Pearl Jam drummer Matt Cameron is distancing himself from the recent Rolling Stone piece in which he was interviewed about Taylor Hawkins.
The article, published Monday evening, features interviews with both named and anonymous friends of the late Foo Fighters drummer, including Cameron and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.
The piece includes multiple sources claiming that Hawkins had expressed concern with the amount of touring he had to do as part of Foo Fighters, with both Cameron and Smith quoted as saying Hawkins had a “heart-to-heart” conversation with Foo frontman Dave Grohl and the band’s management about it.
“[Hawkins] told me that he ‘couldn’t f***ing do it anymore’ — those were his words,” Cameron’s quote reads. “I guess they did come to some understanding, but it just seems like the touring schedule got even crazier after that.”
A rep for Foo Fighters denied that such a conversation between Grohl and management took place. The article also reports that Hawkins had “lost consciousness” on a plane last December, which the rep denied, as well.
In a statement posted to his Instagram Tuesday afternoon, Cameron writes, “When I agreed to take part in the Rolling Stone article about Taylor, I assumed it would be a celebration of his life and work.”
“My quotes were taken out of context and shaped into a narrative I had never intended,” Cameron continues. “Taylor was a dear friend, and a next level artist.”
Cameron adds that he has “only the deepest love and respect for Taylor, Dave and the Foo Fighters families,” and that he’s “truly sorry to have taken part in this interview.”
“I apologize that my participation may have caused harm to those for whom I have only the deepest respect and admiration,” he concludes.
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