Pearl Jam's Drummer Mystery Deepens After Ohana Reveal

Pearl Jam played their first shows since Matt Cameron's departure after nearly 30 years, and the question of who will drum for the band remains unanswered.

The reveal was supposed to come on September 27, the third night of the Ohana Festival, when Pearl Jam performed their first set since parting ways with Cameron. Speculation had consumed the fan community for the better part of a year, with names including Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction, Josh Freese of Nine Inch Nails, Abe Laboriel Jr. of Paul McCartney's band, and a small but vocal faction on the official fan forum convinced the Japanese drummer Kahokiss had the job despite, as one report put it, not "even a tiny shred of evidence suggesting this."

Guitarist Stone Gossard had stoked the anticipation himself. "I love the mystery of it all," he told SiriusXM's Jonathan Cohen on May 21. "It's so exciting. There's not enough mystery in the world. I think the band is very excited that we're actually getting to play. It's been a while and the fact that we get to do it at Ohana makes it even doubly exciting."

The festival's first night was billed as Eddie Vedder & Friends. Vedder took the stage alone, playing solo acoustic versions of Pearl Jam's "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town" and his solo song "Far Behind." He then called Irish guitarist Simon Good to the stage for Glen Hansard's "Song of Good Hope," and Billy Idol for the Who's "I'm One." Bassist Jeff Ament joined for the 1993 deep cut "Bee Girl."

Then Vedder asked for an electric guitar and began the opening of "Corduroy." "I feel like I would need some friends to join me tonight," he said, as shadowy figures appeared on a curtain behind him. "I would need some really good friends. Do I got any extra friends back there? Some more friends?"

The curtain dropped to reveal Pearl Jam with Abe Laboriel Jr. on drums. A giant question mark adorned his bass drum. Headlines across the internet declared Laboriel the new Pearl Jam drummer. But Vedder's introduction — "helping us on drums tonight, Mr. Abe Laboriel Jr." — gave skeptical fans reason to pause. The phrasing suggested a one-night-only guest rather than a permanent hire.

The definitive answer seemed two days away. When Pearl Jam closed the festival with their first properly billed concert since Cameron's exit, Laboriel was indeed still behind the kit. A Wikipedia edit promptly listed him as a member of the band.

The next day, Vedder posted a letter on Instagram that undercut the conclusion. "Hello good humans," he wrote. "Just a quick note on this Monday morning to thank each and everyone who came out to Ohana Fest this year. Three days of great groups, all of whom were further energized by the pumped up vibes from a perfect crowd. You all made our tenth year so special and we are GRATEFUL. Also wanted to extend our further appreciation to Abe Laboriel Jr. sitting in on drums for PJ. It was a joy to play with him, and he's obviously extraordinary at his craft. The man works and PLAYS hard. It is no wonder he's been with the ultimate Maestro Paul McCartney and his mind blowing band for decades. Thank you so much for this weekend Abe. And thank YOU Paul. We owe you big time."

The letter's language matters. Musicians described as "sitting in" are guests, not new full-time members — it is essentially the opposite of what a band says when it announces a hire. And Vedder thanked Laboriel for "this weekend," not for joining Pearl Jam. He thanked Paul McCartney, but did not thank him for letting the band take his drummer.

The questions remain unresolved. Did Laboriel, who has played with McCartney for decades, hesitate to walk away from a Beatle? Could he not hold both posts, given that both acts have substantial downtime each year? Nobody beyond Vedder's letter has said a word.

Pearl Jam currently have no concerts on their schedule, which means there is no fixed date by which the mystery will be resolved. Until then, the Kahokiss truthers on the fan forum, it seems, will keep holding out hope.