I'm a Pearl Jam fan, but not a Pearl Jam fanatic. I was there in 1992 when the Pearl Jam wave was breaking across America, seeing the very tail end of their set at Lollapalooza (I wanted to see the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ministry) in Cleveland.
So Pearl Jam's drummer that day back in 1992 was Dave Abbruzzese. I enjoyed a nice moment watching Abbruzzese play with French Pearl Jam fans on YouTube earlier this week.
I never knew what happened to Abbruzzese, but apparently he was fired from Pearl Jam in 1994.
Fired from a Rock Band for acting like a rock star? Oh the horror. (Sarcasm.)
So I became a little curious about Abbruzzese's back story. Apparently he joined Pearl Jam based on the recommendation of previous drummer Matt Chamberlain. Chamberlain had left Pearl Jam in 1991.....
<SCRREEEECH>
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Matt Chamberlain left Pearl Jam right before they broke into the mainstream? Apparently, at age 24, Matt Chamberlain was burned out from touring with Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians and wasn't looking forward to touring with his new band-
None of this is making any sense. A 24 year old drummer was burned out from touring? Oh well, I thought, maybe drumming wasn't for him.
Nope, he took a job as part of the Saturday Night Live Band. A job that lasted 1 year. Then he went on to work with some of the biggest musicians in the world, including David Bowie, Fiona Apple, and Bruce Springsteen as a studio drummer.
You know what? Maybe Matt Chamberlain had anxiety. Maybe he's not so good with crowds. Maybe the studio is where he belongs-
You say he's now Bob Dylan's touring drummer? I am sorry to keep beating this drum, literally, but Bob Dylan is overrated. Dylan is part of Rock's past. His album Rough and Rowdy Ways is not the anthem of restless youth.
FOR GOD'S SAKE, DYLAN IS 80-
I just spent the last hour filling my brain with useless information about Pearl Jam drummers, half of which still doesn't make any sense. We're going to stop this right now-
You know why Rock and Roll is Dead? Exhibit A: Matt Chamberlain
