I recently noticed in some of the more "history-based" threads, thar a lot of people still regard Dave A as a big part of PJ, and I'm surprised. Granted, I've not been a fan since the beginning, but I just read the 1993 Rolling Stone cover piece, and Dave A in the band was just like a non-sequiter to me. He was completely different than the rest of the guys in every way. Just an unnatural fit it seemed. And he was a hired gun after a bunch of changes, so I always just regarded him as a seat-warmer until Jack Irons/Matt Cameron joined.

So, am I wrong for thinking Dave A is just a footnote and that history will remember Matt Cameron as the "real" drummer?

yes, to me matt cameron is the soundgarden drummer

Matt Cameron has been the drummer of Pearl Jam for the longest out of anyone who has held that spot. Actually, he has just about held the drum stool for longer than all the other guys put together.

Dave K left before Ten came out, Matt Chamberlain played a handful of shows, Dave A was fired in 1994, Jack went from 95 to 98, and it's been Matt ever since. They've all played a part in the history of the band.

I think you're right when you talk about how history will remember the band. People reading this post will remember the different guys, but in fifty years time when people read about Pearl Jam, it will just talk about the guys as they are now, with Matt as the drummer

i think in time it will become matt, but at this point in time, to me dave a is the pj drummer, matt is the soundgarden drummer

Dave A doesn't figure too much in my PJ conciousness...Jack and Matt are the only notable PJ drummers in my opinion.

Although I'll always think they did their best recorded music with Jack on drums, I'm slowly warming to Matt (live, anyway).

He hasn't been the PJ drummer though since you were 3 years old

no matter how long matt is in the band, they will be remembered for when they and their style were in their prime, which was 91-94. and what a surprise...thats when dave a played the kit

its ok, im a stallion, calm down

If the truth be known, nobody ever remembers the drummer

Amazing that the 2 people with the best taste in PJ's music are 15 years old.

And to say Dave A. is just a footnonte is idiotic. No one said you have to like him, but if it wasn't for all those great shows from '91-'94, where would they be now?

I completely agree with this

Yeah, but that's not the reason why their success was during that time. Not even close.

me too.

Dave A was their drummer for their three biggest records (or at least the Ten tour) when Pearl Jam was arguably the biggest band in the world.

Likewise, Matt's biggest success was with Soundgarden. Unless PJ has another megahit record or the band stays together for another 15 years I'll still associate the drummers with their biggest success.

I'd disagree that PJ's "prime" was 1991-1994. Commercially, probably yes, I guess you're hinting at that with the comment that "their style" was in its prime at this time , taking into the account the rise of the "grunge" style around that time. But I definitely feel their creative peak was around 1995-1998 in a songwriting and recording sense.

Nearly every song on Ten and Vs pales in comparison to those on Merkinball, No Code and Yield in my opinion.

In short: just because one record sells more than other, or catches more public attention, doesn't make it a BETTER record.

True, but Ten and Vitalogy just happen to be their best records.

Better

Dave who?

I disagree.

There was a time when Dave A was more of a face in the band then Stone or Jeff. I don't know if it was his animated drumming or his smile or what but I always associated him over the others in the band, other than Ed. We talked about this before and some people agreed.

I like Jack's style but Dave A was the most interesting and my favorite drummer of PJ.