat (April 11, 2022). "New Grunge Supergroup Featuring Members of Soundgarden and Nirvana Drops Debut LP". Rolling Stone.
46. ^ Prato, Greg. "Matt Cameron > Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
47. ^ Pearl Jam (2011). Pearl Jam Twenty. United States: Simon & Schuster. p. 14.
48. ^ "The Matt Cameron Interview: Soundgarden, Pearl Jam & Temple of the Dog". YouTube.
49. ^ "Artists: Matt Cameron" Archived May 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Zildjian.com.
50. ^ Rule, Greg. "Matt Cameron of Soundgarden: Balance of Power & Grace". Drum!. September 1996.
51. ^ "Matt Cameron". Yamaha.com.
52. ^ "Matt Cameron | Yamaha Artists". Yamaha.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
53. ^ "Zildjian Artists|Matt Cameron Pearl Jam". Zildjian.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
54. ^ "Vic Firth Signature Artist: Matt Cameron". Vicfirth.com. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
55. ^ "Artist: Matthew Cameron". Remo. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
56. ^ "Pearl Jam - About the Gear - Matt Cameron". YouTube.
57. ^ "The Matt Cameron Interview: Soundgarden, Pearl Jam & Temple of the Dog". YouTube.
58. ^ "Department of Health, Marriage Index, 1969-2017 - Cameron - Matthew - D". Washington State Archives - Digital Archives. Department of Health, Marriage Index. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
59. ^ Seattle Today Episode 12 - Matt Cameron, retrieved July 2, 2022
60. ^ "Pearl Jam - Given to Fly - Bridge School (October 25, 2014) - YouTube". YouTube.
61. ^ "October 25, 2014 – Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, CA, USA". October 25, 2014.
62. ^ "Matt Cameron's House - Virtual Globetrotting". April 6, 2009.
63. ^ "The Matthew and April Cameron Renovation". USModernist.
64. ^ Stout, Gene (May 16, 2000). "Pearl Jam's 'Binaural' ear-marked by unusual sound mixing". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved June 28, 2007. [permanent dead link]
65. ^ Kaplan, Ben (2014). Feet, Don't Fail Me Now: The Rogue's Guide to Running the Marathon. Greystone Books Ltd. ISBN 978-1-77100-073-4.
66. ^ "Pearl Jam pick their favourite books of all time". July 13, 2021.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Matt Cameron.

* Matt Cameron at Drummerworld
* Matt Cameron at AllMusic
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Awards for Matt Cameron

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Class of 2017

Performers|

* Joan Baez
* Electric Light Orchestra
* Bev Bevan, Jeff Lynne, Richard Tandy, Roy Wood
* Journey
* Jonathan Cain, Aynsley Dunbar, Steve Perry, Gregg Rolie, Neal Schon, Steve Smith, Ross Valory
* Pearl Jam
* Jeff Ament, Matt Cameron, Stone Gossard, Dave Krusen, Mike McCready, Eddie Vedder
* Tupac Shakur
* Yes
* Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Steve Howe, Tony Kaye, Trevor Rabin, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman, Alan White

Award for Musical Excellence|

* Nile Rodgers

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame \- Class of 2025

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* Bad Company (Boz Burrell, Simon Kirke, Mick Ralphs and Paul Rodgers)
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* Soundgarden (Matt Cameron, Chris Cornell, Ben Shepherd, Kim Thayil and Hiro Yamamoto)
* The White Stripes (Jack White and Meg White)

Non-performers
(Ahmet Ertegun Award)|

* Lenny Waronker

Award for Musical Excellence|

* Thom Bell
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* Salt-N-Pepa (Pepa, Salt and DJ Spinderella)
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Soundgarden

* Matt Cameron
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* Louder Than Live
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Videos|

* Louder Than Live
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* "Hunted Down"
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* "Black Hole Sun"
* "My Wave"
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* "Burden in My Hand"
* "Blow Up the Outside World"
* "Ty Cobb"
* "Bleed Together"
* "Black Rain"
* "The Telephantasm"
* "Live to Rise"
* "Been Away Too Long"
* "By Crooked Steps"

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* "Slaves & Bulldozers"
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* Discography
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Pearl Jam

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Touring/session members
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Jack Irons
Dave Krusen
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Matt Cameron
Dave Abbruzzese

Studio albums|

* Ten
* Vs.
* Vitalogy
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* Yield
* Binaural
* Riot Act
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* Backspacer
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* Gigaton
* Dark Matter

Live albums|

* Live on Two Legs
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* Live in NYC 12/31/92
* Live at Easy Street
* Live at the Gorge 05/06
* Live at Lollapalooza 2007
* Live on Ten Legs
* Pearl Jam Twenty
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* Let's Play Two
* MTV Unplugged
* Give Way

Compilations|

* Lost Dogs
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Extended plays|

* Merkin Ball
* The Last of Us

Videos|

* Single Video Theory
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* Vote for Change? 2004
* Immagine in Cornice
* Pearl Jam Twenty
* Let's Play Two

Singles|

* "Alive"
* "Even Flow"
* "Jeremy"
* "Oceans"
* "Go"
* "Daughter"
* "Animal"
* "Dissident"
* "Spin the Black Circle"
* "Not for You"
* "Immortality"
* "Who You Are"
* "Hail, Hail"
* "Off He Goes"
* "Given to Fly"
* "Wishlist"
* "Last Kiss"
* "Nothing as It Seems"
* "Light Years"
* "I Am Mine"
* "Save You"
* "Love Boat Captain"
* "Man of the Hour"
* "World Wide Suicide"
* "Life Wasted"
* "Gone"
* "The Fixer"
* "Just Breathe"
* "Amongst the Waves"
* "Crown of Thorns"
* "Mind Your Manners"
* "Sirens"
* "Can't Deny Me"
* "Dance of the Clairvoyants"
* "Superblood Wolfmoon"
* "Quick Escape"
* "Retrograde"
* "Wreckage"

Other songs|

* "Once"
* "Black"
* "State of Love and Trust"
* "Breath"
* "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town"
* "Glorified G"
* "Rearviewmirror"
* "Yellow Ledbetter"
* "Tremor Christ"
* "Better Man"
* "Nothingman"
* "Corduroy"
* "Red Mosquito"
* "In Hiding"
* "Do the Evolution"
* "Grievance"
* "Thumbing My Way"
* "½ Full"
* "Brother"

Tours|

* Mookie Blaylock 1991 United States Tour
* 1991 United States Tour
* Ten Tour
* Lollapalooza 1992
* 1993 European and North American Tour
* Vs. Tour
* Vitalogy Tour
* No Code Tour
* Yield Tour
* Binaural Tour
* Riot Act Tour
* Vote for Change
* 2005 North American and Latin American Tour
* 2006 World Tour
* 2007 European Tour
* 2008 United States Tour
* Backspacer Tour
* Pearl Jam Twenty Tour
* 2012 Tour
* Lightning Bolt Tour
* 2015 Latin America Tour
* 2016 North America Tour
* 2018 Tour
* Gigaton Tour
* Dark Matter World Tour

Related articles|

| Articles|

* Discography
* Band members
* Awards and nominations
* Monkeywrench Records

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Bands|

* Green River
* Soundgarden
* Bad Radio
* Mother Love Bone
* Temple of the Dog
* Brad
* Hater
* Wellwater Conspiracy
* Hovercraft
* Mad Season
* Red Hot Chili Peppers
* Three Fish
* The Rockfords
* RNDM
* 3rd Secret

Albums|

* Mirror Ball
* Bayleaf
* Into the Wild
* Tone
* Ukulele Songs
* Water on the Road
* Moonlander
* Earthling

* Category

* v
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Temple of the Dog

* Jeff Ament
* Matt Cameron
* Chris Cornell
* Stone Gossard
* Mike McCready
* Eddie Vedder

Studio albums|

* Temple of the Dog

Singles|

* "Hunger Strike"
* "Say Hello 2 Heaven"
* "Pushin Forward Back"

Related articles|

* Green River
* Soundgarden
* Skin Yard
* Bad Radio
* Mother Love Bone
* Pearl Jam
* Hater
* Audioslave

* v
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Tone Dogs

* Fred Chalenor
* Amy Denio

* Matt Cameron
* Will Dowd
* Henry Franzoni

Studio albums|

* Ankety Low Day
* The Early Middle Years

Related articles|

| Articles|

* C/Z Records
* Fred Frith
* Hans Reichel
* Rock in Opposition

|

Groups|

* Caveman Shoestore
* Curlew
* Soundgarden

Categories|

* Albums
* Members

* v
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Wellwater Conspiracy

* Matt Cameron
* John McBain
* Ben Shepherd

Studio albums|

* Declaration of Conformity (1997)
* Brotherhood of Electric: Operational Directives (1999)
* The Scroll and Its Combinations (2001)
* Wellwater Conspiracy (2003)

Related|

* Hater
* Soundgarden
* Pearl Jam
* Monster Magnet

* v
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Skin Yard

* Ben McMillan
* Jack Endino
* Daniel House
* Matt Cameron
* Steve Wied
* Greg Gilmore
* Jason Finn
* Scott McCullum
* Barrett Martin
* Pat Pedersen

Studio albums|

* Skin Yard (1987)
* Hallowed Ground (1988)
* Fist Sized Chunks (1990)
* 1000 Smiling Knuckles (1991)
* Inside the Eye (1993)
* Start at the Top (2001)

Authority control databases

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* ISNI
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