Mike McCready Opens Up About Pearl Jam’s Future After Matt Cameron’s Exit

Pearl Jam has remained largely silent since longtime drummer Matt Cameron announced his departure last July, but guitarist Mike McCready has now shed light on what comes next in a new interview with SPIN.

While the likelihood of Pearl Jam concerts in 2026 is low, McCready is convinced the band will return. The guitarist explained what frontman Eddie Vedder meant when the singer recently told Rolling Stone that Pearl Jam is “woodshedding.”

“‘Woodshedding’ is us thinking about it and talking about what it could be,” McCready revealed. “I think that’s what Ed was referring to. We’ve been emailing a lot, talking and calling each other. The way we work, as you know, is that we can be very slow and then all of a sudden we’re very fast. So, we’re kind of in our slow phase. It’s going to happen, but I just don’t know when. I would also love to go out and tour this year sometime, but we don’t have anything planned.”

Matt Cameron spent 27 years behind the kit for Pearl Jam. Cameron became the band’s fifth drummer in 1998 shortly after he parted ways with Soundgarden. McCready had warm words for his longtime bandmate.

“All of us felt that playing with Matt Cameron was a dream come true,” McCready told SPIN’s Jonathan Cohen. “He’s such a solid force, and we were so lucky to get him when we needed him. Of course, I always worshiped him as a drummer and got to know him and love him as a human being and his whole family. I mean, I’ve known his wife, April, since we were in high school together. I always felt the band was going to be better every year because he was a member. That’s the way I looked at it. I’m looking forward to the future and whatever that may be, but I love Matt and I want him to pursue whatever he wants to pursue and be successful at it. I wish him the best on his journeys.”

Pearl Jam last performed on May 18, 2025, wrapping a short U.S. tour in Pittsburgh. Next month, Vedder will head to Japan for a solo tour.