In an era where information leaks like a broken pipe, Pearl Jam pulled off an impressive feat by keeping their new drummer under wraps. That all changed Friday night at Eddie Vedder’s Ohana Festival, where the band revealed longtime Paul McCartney collaborator Abe Laboriel Jr. as their new drummer.
The reveal came during a surprise set billed as “Eddie Vedder and Friends,” which turned out to be a Pearl Jam performance with Laboriel behind the kit. The revamped lineup opened with “Corduroy” and followed with “Hail Hail,” “Scared of Fear,” “Wishlist,” and “Dark Matter.”
Pearl Jam will return to the Ohana stage Sunday night for a previously announced headlining performance, which is currently their only other scheduled show of 2026.
The band had been in need of a new drummer following Matt Cameron’s surprising departure after 27 years. Cameron later cited the physical demands of touring and his desire to pursue other projects as reasons for his exit. Laboriel previously collaborated with Vedder on the singer’s 2022 solo album Earthling.
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