Ex-Pearl Jam drummer David Abbruzzese criticises his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame snub
Drummer David Abbruzzese has called upon his ex Pearl Jam bandmates to lobby on his behalf to include him in their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination.
On Tuesday (18th October), the long-list for the annual event was unveiled with Pearl Jam, Electric Light Orchestra, Jane’s Addiction, Journey and Steppenwolf among the acts vying to be inducted in Cleveland, Ohio.
And for the first time ever, the Hall of Fame has announced the individual band members of each group nominated - current drummer Matt Cameron and founding member Dave Krusen were on Pearl Jam’s ballot while Matt Chamberlain, Jack Irons and Abbruzzese were missed off.
Reacting to his snub, Abbruzzese, who performed and co-wrote songs on ‘Vs.’ and ‘Vitalogy’ during his three year tenure, called on Pearl Jam to “do the right thing” and ask for him to be included.
He wrote on Facebook: “If there is still a part of that band that remembers how hard we worked, how much blood and how much sweat... They will do the right thing.
“The members of Pearl jam have got to know what's the right thing to do. They can't justify ignoring my contributions. Like me or not.”
In a separate post marking the 23rd anniversary of ‘Vs.’, Abbruzzese added: “I am so blown away by the outpouring of support that has been and is continuing to be shown. So much love. So many heartfelt reminders of times we've shared together.”
Of course, this isn’t the first time the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s selection of band members has caused controversy.
In 2014, KISS’s Paul Stanley slammed the decision to omit Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer and accused the panel of favouritism towards certain bands.
He wrote on KISS’s website: “There is no getting around the reality that the Hall of Fame’s favouritism and preferential treatment towards artists they like goes as far as ASKING the Grateful Dead how many members THEY wanted the hall to induct and following their directive while also including a songwriter who was never in the actual band.”
Other allegedly dubious decisions over the years include omitting Nirvana’s Chad Channing, AC/DC’s Mark Evans and Rush founding member John Rutsey.
In 2012, Dave Navarro was shunned from Red Hot Chili Peppers’ nomination despite being with the band for half a decade, while guitarist of three years Josh Klinghoffer and former drummers Jack Irons and Cliff Martinez got in.
This year’s nominees are as follows:
Bad Brains
The Cars
Chaka Khan
Chic
Depeche Mode
Electric Light Orchestra
J. Geils Band
Jane’s Addiction
Janet Jackson
Joan Baez
Joe Tex
Journey
Kraftwerk
MC5
Pearl Jam
Steppenwolf
Tupac Shakur
Yes
The Zombies
The inductees will be announced in December and the televised ceremony will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in April 2017. They will then be immortalised at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.