Former Pearl Jam Drummer David Abbruzzese Appeals To Band After 2017 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Snub

Former Pearl Jam drummer David Abbruzzese has appealed to the band “to do the right thing” in the wake of his absence from the list of the band’s members who are nominated for induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame next year.

Abbruzzese, who played on Pearl Jam’s second and third albums, “Vs.” and “Vitalogy,” took to Facebook to express his feeling about his omission from the list. He implored his former bandmates in Pearl Jam, which was formed in 1990 and hired Abbruzzese as its third drummer the following year, to think the nomination over.

“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,” he posted on his personal Facebook account on Wednesday after the announcement of the nomination.

He then wrote a follow-up post, saying his contributions to the band cannot be neglected. “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,” he said.

“It’s just a fine opportunity to see what Pearl Jam has to say in response,” he also said about the nomination (via NME). “Let’s see if they do the right thing. It’ll be interesting to see the spin that is put on it.”

“I’ve seen them change a 15-year-old settlement agreement just by ignoring its contents and withholding money that didn’t belong to them in order to force me to accept the changes,” he continued. “They know how to play the game… their way!”

Of the five drummers who have been in Pearl Jam, founding drummer Dave Krusen, who was with them for a year, and current drummer Matt Cameron, who has been with the band since 1998, are on the list of nominees.

Other artists nominated for induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 include Chic, Jane’s Addiction and Tupac Shakur. The announcement of winners will take place in December, after about 800 votes have been cast.