Matt Cameron
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Matt Cameron | ||
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 Matt Cameron on a promotional poster by Zildjian circa 1997.
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Matthew Cameron | |
| Also known as | Tad Dameron | |
| Born | November 28, 1962 | |
| Origin | San Diego, California | |
| Genre(s) | Rock | |
| Occupation(s) | Drummer-Songwriter-Vocals | |
| Instrument(s) | Drums Vocals |
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| Years active | 1978 - Present | |
| Label(s) | J Records Epic Records A&M Records |
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| Associated acts |
Pearl Jam Feedback Skin Yard Soundgarden Temple Of The Dog Tone Dogs Hater Wellwater Conspiracy |
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Matt Cameron (born Matthew D. Cameron, November 28, 1962, in San Diego, California) is an American musician renowned for playing drums in the grunge/rock bands Soundgarden (1986-1997) and Pearl Jam (1998-present). He has also been a back-up vocalist for both bands.
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[edit] 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 local bands like Feedback and Skin Yard.
[edit] Professional career
[edit] (1986-1997) Soundgarden
By September of 1986, Cameron had gained so much notoriety in the local music scene that he was chosen to play for Soundgarden. 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.
[edit] (1997-1998) The Smashing Pumpkins
Rumours circuated in the beginning of 1998 that he was considered as a permanent drummer replacement for The Smashing Pumpkins. Cameron contributed his drumming on seven tracks considered for the album Adore, though only the epic and highly acclaimed "For Martha" appeared on the album. Cameron denied rumours of joining the band, revealing on January 21, 1998 in a chat room for a Seattle drum company, "I have no intentions of joining The Smashing Pumpkins".
[edit] (1998-present) Pearl Jam
Almost a year after Soundgarden's break-up, Cameron found similar occupation in a similar style band. In 1998, he was invited to play with rock-colleagues Pearl Jam, where he's been ever since. Cameron had worked with the members of the band before on the Temple of the Dog project and had helped them record some early demos in 1990. With Pearl Jam he has recorded three studio albums (Binaural, Riot Act, and the new Pearl Jam) and one live album entitled Live on Two Legs.
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?"
[edit] Other projects
Other albums Cameron has played drums on include Geddy Lee's 2000 solo album My Favorite Headache, former bandmate Chris Cornell's solo album Euphoria Morning on the track "Disappearing One", and on four tracks on Eleven's Thunk.
Cameron also appears on the Gamma Ray EP which would become the first recorded material by Queens of the Stone Age. The sessions, recorded in 1995 were also re-released with an additional unreleased track (also from the sessions) on the Kyuss/Queens of the Stone Age split EP. Matt would play only one show with the band on Nov. 20, 1997 before leaving.
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.
[edit] 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. 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, and son, Ray.
[edit] External links
- Pearl Jam's Ten Club
- Official Website of Wellwater Conspiracy
- Wellwater Conspiracy's Myspace page
- All Music Guide entry for Matt Cameron
- http://www.lukin.com/Information/dhcameron.html
| Soundgarden |
| Chris Cornell | Kim Thayil | Matt Cameron | Ben Shepherd |
| Scott Sundquist | Hiro Yamamoto | Jason Everman |
| Discography |
|---|
| Albums and extended plays: Screaming Life | Fopp | Ultramega OK | Flower | Louder than Love | Screaming Life/Fopp | Badmotorfinger | Superunknown | Songs from the Superunknown | Down on the Upside | A-Sides |
| Singles: "Hunted Down" | "Flower" | "Loud Love" | "Hands All Over" | "Room a Thousand Years Wide" | "Jesus Christ Pose" | "Outshined" | "Rusty Cage" | "Spoonman" | "Black Hole Sun" | "Fell on Black Days" | "My Wave" | "The Day I Tried to Live" | "Superunknown" | "Pretty Noose" | "Burden in My Hand" | "Blow Up the Outside World" | "Ty Cobb" | "Bleed Together" |
| Related Articles |
| Temple of the Dog | Singles | Grunge music | Audioslave | Pearl Jam | Alice Mudgarden | Hater | Wellwater Conspiracy |
