Pearl Jam drummer quit band over personal issues
Pearl Jam drummer Dave Krusen joined Pearl Jam in 1990, leaving the following year in 1991 after recording the band’s debut album “Ten.” Shortly after, Krusen checked himself into rehab. In a recent interview with Slowhands Rock Talk Show, Krusen spoke about Pearl Jam’s early days and the personal issues that led to his exit from the iconic band.
Recalling his first encounter with Eddie Vedder, Krusen noted how blown away he was the first time he heard the frontman sing.
“We were like working on those songs and then he came up. It’s like, ‘Oh Eddie’s here. I was like, ‘What? Who? Oh, nice to meet you.’ And as soon as he started singing. I was just like, ‘Oh my god, wow.’ You know, I was pretty blown away,” Krusen said.
He continued, acknowledging the impressive work ethic and talent level that every member of Pearl Jam brought to the band.
“And I’d worked with a lot of talented people up to that point. And I just was really struck with the way everything sounded, and the way they worked was really cool. It wasn’t a grind, but they were so like– things just got done. It was very serious. It was on another level that I’d not really [experienced], you know. Which was kind of like part of my downfall was I hadn’t gotten that serious yet.”
Addressing what ultimately led to his departure from Pearl Jam, Krusen admitted he just wasn’t as focused as his then bandmates.
“I was still just partied all the time and, you know, I hadn’t gotten focused like the rest of the band. …Parties, zero discipline… and eventually I paid the price.”
Pearl Jam drummer Dave Abbruzzese’s exit
Dave Abbruzzese joined Pearl Jam in 1991 and played on the band’s landmark albums Vs. and Vitalogy. His energetic style became a key part of their live sound during their early ’90s success, but in August 1994 he was dismissed from the group. The split was attributed to personality conflicts and differences in priorities, as Abbruzzese’s approach to life on the road clashed with the direction the rest of the band wanted to take.
Members later claimed that Abbruzzese seemed more comfortable with the traditional parts of being a rock star, while the rest of Pearl Jam were trying to distance themselves from the excesses of fame. Tensions also emerged during the recording of Vitalogy, with communication inside the band becoming strained.
Although his time with Pearl Jam was relatively short, Abbruzzese remains remembered by fans for his explosive drumming on two of the band’s most celebrated albums, though he says he has yet to bury the hatchet with his ex-bandmates.
