WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (UPI) — Pearl Jam has had a few drummers in their 25 years of existence but the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognized just two in its nomination of the band for induction this year — which has left at least one of the others unhappy he got snubbed.
Dave Abbruzzese, who was with Pearl Jam from 1991 to 1994, reacted with disappointment that he was left off the nomination, posting on his Facebook page Wednesday that he expected the band to “do the right thing.”
Abbruzzese was Pearl Jam’s third drummer. Original drummer Dave Krusen, who played on the band’s debut album Ten, was replaced with Matt Chamberlin for a short period before Abbruzzese joined.
“If there is still a part of that band that remembers how hard we worked, how much blood and how much sweat,” Abbruzzese said early Wednesday morning on his Facebook page. “They will do the right thing.”
He toured with Pearl Jam for the massively successful Ten and was in the band for the recording and touring cycles for it’s second and third albums, 1993’s Vs. and 1994’s Vitalogy. The three albums established the band as one of the biggest in the world and remain among the most popular to its fanbase.
Abbruzzese was replaced in 1994 with former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons during the tour for Vitalogy, but says his short stint with the band should not be ignored by the band or the Hall.
“The members of Pearl jam have got to know what’s the right thing to do,” Abbruzzese posted later Wednesday morning, the 23rd anniversary of the release of Vs. “They can’t justify ignoring my contributions. Like me or not.”
Despite Abbruzzese’s role in the recording of Pearl Jam’s massive second and third albums, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame mentioned only Krusen and current drummer Matt Cameron, who joined in 1998 and is also the drummer for Soundgarden, in the nomination and its biography of the band.
