Matt Cameron
Template:Infobox musical artist 2
Matt Cameron (born Matthew D. Cameron on November 28 1962 in San Diego, California) is an American musician renowned for being the drummer, back-up vocalist and occasional songwriter in the grunge rock bands Soundgarden (1986-1997) and Pearl Jam (1998-present).
Early years
Cameron began playing drums at an early age. At the age of 13, he and some friends played in a cover band called "Kiss" (with the word imitation written underneath the name, in small print). During this stint, he met Paul Stanley. However, after a letter from the management of the band KISS threatened the children with legal action if they did not cease their infringement, the band melted away.
In 1978, under the pseudonym "Foo Cameron", Cameron sang the song "Puberty Love" which was featured in the movie Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. In the early 1980s he moved to Seattle and played in the local band feeDBack.
Career
Skin Yard (1985-1986)
After playing with Daniel House in Seattle instrumental band, feeDBack, Matt joined House in the newly formed Skin Yard which he stayed with for almost a year. As their drummer he recorded their first self-titled record and appears on the 2001-released odds-n-sods Skin Yard Collection, Start at the Top. Matt wrote the song "Reptile" for the band which appears on their first record.
Soundgarden (1986-1997)
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. Cameron played with Soundgarden, considered one of the "big four" Seattle bands of the grunge era (along with Nirvana, Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam), from 1986 until the band's 1997 break-up. With Soundgarden, Matt recorded the albums Ultramega OK, Louder Than Love, Badmotorfinger, Superunknown, and Down on the Upside. The band broke-up in 1997, due to internal strife over their creative direction.
While a member of Soundgarden, Matt 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)
- "Mailman" (Superunknown) ... Music
- "Limo Wreck" (Superunknown) ... Music (Co-Written)
- "Fresh Tendrils" (Superunknown) ... Lyrics (Co-Written) and Music
- "Rhinosaur" (Down on the Upside) ... Music
- "Applebite" (Down on the Upside) ... Music
Pearl Jam (1998-present)
Almost a year after Soundgarden's break-up, Cameron found similar occupation in a similar style band. In summer 1998, he was invited by rock-colleagues Pearl Jam to drum on their Yield Tour after the band's drummer Jack Irons left due to health issues. Soon, during the tour, he was invited to become a full-time member and he's been in the band ever since. Cameron had worked with members of the band before on the Temple of the Dog project and had helped them record some early demos in 1990. He is the longest serving drummer of the band and has recorded three studio albums (Binaural, Riot Act, and Pearl Jam) and several live albums.
Since joining Pearl Jam, Matt has written the following songs for the band:
- "Evacuation" (Binaural) ... Music
- "In the Moonlight" (Lost Dogs/Binaural sessions) ... Lyrics and Music
- "Save You" (Riot Act) ... Music (Co-Written)
- "Cropduster" (Riot Act) ... Music
- "You Are" (Riot Act) ... Lyrics (Co-Written), Music, and played Rhythm Guitar
- "Get Right" (Riot Act) ... Lyrics and Music
- "Unemployable" (Pearl Jam) ... Music (Co-Written)
While not as frequent as the other members' written contributions, Matt's are held in high regard by the band, as are his performances. In the liner notes of the 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?
Other projects (1990-present)
Along with Chris Cornell, Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament, Mike McCready, and Eddie Vedder, Matt Cameron appeared on the Temple of the Dog album, which paid tribute to Mother Love Bone lead singer Andrew Wood, who died of a heroin overdose at age 21.
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." He played in a jazz-influenced side project called Tone Dogs in the early 1990s. Cameron also has a fondness for psychedelic garage rock, and his side project Wellwater Conspiracy reflects this.
Cameron also appears on the Gamma Ray EP which would become the first recorded material by Queens of the Stone Age.[1] Matt played drums at the band's first show on November 20, 1997, however he did not join the band as their drummer.
Cameron contributed his drumming on seven tracks considered for the album Adore by The Smashing Pumpkins, though only the epic and highly acclaimed "For Martha" appeared on the album. The other studio track is "Because You Are" that surfaced as b-side. Rumours circuated in the beginning of 1998 that he was considered as a permanent drummer replacement for Jimmy Chamberlin, but Cameron denied this.
Other albums Cameron has played drums on include Geddy Lee's 2000 solo album My Favourite Headache, former bandmate Chris Cornell's 1999 solo album Euphoria Morning on the track "Disappearing One", and on four tracks on Eleven's 1995 album Thunk.
He along with fellow Pearl Jam bandmate Mike McCready have also contributed two songs to Peter Frampton's instrumental album, Fingerprints. These include a cover of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" and "Blowin' Smoke".
Gear
Unlike his contemporaries Dave Abbruzzese (Pearl Jam), Sean Kinney (Alice in Chains) and Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins) whom each have extensive drumkits, Cameron, although far from static, employs a more traditional approach to drum equipment.
Cymbals
Throughout the nineties, Cameron has favored three crashes ( generally matching 19" Zildjian Z customs), a ride of 20 or 21 inches, and 15" hihats. Before 1996's Down on the Upside, a China cymbal was used infrequently, most notably on Superunknown's closing track "Like Suicide". Although becoming a full-time member of Pearl Jam upon Jack Irons' departure for health reasons, Cameron's cymbal setup has not changed radically from his Soungarden days. Currently, the most noticeable difference is his use of the A Zildjian series as opposed to the heavier (and discontinued) Z series. The A series, second in age only to the Zildjian K series, is characterized by a bright, shimmering, and full response that generally is medium-pitched. Thus, they are regarded as the most versatile of Zildjian's offerings, and are utilized in nearly every style of music imaginable. They are similar in sound and construction to the Sabian AA series.
Drums
Cameron revealed in a 1994 interview with Modern Drummer magazine that to greater emphasize the dynamic shift in the aforementioned "Like Suicide", two kits were used, the latter having shells both larger in depth and diameter.
Matt has used California-based DW drums during his time with Soundgarden exempting 1996's Down on the Upside recording and tour, during which he was endorsed by the Canadian custom outfit Ayotte, of which cohort Jeremy Taggart (Our Lady Peace) is a long-time artist. Matt is pictured at his Ayotte kit at the beginning of this article. Along with fellow Northwesterner William Goldsmith, Matt Cameron was an early supporter of drummer and craftsman Greg Keplinger, famous for perhaps the heaviest and most characteristic steel snare drum on today's market.
Cameron's subsequent time with Pearl Jam is also notable for his shift away from maple-shelled drums, arguably the most popular drum material in the rock market for its low fundamental tone and strong projection. He has opted instead for the Birch Custom Absolute, which is higher-pitched than maple and produces fewer overtones. Initially during the Yield Tour Matt could be seen using his purple Ayotte kit, the very same employed on Soundgarden's SNL performances of "Pretty Noose" and "Burden in My Hand" (during which the bass drum read "Go Sonics!", a reference to the Seattle basketball team).
Sticks
Matt Cameron, along with fellow nineties drummer Jimmy Chamberlin, is endorsed by Vic Firth drumsticks and has a signature model available. They are most similar to a 5B.
Style
John Tempesta (of "White Zombie" fame) famously remarked during a Zildjian advertising campaign that Matt Cameron "is like the Steve Gadd of Heavy Rock". Comparing Cameron to his contemporary Jimmy Chamberlin casts Cameron as a patient player who seeks not to dominate the stage, but rather tease out a groove that will compliment and support the surrounding atmosphere. Ironically, Cameron professes his primary musical interest lies in progressive rock and various jazz subgenres, including hard bop, both of which are characterized by a much busier playing style than Matt exhibits. Listening to his contribution to 1998's Adore by The Smashing Pumpkins, the epic "For Martha", Cameron carves a majestic path culminating in a euphoric cymbal wash that resolves meticulously-crafted tension. In Soundgarden's trademark "Black Hole Sun", he tastefully drops fills linking the song's chorus and verses.
Matt also tends to revisit the paradiddle for effect. Examples include the spreading of the RLRR-LRLL pattern amongst the toms on Soundgarden's "Never the Machine Forever"; between ride and snare "Unemployable" from Pearl Jam's 2006 self-titled album, creating a driving shuffle; and "You Are" from 2002's Riot Act.
Personal life
Matt 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 release Spiritual Machines, Cameron played drums on songs such as "Right Behind You (Mafia)" and "Are You Sad?". Cameron has also contributed to the film soundtrack to 2002's Spider-Man, playing on "Hero" with Chad Kroeger and Josey Scott. As Cameron was unable to attend the shoot, Jeremy Taggart returned the favor and is shown in Cameron's place in the video.
Matt currently resides near Seattle, Washington with his wife, April, son Ray and daughter Josie.
Discography
References
- ^ "Discography entry for Gamma Ray". TheFade.net. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
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External links
- Pearl Jam's Ten Club
- Official Website of Wellwater Conspiracy
- Matt Cameron - DrummerWorld.com
- Matt Cameron at All Music Guide
- Matt Cameron at IMDb
- Matt Cameron - Lukin.com
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