Recommendations of the Editorial team
Since Matt Cameron announced his exit at Pearl Jam on July 7, 2025, the rumor mill has been bubbling hot. Cameron (who drummed with Eddie Vedder & Co. for almost 27) is the new drummer of the Foo Fighters? Would that even make sense? If you take a closer look at this, the clear answer is: Yes, definitely would Make the meaning (in the subjunctive!), Because you still don’t know anything that Grehl has done.
As early as 2023, Cameron was one of the hottest candidates for the Hawkins succession. At that time, a journalist of the British Sun had explained that Cameron was the logical heir to the throne of Taylor Hawkins, who died in 2022-on the grounds that Cameron was not only close friends with Foo Fighters boss Dave Grohl, but was also a close confidant of Hawkins.
At that time, however, Cameron denied the rumors: “Fyi, the internet rumors are not right. I didn’t join the foos.” As the story ended, we know: Josh Freese took over the drum chair – and was thrown out of the band again in 2025. Reasons? Were not named him or us, Freese was just as perplexed as most Foo Fighters fans.
At the moment, of course, every well -known drummer, who randomly gets out of a band or is thrown out – (ZAK Starkey, which would somehow would be a strange choice) – is immediately traded as a logical successor to the Foo Fighters. No wonder: one of the biggest rock bands of our time is only on the road without a fixed drummer. So, of course, call names.
For example Shane Hawkins, the 18-year-old son of Taylor Hawkins. For many FOO fighter fans, he is not only the most emotional, but also the most authentic choice for his father’s drum throne. Rufus Taylor, son of Queen legend Roger Taylor and also closer confidante by Taylor Hawkins, is also considered an obvious option.
Matt Cameron at the Foo Fighters? What to do for this
On the one hand, of course there is the Seattle Connection. Cameron was drummer with two of the large Seattle bands-at Soundgarden and Pearl Jam-and Grohl also played with a not entirely unknown band from Seattle. There is a familiarity here, a common music history context that is second to none. And: Like Grohl, Cameron does not originally come from Seattle – Cameron is Californian, actually comes from San Diego.
Matt Cameron is not only a hot candidate for nostalgic or friendly reasons – also musically speaks a lot for it. Sure, Cameron has his very own style, but he has proven for decades that he can play very changeable and songs, serves the respective band.
Not just drummer, also (co-) composer
In addition: he is not only drummer, but also a songwriter and arranger with lots of experience. Whether Grohl absolutely wants or needs this is a different thing. Cameron has songwriting credits for songs such as “Applebite” (Soundgarden), “by Crooked Steps” (Soundgarden), “Cropduster” (Pearl Jam), “Dance of the Clairvoyants” (Pearl Jam), “Evacuation” (Pearl Jam), “The Fixer”, “Jesus Christ) Pose “(Soundgarden),” Rhinosaur “(Soundgarden),” Room a Thousand Years Wide “(Soundgarden),” Save You “(Pearl Jam) or” Unemployable “(Pearl Jam).
Also work with Smashing Pumpkins, The Prodigy and many others
Cameron was also involved in several other productions as a studio slumber. Among other things, he played the drums on the Prodigy track “Narayan” from the successful album “The Fat of the Land”. He also worked with the Smashing Pumpkins several times: he can be heard on “For Martha” from the album “ADORE” and on “Because you are” from the “Judas O” compilation.
Cameron also recorded several times with Queens of the Stone Age (which were briefly also under the name Gamma Ray), played the majority of the drum tracks on the solo album “My Favourite Headache” by Rush-Bassist Geddy Lee and worked on several songs by Black-Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi.
Matt Cameron is actually not a typical rock drummer-at least not if you look at your musical roots. Because they were originally in jazz. While many of his contemporaries were anchored deep in the skirt from the start, Cameron in 1989 admitted in an interview that rock music was not particularly interested in him at first. Only later did he discover the progressive rock – but at the same time remained loyal to jazz, especially hard bop. The curious thing about it: You don’t necessarily listen to these influences, neither the BOP nor the prog. Despite all non-rockertism, he called Keith Moon of The WHO as his greatest musical influence-again a clear connection to the rock world. The late Rolling-Stones legend Charlie Watts, whose musical socialization and passion had actually been more and more in jazz and obvious favorite, demonstrated that jazz-trained drummer are of course also great rockers.
Matt Cameron to the Foo Fighters – Yay or Nay?
Matt Cameron actually brings everything that a possible successor should bring on drums. He is friends with Dave Grohl, was closely familiar with Taylor Hawkins, masters all the varieties of the skirt, is not only an excellent studio musician, but also a creative drummer and songwriter. In addition: it is extremely live rehearsed, has its own but versatile style-and apparently also considered humanly acceptable. Sure: As long as Grohl does not officially reveal who will sit at the Foo Fighters in the future, everything remains pure speculation. Would Matt Cameron be a logical successor? Whether logical, it remains to be seen – at least it would be an extremely suitable potential successor.