Pearl Jam Reveal Abe Laboriel Jr. as New Drummer at Ohana Festival

Pearl Jam have a new drummer: Abe Laboriel Jr., the longtime Paul McCartney collaborator, debuted behind the kit during Eddie Vedder's set at Ohana Festival in Southern California on Friday night.

The set was billed as "Eddie Vedder and Friends." Fans expected any news about the drum chair to surface during Pearl Jam's headlining set on Day Three of the festival. Instead, the full band took the beachside stage with Laboriel and opened with "Corduroy," according to the source report. They followed with "Hail Hail," "Scared of Fear" and "Wishlist."

The reveal ends a vacancy that opened with Matt Cameron's amicable departure from Pearl Jam in July 2025. The band had previously confirmed it had chosen a successor but kept the identity under wraps.

Laboriel Jr. was a leading candidate in public speculation. Earlier this week, Rolling Stone listed him among its top picks for the job, citing his "ferocious skills," his friendship with Vedder and his guest appearance on the frontman's 2022 solo LP, Earthling.

His résumé extends well beyond McCartney's band. He has played the Super Bowl halftime show and performed in front of Queen Elizabeth. He also contributes background vocals.

Clues had been mounting since May, when Laboriel was absent from McCartney's performance on the Season 51 finale of Saturday Night Live. Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith filled in, sparking fan speculation that something had shifted in Laboriel's commitments.

One question remains unresolved: whether Laboriel has left McCartney's band entirely or will juggle both gigs. Neither camp has confirmed his status. For now, he is spending the weekend on the West Coast with his new bandmates, and Ohana Festival audiences will likely see how the partnership sounds on a headlining stage before the weekend is out.