Dave Abbruzzese

David James Abbruzzese (; born May 17, 1968) is an American musician who was the drummer for the American rock band Pearl Jam from 1991 to 1994. He replaced drummer Matt Chamberlain in 1991, shortly before the release of the band's debut album, Ten. Abbruzzese played on the band's following records, Vs. and Vitalogy.

Biography

Early life Dave Abbruzzese was born in Stamford, Connecticut, and grew up in Mesquite, Texas, where he attended Vanston Jr. High. Abbruzzese grew up drumming on his dad's tackle boxes. While living at home the only thing in his bedroom (besides a bed) was his drum set. Abbruzzese dropped out of North Mesquite High School and focused on performing music. He started playing in various Texas-based bands including Segueway, Flaming Hemorrhoids, and Course of Empire. Abbruzzese also formed a band called Dr. Tongue, a three-piece, funk-influenced band that gigged in the Dallas and Denton area. Abbruzzese joined the group and played the rest of Pearl Jam's live shows supporting the Ten album. Abbruzzese toured extensively for Ten and performed on MTV Unplugged and a Saturday Night Live appearance. Abbruzzese made his studio debut with Pearl Jam when the band released the single "Even Flow" in April 1992. They re-recorded the song for its single release with Abbruzzese on drums instead of original drummer Dave Krusen. Two songs for the Singles Soundtrack and the b-side "Dirty Frank" also came from the same recording session. and spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard 200. Vs. was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 1995. From Vs., the song "Daughter" received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and the song "Go" received a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance. Abbruzzese toured extensively for Vs. and performed on a Saturday Night Live appearance. Abbruzzese was the primary songwriter for the music in the band's songs "Go", "Last Exit" and "Angel" (from the 1993 fan club Christmas single). He played with Pearl Jam through April 17, 1994. In 1994, the band began a much-publicized boycott of Ticketmaster.

Abbruzzese performed on the band's third studio album Vitalogy. However, he was fired in August 1994 due to personality conflicts with the band members, four months before the album was released. Ament stated, "Dave was a different egg for sure. There were a lot of things, personality wise, where I didn't see eye to eye with him. He was more comfortable being a rock star than the rest of us. Partying, girls, cars. I don't know if anyone was in the same space." The only former member of Pearl Jam to be inducted was the group's original drummer, Dave Krusen, which led Abbruzzese to criticize his omission. "The members of Pearl Jam have got to know what's the right thing to do," he wrote, in a social media post. "They can't justify ignoring my contributions. Like me or not. 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 added, "That band and its management have never been ones to shy away when an injustice is done. Let’s see if they still have the courage to fight the good fight!"

Pearl Jam later responded with an open letter on Facebook inviting all of the band's former drummers to the induction.

Other musical projects On September 30, 1997, Abbruzzese's newly formed band, the Green Romance Orchestra, released Play Parts I & V. The album saw Abbruzzese bring his own songs to the drawing board, as well as play the role of a producer. Play Parts I & V is a release of Free Association Records, which was formed by Abbruzzese in 1996. In 1997, Abbruzzese rehearsed with Axl Rose during the making of Guns N' Roses' 2008 album, Chinese Democracy. However, none of the material from the sessions ended up on the album.

Afterward, Abbruzzese worked with HairyApesBMX. He mixed, produced, and engineered the band's 2000 album, Out Demons. Abbruzzese also lent the band a hand behind his drum kit on its Midwestern tour. Abbruzzese drummed on the IMF tour with Jara Harris, Stevie Salas, and Bernard Fowler in early 2016. Abbruzzese has also collaborated with Shawn Smith of Brad and Satchel. They released their song "Like the Child of The Water I Am" for online download on December 26, 2015, and stated that their collaboration is ongoing and more music would be released in 2016.

Dave Abbruzzese is also part of the Indian multi-city grunge outfit Pseutopia, featuring Laji George on Vocals, Shyam Narayan on Bass, and Mithun Raju (from Thaikkudam Bridge) on Guitars. His first track with Pseutopia was a tribute to Chris Cornell's track "Seasons" that was released on YouTube on December 18, 2018. Since then Pseutopia has released their second track "Brother" on May 12, 2022.

Musical style and influences Abbruzzese has cited John Bonham, Sly & the Family Stone, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers as influences.

Equipment On his earlier, pre-Vs. Pearl Jam recordings, such as the tracks recorded for Singles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and the video version of "Even Flow", Abbruzzese is known to have used Ludwig drums. As of the Vs. record, he endorsed and used Drum Workshop drums, Sabian cymbals, and seemed to favor an 8x12 Brady snare drum.

Personal life Abbruzzese married Laura Whisman, on September 2, 2006; they later separated.

Discography

Pearl Jam discography Year Title Label Track(s) 1992 Singles: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Epic "Breath" and "State of Love and Trust"1993 Sweet Relief: A Benefit for Victoria Williams Thirsty Ear/Chaos "Crazy Mary" (with Victoria Williams) Judgment Night: Music from the Motion Picture Epic "Real Thing" (with Cypress Hill) Vs. Epic All 1994 Vitalogy Epic All except "Hey Foxymophandlemama, That's Me" 1998 Chicago Cab: Soundtrack Loosegroove "Hard to Imagine" 1999 Movie Music: The Definitive Performances (Also part of the box set, Sony Music 100 Years: Soundtrack for a Century.) Columbia/Epic/Legacy "State of Love and Trust" 2000 Wild and Wooly: The Northwest Rock Collection Sub Pop "Even Flow" (live) 2003 Lost Dogs Epic "Hard to Imagine" and "Dirty Frank"2004 Riding Giants: Music from the Motion Picture Milan "Go" rearviewmirror Epic "Even Flow", "State of Love and Trust", "Animal", "Go", "Dissident", "Rearviewmirror", "Spin the Black Circle", "Corduroy", "Not for You", "Breath", "Daughter", "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town", "Immortality", "Better Man", and "Nothingman" 2019 MTV Unplugged Legacy All

Green Romance Orchestra discography Year Title Label 1997 Play Parts I & V Free Association Records

Contributions and collaborations Year Group Title Label Track(s) 1992 Course of Empire Course of Empire Volcano "God's Jig"1995 Corey Glover, Eric Schenkman, Billy Cox, and Dave Abbruzzese In From the Storm: Jimi Hendrix Tribute RCA "In From the Storm" Doug Pinnick, Eric Schenkman, Noel Redding, and Dave Abbruzzese In From the Storm: Jimi Hendrix Tribute RCA "Burning of the Midnight Lamp" 1996 Nicklebag 12 Hits and a Bump Iguana "Sweet Thang"1997 Stevie Salas Alter Native Gold Pony Canyon All Nicklebag Mas Feedback Lizard Group "Sweet Thang" 1998 Stevie Salas The Sometimes Almost Never Was Pony Canyon Some 2000 HairyApesBMX Out Demons Free Association/We Sell Soul Some2006 Bernard Fowler Friends with Privileges Peregrine "Pop That Thang" Stevie Salas Be What It Is R&C Ltd. Some 2007 Stevie Salas The Sun and the Earth, Vol. 1 Arbor Some 2015 208 Talks of Angels Made in Hell 208 Talks of angels Angle of View 2021 Strange Sense of Comfort Music to Blow Your Head Off Underground Records